It was the first Milton Creek Wildlife survey of 2026, in sunshine and no wind. 33 bird species seen with 16 new year ticks. Kingfisher still about, lots of Teal & Black-tailed Godwit. First Shieldbug (Hairy) & Firebug found plus Rebecca found an uncommon snail Thames/ 2-lipped door snail.

A 3 mile walk around the village of Wormshill, nr Sittingbourne. Starting in murky conditions later brightening up. Very wet & muddy underfoot. 21 bird species seen or heard. Warmer today & heard the first Great Tit teacher calls of the year. 4 new year ticks, nothing exciting.

A 4m walk from Doddington to St. Katherines church, Kingston this morning in a strong, cold southerly wind. c20 Jackdaws in the fields immediately behind the village. c15 Skylark (yt) in the fields on top of the downs. Kingsdown Wood had c10 clumps of Butcher’s-broom. Fieldfares in orchard were a yt

Today’s lunchtime location was a frozen Eureka Park fishing lake, Ashford. In cold fog, 14 Moorhen on the grass in front of the lake. Around a patch of open water were Mallard (c45), Coot, BHG & 2 Shoveler (yt). In the lake side tree’s were Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blackbird & Chaffinch.

A cold first visit of the year to @kentwildlife.bsky.social Ashford Warren & Hoades Wood. Where the sun was shining the path had thawed, the rest was frozen. Blue & Great Tits, Robin, Blackbird & Woodpigeon seen or heard. #kentbirding #kentnature

A cold & snowy (just) lunchtime walk around the fields/ orchards behind our house. The old strawberry fields, now on its way to a housing estate, had Common Gulls, Magpie & a Lapwing. The cornfield had 2 more Lapwing & BHG circuiting overhead. A Kestrel in boundary pollarded trees. 2 more year ticks

Completed a 5mile walk around Ospringe & Painters Forstal late morning/ early afternoon. Middle & Sandbark Woods produced a mobile Nuthatch along with Goldcrest, Great Tit. Coxett Wood had multiple clumps Butcher’s Broom. Great Spot & Green Woodpecker seen. 14 species added to the 2026 year list.

A midday walk at a frozen Oare Gunpowder Works CP, Faversham, in bright sunshine. 17 species seen, the best sighting probably a Grey Wagtail along one of the leats. 2 Fern species, 1 fungi & 2 Grey Squirrels also recorded.

An afternoon walk yesterday around a cold & muddy Thornden Woods, Canterbury. The only Tit flock we encountered, we disturbed from a ride side Silver Birch. A single LTT was noted before the flock moved on. A Jay flying across a ride, Buzzard soaring overhead, A Devil’s-bit Scabious still in flower.

Happy new year to everyone. Wishing a healthy 2026.

A morning 4.5 mile walk around Sandwich & the bay. 24 species seen, no Stonechats around the golf courses where the only waders (2 Oystercatchers) were seen. A finch was flushed from the fairway path and landed in the deep rough, The back of the bird had white & tan/brown colours. It didn’t reappear

A late morning walk around Sharstad Wood, Doddington. 2 Jays heard, 3 Goldcrest seen together by the main path. Long-tailed & Blue Tit seen & a Coal Tit, Chaffinch & Wren (2) heard. Doddington Place was quiet, a flock of Corvid were distant. Yet, in a tree beside the drive, were 7 Crossbills (yt).

A short afternoon walk pushing my 95 year old mother-in-law along Herne Bay seafront. Turnstone & Redshank on the shoreline. Black-headed & Herring Gull overhead & on the sea, where 2 Cormorant flew towards Reculver. A Rock Pipit & 3 Carrion Crow also on the pebbles. 2 Starling flew into roost.

Morning. Some new old natural history reading for the new year. One of the books is a year younger than me!

An afternoon walk around Goodnestone in sunshine but with a cold northerly wind blowing. In the fields behind the village were Rook & Jackdaw. The fields around the windmill were BHG, Carrion Crow & 4 Lapwing. Around Staple, a beet field had a flock of 40 probable Linnet, the sun silhouetting them.

An afternoon walk from the Neptune Cafe, Leysdown to Shellness. In bright warm weather, the tide was in so only Turnstone, Sanderling, Redshank & a lone Grey Plover on the shore. 2 Short-eared Owls in the hamlet gardens. A lovely sunset over the saltmarsh where Little Egret & Marsh Harrier seen.

This morning was the December Milton Creek wildlife survey. On a low tide, highlights were a Spotted Redshank towards the creek head, a flyover Raven (only our 2nd from memory) & a Kingfisher. Plenty of Teal along the creek edge. A Sparrowhawk seen drifting overhead. A couple of Redwing also noted.

Walked a 5 mile route around Sheerness this morning in bright sunshine. Oystercatchers & Wigeon @ Barton Point, Turnstone & Sanderling on the beach with GCG on the sea. Starling on most aerials. GSW seen & heard in the estate. 29 Moorhen in the brook/stream. 31 species recorded.

A glorious late morning walk around Pluckley & Little Chart today. In bright warm sunshine 24 species seen or heard. First Fieldfare heard of the winter, the Merlin app picked up Redwing but as I didn’t hear it, it is unrecorded. Found a plaque for the Pluckley air force base 1917-1923.

A morning walk around Riverside CP, Rainham in bright sunshine but a cold breeze. The tide was at its lowest point leaving vast expanse of mud. The winter sunshine accentuated the colours of the male Shoveler, Wigeon & Pintail. Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing & Oystercatchers were the waders noted

A 5mile morning walk around Oare & Faversham Creeks in light becoming heavier rain. The tide was out on the creeks. A Spoonbill on the Faversham Creek saltmarsh & a Ringed Plover (surprisingly) at the convergence of the creeks were year ticks. A Kingfisher in a pool by Oare Cafe.

A high tide on the turn & a cold wind blowing up Milton Creek greeted us for the November wildlife survey. 7 Spot Reds, 12 Little Egret & 17 Little Grebe on the lake. On the saltmarsh were Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Lapwing & a Snipe. The the tide fell at least 3 Curlew seen

An early afternoon walk from Tankerton to Hampton Pier & back in fog with a receding tide. c30 House Sparrows at Tankerton slopes. Herring Gulls seem to be between every groyne. At least 50 Brent Geese recorded. At Swalecliffe we had a pair of Stonechat & 3 Meadow Pipit. Possible Linnet as well.

A fairly quiet visit to Sharstad Wood, Doddington yesterday afternoon. Wren, Robin, GSW & Goldcrest heard fleeting visit of Covid and probable Woodpigeons but not good enough for ID’s. A flew diptera on the still flower umbellifiers. Found a patch of Green Elf Cup fungi on a fallen branch.

A 5m circular walk between Chilham & Chartham in sunshine following heavy rain earlier. 3 Ravens, 1 heard in Chilham village square & 2 over the fields were the highlight. Robin. LTT and Goldcrest the most common passerine’s noted. The fishing lakes held Coot, BHG & a Herring Gull.

A morning walk in lovely autumnal sunshine at a muddy Hucking Estate. No winter thrushes yet on the berry laden bushes. Leaves on the trees shades of green, gold & copper. Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Robin, Great Tit seen or heard. 2 Ladybirds & Candle Snuff Fungi also seen

A sunny day but with a coldish wind blowing at Eastwell Lake, Ashford c25 Mallard were on the road as I headed to the carpark. Greylag (c60), the Mallard, 4 BHG & Coot & 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Cormorant & a Little Egret on the lake. In the churchyard Coal & Blue Tit, Kestrel & Greenfinch & Robin heard.

A late morning 7 mile walk around Appledore, starting in sunshine ending under grey clouds. Majority of birds seen were Corvids but there were a number of passerines calling. Distant Buzzard & a Kestrel the only birds of prey. A Red Admiral. a White, Common Carder & distant Hawker & Darter seen

An afternoon visit to Seasalter levels this afternoon. Under grey skies & a cold wind blowing, 10 Little Egret were huddled together, c60 Starling in small flocks & couple of Carrion Crow flew through. At least 20 House Sparrow in the hedge by the pumping station. On the sea were c80 Brent Geese.

Yesterday’s lunchtime walk @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood produced Blackbird, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch (2) with Great Tit, Chaffinch & Magpie heard. #kentbirding

Lost wallet - if any birding friends hear of a wallet being found at St Margaret's Bay/Pines Garden/South Forereland (Kent) yesterday, it's mine! Last used at the beach cafe. Cards stopped but don't want the hassle of getting a replacement driving licence, etc.

Today’s lunchtime walk was in glorious autumnal sunshine around Highsted Wood, Sittingbourne. 2 Jays seen separately were the highlight. The Silver Birches on the chalk pit edges seem to contain some Linnets. Found my first Fly Agaric of the year. #kentbirding #kentnature

A more productive lunchtime walk around @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood, Sittingbourne. Jay (2), Great Tit, Green Woodpecker & a Goldcrest by the pond were all heard whilst a Robin, Magpie & a Buzzard on a pylon were seen. A Grey Squirrel & a 7-spot Ladybird also noted.

Found what I believe to be Sheep’s-bit during our walk today at Dungeness NNR today.

Completed a 3.5m circular walk around part of the Dungeness peninsula today. At least 5 Gannets close in by the fishing boats were a yt. Herring & Great Black-back Gulls in the shingle with a few Black-headed. Meadow Pipit & Linnet in the shingle with vegetation. A cracking male Stonechat also seen.

At Wingham this morning, a Red Kite low over the fields, 2 Swallows through & House Martins in leeward side of roadside tree’s. At a windy Sandwich Bay, Herring Gulls loafing on the beach, Black-headed Gulls flying up towards Ramsgate. On land c10 Jackdaw & a Robin. A Wall butterfly & a Colletes sp

Todays walk was around Highsted Wood, Sittingbourne. 2 Peacocks, a distant White & a Wall were still on the wing. A Carrion Crow seen & Jay, Magpie, Blue Tit & Green Woodpecker heard. Hopefully the solitary bee can be confirmed as a Bull-headed Furrow Bee which would be a lifer.

Today’s lunchtime walk was @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood. A Blue Tit & Goldcrest called from the old carpark & later a Jay down the slope. A Common Carder, 7-spot Ladybird & a cranefly to ID. A dead Common Shrew on a path. Seems a good crop of Sweet Chestnuts this year.

A lunchtime wander to @kentwildlife.bsky.social Ashford Warren & Hoades Wood. Fungi are now emerging around the wood. A Coal Tit calling was the ornithological highlight, with 6 species noted. 2 Eristalis hoverfly species & a Parent Bug also recorded. #kentbirding #kentnature

A 5m walk around some villages south of Sittingbourne. 11 Swallows (small groups) & 2 House Martins going south. 2 Coal Tits at Borden & Bredgar where the other highlights. Robins were the most numerous bird heard or seen. Largest number of Butcher’s-broom bushes I have ever seen at Tunstall Church.

5+ House Martins flying south over the house. A very rare sighting these days

An evening walk along the western side of Conyer Creek. With the tide out, Black-headed Gulls & a couple of Little Egret were on the creek edge. Saw 1 Curlew and heard the burbling calls later. Corvids flew overhead from Sheppey while gulls flew in the opposite direction. c25 Swallows flew through

Yesterday I visited the heath land plot at Eureka Park, Ashford. Warm in the sheltered sunny spots. Few birds seen or heard. Buff-tail Bumblebee & Common Carder seen. The sandy soil has hundreds of mining bee (Ivy?) nests now. 7 spot Ladybirds stood out against the vegetation.

A pilot autumnal early morning walk down Milton Creek in sunny conditions but a cold wind blowing. 5 Spot Reds, 4 Snipe feeding in the open & 21 Little Grebe were the highlights. Found aWarbler flock going through the Sea Aster containing Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Blackcap (I dipped these

We did a 6m circular walk around Newington & Lower Halstow this morning. Starting in rain finishing in 22c bright sunshine. At least 30 Robin seen or heard, lots of Corvid about. Tide coming in at Lower Halstow flushing Redshank. Possible Little Owl yelping. Red Admiral & Small Copper on the wing

An early evening walk around Milton Creek CP last night in warm but windy conditions. Magpie’s & Goldfinch’s mainly recorded in the park. At the creek, with the tide out, we had 4 Little Egret including 2 on the salt marsh. As we arrived at the viewing point disturbed a hidden Kingfisher.

Today’s lunchtime walk was around Highsted Wood, Sittingbourne. In warm sunny weather we saw a Buzzard over the wood & heard Jay, Green Woodpecker & Robin. 2 Common Carder, Southern Hawker, Small White, Hairy Shieldbug, Myathropa florea hoverfly & 7 & 22 spot Ladybird also recorded.

A lunchtime walk along the Stour from Chartham towards Canterbury. At least 4+ Sand Martins along the river, their brown plumage showing against the riverside vegetation. A brief glimpse of a Kingfisher, positive I missed at least 1 Grey Wag. Found a Vapourer moth caterpillar, 4 Common Carder

A lunchtime visit to Eastwell Lake, Ashford in warm sunny weather. On the lake 2 of the 4 Great Crested Grebes seen were displaying. Single Coot & Moorhen and 7 Greylag. The churchyard was mainly in shadow. A pristine Speckled Wood showed well. A few flies about. Hadn’t appreciated Hedges Woundwort

A lunchtime walk @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood, Sittingbourne. More birds heard with Robin, Blue Tit, Wren, Woodpigeon & a Buzzard. 2 Speckled Woods by the animal carved bench along a ride. A few parasitic wasps flying through the tangle of bramble runners & leaves on the hunt for hosts.