Pittsburgher in UK: December 2010

Thursday, 16 December 2010

LAST DAY AS THE SANDWICH & PEGWELL BAY BIODIVERSITY WARDEN

Final day as the Biodiversity Warden at Sandwich & Pegwell Bay after a 3 month sabbatical working with the Kent Wildlife Trust on all aspects of nature conservation.

And I have to say that the wardens I have worked with are a dedicated hard working and at times entertaining bunch (You know who you are !)

As a child I dreamt of working as a Warden in some far off place but circumstances led me towards Orthopaedics.

And for those with a deep interest in the natural world you never really lose that feeling.

My final day was spent watching a group of around 100 Waxwings on Stonelees as well as working with Volunteers clearing the trees and scrub from the ancient duneland pasture.

Great end to a great 3 months.

WAXWINGS STONELEES

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

WAXWINGS

Yes finally spotted the Waxwings few hundred on Pegwell Reserve around 10am. ! According to Phil later another 600 between Stonelees and the Golf Course.

Monday, 13 December 2010

WEEKEND WELL SPENT

Saturday was spent clearing scrub & trees from the Stonelees area working with the Kent Wildlife Trust and other volunteers with the ongoing struggle against non-native species !

The bonus at the end of the exercise was a cook up of the usual Baked potatoes,sausages and beans with a sprinkle of good conversation with like minded people.

Kent Wildlife Trust Volunteers Stonelees

Birds sighted above the norm were a Woodcock,Fieldfare,Great Crested Grebe near the River Mouth and the Peregrine.

Sunday once again was a clear winters day with a walk around Ham Fen

Main birds were Snipe,Great Spotted Woodpecker,Kestrel,Moorhen,Wren,Robin,Fieldfare,Jay and a Cetti's Warbler calling in the distance.

Returned to Pegwell & Stonelees with a walk around the old Richborough Port.

POND PEGWELL BAY

TURKEYTAIL HAM FEN

LEAFY LICHEN

CRAMP BALLS HAM FEN

RICHBOROUGH SECRET PORT

CHAIR CUT OUT OF TRUNK STONELEES

Saturday, 4 December 2010

THE TRIPLE

Friday spent time walking around Pegwell,Stonelees and Ham Fen and as a close friend said to me later that day its time I got a real job !

Ham Fen produced a variety of birds from Lapwing,Green Woodpecker,Grey Wagtail,Snipe,Fieldfare,Song Thrush,Blackbird,Robin,Rook,Carrion Crow and Brambling.

SOAY SHEEP

GREEN WOODPECKER

KONIC PONIES

STREAM HAM FEN

BIRD IMPRESSION IN SNOW

Next stop was Pegwell and Stonelees nothing to add to the usual list of waders but a nice view of the Long Eared Owl gliding across the marsh near the Concrete Tank Stoppers.