Good to see the Purple Heron at Burham Marsh this evening. Was great to see it come out into the open after it spending a while in a ditch with just its head out. Was happy to get it in flight going NNE around 18:58.

Some digiscoped birds from today at Cliffe. Highlights were Barwit, Spotshank, Turnstone, 8 Greenshank, 2 Wheatear, Red Kite, 22 Whimbrel, 2 Barnacle Geese, Swifts. Good singing warbler numbers with 60 Sedge Warbler, 50 Whitethroat and 12 Lesser Whitethroat at best.

Nice evening on patch at Cliffe again. At least 21 Yellow Wagtails overall. Including 2 Blue-headed Wagtails and a Channel Wagtail! Also a Greenland Wheatear was a nice surprise as well. Very good birds to see despite being subs.

A minimum of 21 Hawfinches today in Kent but very distant. Also singing Firecrests and Yellowhammers in the area. A few Med Gulls over too.

Mega day in Kent on Saturday with Robs Birding & Evan Atkinson. Had 15 Hawfinch in Penshurst, went to Dunge after and got RTD, GND, Smew, Kittiwake, Casp Gull, Razorbill, Fulmar, BlackRed & 3sp of Egret. Saw Scaup at Scotney! Finished at Oare with Rob where we had Hen Harrier & Med Gull

Patching again at Cliffe Pools. Did a WeBS count too. Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and a Male Merlin were the highlights but the best bird was definitely a White-fronted Goose on the neighbouring marshes. Today was NOT a day for photography 🤦‍♂️.

Took a trip to North Foreland at midday on Wednesday for an hour seawatch while visiting family. 5 Fulmars were my highlight. Close enough to touch! Also just over 20 Red-throated Divers, Razorbill, Kittiwakes, Gannet etc. Some BOC shots and a Digiscoped shot of them.

Went to Oare last Sunday and got the Red-necked Grebe. Was very happy to see 2 Male Hen Harriers together as well. Also Barn Owl.

My first full year ringing and it has been excellent and made tons of progress! The evidence is all the white T shirts made purple from Blackcraps in late August and all the holes in my fingers from far too many GRSWO extractions! Here are my highlights this year...

Brilliant year birding for me and wouldn't have been nearly as good without the great company throughout the year. Ive had 35 UK lifers! Would have been 36 but got Mealy Redpoll taken away. Here are some of my favourites from this year.

My first year patch birding Cliffe Pools. I started in March and have had some brilliant birds including 7 Species of Tern (managed photos of Casp, Comm, Sandwich, Black, WWBT and Little). Cant wait do it again in 2025!

I had a Kestrel in my hand when I saw that someone sent through a photo of an American Yellow Warbler they found in New Hythe! I went down about an hour later after ringing and the bird was showing well (although my photos suggest otherwise!) Great to see so many friends too!

Ringed at Northward Hill. Caught my first ever Kestrel! Plus Brambling overhead. While I was ringing the Kestrel I almost let it go out of shock when i got a text through from someone that found an American Yellow Warbler in New Hythe! Another post to follow of that...

Out ringing in Luddesdown area this morning. Some of the highlights.

Had my last day at school today and I got a text that a Hawfinch was at Gravesend Promenade this AM, I rushed out of school down the road 4 hours later and looked around and I had this stunning bird drop in with some Greenfinches and it stayed with a tit flock for half an hour.

@patchbirding.bsky.social at Cliffe Pools doing a #WeBS with @murrayorchard.bsky.social I got Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Turnstone, Spotshank and my first Sanderling (finally 🙄) and Barnacle Geese for Cliffe list. Also great numbers - 316 Grey Plover, 4905 Dunlin and a few hundred Golden Plover.

Bar-tailed Godwits are some of my favourite waders and I had one close in at Gravesend Promenade today (my secondary patch). This is only my second site record too!

Another CES done at Northward Hill on Sunday. Some nice birds in the area too.

Ringed on Sunday at RSPB Northward Hill to do a CES. Caught 2 individuals of my favourite bird and some other nice bits. You may be able to tell I got pecked to death by 5 woodpeckers. Walked to Cliffe after for the evening and got a few Goldeneye and some waders.