Neil Burt
@neilburt.bsky.social
Spent late AM & lunchtime at Scotney GPs where the Kent end of the pits were alive with birds & birders. The drake American Wigeon was relocated by SC & gave reasonable scope views, the 1stW drake Scaup was nr the caravan site & the family group of 2 adults & juv Whooper Swans were behind the farm.
February 8, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Spent late AM & lunchtime at Scotney GPs where the Kent end of the pits were alive with birds & birders. The drake American Wigeon was relocated by SC & gave reasonable scope views, the 1stW drake Scaup was nr the caravan site & the family group of 2 adults & juv Whooper Swans were behind the farm.
Another murky start on the Kentish North Downs this morning but the woodland produced another good mix of birds… Bullfinch, Redpoll & Crossbills, superb views of a Marsh Tit, singing Coal Tits, 1 Yellowhammer and calling Raven. Gr & GS Woodpeckers, singing Skylark & Jay also noted.
February 8, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Another murky start on the Kentish North Downs this morning but the woodland produced another good mix of birds… Bullfinch, Redpoll & Crossbills, superb views of a Marsh Tit, singing Coal Tits, 1 Yellowhammer and calling Raven. Gr & GS Woodpeckers, singing Skylark & Jay also noted.
Reposted by Neil Burt
Spent 4 hours at Scotney gravel pits this morning - catching up with Fridays male American Wigeon
It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound
1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park
No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far
#KentBirding
It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound
1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park
No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far
#KentBirding
February 8, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Spent 4 hours at Scotney gravel pits this morning - catching up with Fridays male American Wigeon
It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound
1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park
No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far
#KentBirding
It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound
1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park
No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far
#KentBirding
Reposted by Neil Burt
A very pleasing session on the patch this Morning with Slavonian Grebe 1 Black-throated 2 Great Northern and nearly 40 Red-throated Diver on sea also up to 18 Red-breasted Merganser @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding
February 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
A very pleasing session on the patch this Morning with Slavonian Grebe 1 Black-throated 2 Great Northern and nearly 40 Red-throated Diver on sea also up to 18 Red-breasted Merganser @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding
Reposted by Neil Burt
A nice 1st winter Little Gull on the garage pool at Pegwell with BH Gulls this afternoon. At times it was the closest gull to the path, which was handy for firing off a few shots #kentbirding
February 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
A nice 1st winter Little Gull on the garage pool at Pegwell with BH Gulls this afternoon. At times it was the closest gull to the path, which was handy for firing off a few shots #kentbirding
Braved the elements for a long walk from Minnis Bay to Reculver Towers & back this morning. Thanks to @drdavebirding.bsky.social for re-finding the 3 Snow Buntings (1 male & 2 females) east of the towers on the beach + 2 Black Redstarts (1stW male & female), 3 Stonechats (2 males) & 1 Grey Wagtail.
February 7, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Braved the elements for a long walk from Minnis Bay to Reculver Towers & back this morning. Thanks to @drdavebirding.bsky.social for re-finding the 3 Snow Buntings (1 male & 2 females) east of the towers on the beach + 2 Black Redstarts (1stW male & female), 3 Stonechats (2 males) & 1 Grey Wagtail.
Reposted by Neil Burt
My first local patch American Wigeon at Scotney today, many thanks to the finder Barrie Puttock for letting me know it was present when I met him in Dennis's Hide.
The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.
The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.
February 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM
My first local patch American Wigeon at Scotney today, many thanks to the finder Barrie Puttock for letting me know it was present when I met him in Dennis's Hide.
The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.
The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.
A quick after work twitch to see the drake American Wigeon at the Sussex end of the main Scotney GP. Good scope views with the huge Wigeon flock (for comparison), as the light faded at dusk.
February 6, 2026 at 6:02 PM
A quick after work twitch to see the drake American Wigeon at the Sussex end of the main Scotney GP. Good scope views with the huge Wigeon flock (for comparison), as the light faded at dusk.
Reposted by Neil Burt
To go to the #PWC2026 sign up and scores spreadsheet click this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... Only January scores to be entered by 8pm on 7th Feb, after that you can start to enter February sightings.
Good luck for the coming weekend, sounds like there are more White-fronts to find!
Good luck for the coming weekend, sounds like there are more White-fronts to find!
February 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
To go to the #PWC2026 sign up and scores spreadsheet click this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... Only January scores to be entered by 8pm on 7th Feb, after that you can start to enter February sightings.
Good luck for the coming weekend, sounds like there are more White-fronts to find!
Good luck for the coming weekend, sounds like there are more White-fronts to find!
Reposted by Neil Burt
A brief catch-up of the #PWC2026 feed while we are away and it is great to see so much activity. To view and follow, you can do so by clicking this link: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Also, if you want to be in the January review, remember to sign-up and/or fill in your scores and highlights soon.
Also, if you want to be in the January review, remember to sign-up and/or fill in your scores and highlights soon.
At least 117 Euro White-fronted Geese fresh in from the continent on Branston Island / Fen, with 6 presumably wild Barnacles with them.
Also 60 Pintail, c500 Teal and c250 Wigeon in the rain and wind...the site's looking very good at the moment.
92/108 #PWC2026
@lincsbirding.bsky.social
Also 60 Pintail, c500 Teal and c250 Wigeon in the rain and wind...the site's looking very good at the moment.
92/108 #PWC2026
@lincsbirding.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
A brief catch-up of the #PWC2026 feed while we are away and it is great to see so much activity. To view and follow, you can do so by clicking this link: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Also, if you want to be in the January review, remember to sign-up and/or fill in your scores and highlights soon.
Also, if you want to be in the January review, remember to sign-up and/or fill in your scores and highlights soon.
Reposted by Neil Burt
An apparent Kumlien’s Gull, a Common Crane, the Bluetail and some intrigue around 7 ‘winter geese’ made for an interesting week in Kent birding. See all details as well as an update on the Kent year list at the end of January on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding
February 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
An apparent Kumlien’s Gull, a Common Crane, the Bluetail and some intrigue around 7 ‘winter geese’ made for an interesting week in Kent birding. See all details as well as an update on the Kent year list at the end of January on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding
Reposted by Neil Burt
Today's wet Whitstable lunch-bench. Shared my bag of chips with the gulls.
Nothing on the sea at all until this beast floated by to see what was the fuss was about. If only I'd bought some fish.
#KentNature
Great Northern Diver
Nothing on the sea at all until this beast floated by to see what was the fuss was about. If only I'd bought some fish.
#KentNature
Great Northern Diver
February 5, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Today's wet Whitstable lunch-bench. Shared my bag of chips with the gulls.
Nothing on the sea at all until this beast floated by to see what was the fuss was about. If only I'd bought some fish.
#KentNature
Great Northern Diver
Nothing on the sea at all until this beast floated by to see what was the fuss was about. If only I'd bought some fish.
#KentNature
Great Northern Diver
A bit of sunshine for a change on my after work #patchbirding walk. The flood waters have receded slightly. A vocal pair of Ravens was a patch year ✅ with the #PWC2026 list moving on to 60 species. The Green Sandpiper was back at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir along with the Stonechat pair.
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
A bit of sunshine for a change on my after work #patchbirding walk. The flood waters have receded slightly. A vocal pair of Ravens was a patch year ✅ with the #PWC2026 list moving on to 60 species. The Green Sandpiper was back at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir along with the Stonechat pair.
Reposted by Neil Burt
A long walk around the Scotney complex. 3 Whooper Swans had moved to Kent, Little Owl sunbathing, 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, Avocet & Little Stint, Jack Snipe & the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still coming to my Sunflower chip feeder.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
February 4, 2026 at 7:23 PM
A long walk around the Scotney complex. 3 Whooper Swans had moved to Kent, Little Owl sunbathing, 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, Avocet & Little Stint, Jack Snipe & the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still coming to my Sunflower chip feeder.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
Reposted by Neil Burt
A gloomy day on Walland Marsh eventually found 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 13 White-fronted Geese among a flock of feral Greylag Geese, all rather distant unfortunately. Thanks to @neilburt.bsky.social for alerting us to the presence of 7 Grey Geese yesterday in the rain.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
February 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM
A gloomy day on Walland Marsh eventually found 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 13 White-fronted Geese among a flock of feral Greylag Geese, all rather distant unfortunately. Thanks to @neilburt.bsky.social for alerting us to the presence of 7 Grey Geese yesterday in the rain.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
A murky start to the day but an excellent woodland session on top of the Kentish North Downs with a superb Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit (all 5 Tit species noted), Treecreeper & Nuthatch, Goldcrest & GS Woodpecker. Red Kite near Tenterden on route to the flatlands.
February 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
A murky start to the day but an excellent woodland session on top of the Kentish North Downs with a superb Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit (all 5 Tit species noted), Treecreeper & Nuthatch, Goldcrest & GS Woodpecker. Red Kite near Tenterden on route to the flatlands.
Reposted by Neil Burt
2 adult and juvenile Whooper Swans (scarce in Sussex) at Jurys Gap East Sussex today. The garden Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? has now survived January, despite regular visits from Sparrowhawks and the weather.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
January 31, 2026 at 7:20 PM
2 adult and juvenile Whooper Swans (scarce in Sussex) at Jurys Gap East Sussex today. The garden Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? has now survived January, despite regular visits from Sparrowhawks and the weather.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
Another early start, this time at Godmersham where the River Stour was still in flood. A pair of Greenfinches showed by the church. 6 Greylags flying around. Linnets & Fieldfares nearby.
January 31, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Another early start, this time at Godmersham where the River Stour was still in flood. A pair of Greenfinches showed by the church. 6 Greylags flying around. Linnets & Fieldfares nearby.
Another stodgy walk after work for #patchbirding. Made it to the Hothfield flood storage reservoir where it was a pleasant surprise to find the pair of Stonechats, the first sighting of them this year. I thought the flood water might have moved them on. Also 1 Common Gull East. #PWC2026 #59 species.
January 30, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Another stodgy walk after work for #patchbirding. Made it to the Hothfield flood storage reservoir where it was a pleasant surprise to find the pair of Stonechats, the first sighting of them this year. I thought the flood water might have moved them on. Also 1 Common Gull East. #PWC2026 #59 species.
Reposted by Neil Burt
If you haven't signed up yet, and want to be included in the first review of #PWC2026, then follow this link to the sign-up sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Happy birding!
Happy birding!
PWC 2026 scores.xls
docs.google.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:43 AM
If you haven't signed up yet, and want to be included in the first review of #PWC2026, then follow this link to the sign-up sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Happy birding!
Happy birding!
Another #Patchbirding walk, this time covering the very flooded paths around Singleton Lake & Godinton Park. A female Siskin and 3 Cormorants were added to the #PWC2026 year list. That’s #57 species now for Jan-26.
January 29, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Another #Patchbirding walk, this time covering the very flooded paths around Singleton Lake & Godinton Park. A female Siskin and 3 Cormorants were added to the #PWC2026 year list. That’s #57 species now for Jan-26.
A lot more water 💦 than birds on today’s #patchbirding walk. A very flooded Hothfield Waterfall Lake & the Flood Storage Reservoir was starting to flood again too. A Coal Tit was new for #PWC2026 and a Sparrowhawk displayed overhead as the storm cleared to the north.
January 27, 2026 at 9:45 PM
A lot more water 💦 than birds on today’s #patchbirding walk. A very flooded Hothfield Waterfall Lake & the Flood Storage Reservoir was starting to flood again too. A Coal Tit was new for #PWC2026 and a Sparrowhawk displayed overhead as the storm cleared to the north.
42 Bewick’s Swans all present and correct in the usual field on Walland Marsh (3 juvs & ‘Nadine’), near Ashentree Lane. At least 11 White-fronted Geese back in the fields near the Woolpack Reedbed with the Greylags, viewed from Hook Wall. Up to 4 Ravens in the Dungeness area…
January 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM
42 Bewick’s Swans all present and correct in the usual field on Walland Marsh (3 juvs & ‘Nadine’), near Ashentree Lane. At least 11 White-fronted Geese back in the fields near the Woolpack Reedbed with the Greylags, viewed from Hook Wall. Up to 4 Ravens in the Dungeness area…
Finished off the day at Funton Creek and Lower Halstow where masses of Wildfowl and Waders were being harassed by an immature Peregrine, Marsh Harriers & 2 Common Buzzards. 2 Greenshanks noted along with some showy Turnstones. Redwings with Song Thrushes in the horse paddocks.
January 24, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Finished off the day at Funton Creek and Lower Halstow where masses of Wildfowl and Waders were being harassed by an immature Peregrine, Marsh Harriers & 2 Common Buzzards. 2 Greenshanks noted along with some showy Turnstones. Redwings with Song Thrushes in the horse paddocks.
A quick pit stop at Milton Creek, Sittingbourne where a showy Spotted Redshank was actively feeding and performing its swimming technique.
January 24, 2026 at 8:05 PM
A quick pit stop at Milton Creek, Sittingbourne where a showy Spotted Redshank was actively feeding and performing its swimming technique.