Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust

Time now (19.58/7.58pm), 28 June 2006.

The Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust have a good website: http://www.sbbo.co.uk/

The above link has some information on Natural History in relation to the area and also lists of daily sightings.

Today: A Thrush chick (being fed by a tourist), several fairly big fish just in front of Barton Mill weir, plus hundreds of tiny very very young fish showelled at the water's edge. There are one or two Seagull chicks lurking about on Canterbury Christchurch University campus. The flowers and plants on the same campus all look great.

Various

Time now 19.32/7.32pm Wednesday June 28 2006

Various spots over the last five days. Friends have been in France. I am trying to replace my passport for my trip to Kenya next month in which birdlife will be a strong point of interest.

On Saturday (24th) morning I saw at least three Green Woodpecker's and heard more. I saw a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. Very soon after this I turned and saw a rather beautiful feral cat. This was near to a farm. It moved away slowly but surely. One may have been a jouvenile due to its small appearance. Kestral. Almost certainly an Owl. This activity all along and around the footpath/paths leading from Vauxhall Industrial Estate to approximately the Broad Oak area on the edge of Canterbury.

WEB SITE : Have recently discovered BirdLife International website at http://www.birdlife.org/index.html This is an extraordinary source of information about Birds and conservation.

On Monday (26th) I cycled to Sandwich. I saw a Fox at around 14.30 (2.30 pm) and heard a Cuckoo. Ducklings. In the course of the day I saw a Jay, a Kestral, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, a Marsh Harrier (near the fields near Reculver) and a Little Greeb baby/jouvenile. All good fun. Visited the Bird Observatory in Sandwich Bay area and briefly checked out the outside of the Nature Reserve near the main road at Monkton. Passed through Minster and Monkton and walked through East Blean wood in the late evening. Saw a Brown Hare in a field.

Last night (27th). Many Rabbits at hospital grounds. House Martins, Pigeons, and spectacular airbourne activity by two to three Herring Gulls. Bat. Great.

Summer in full bloom

It has been hot recently in Canterbury over the last couple of weeks. Temperatures have reached 28 degrees celcius I believe.

Time now 16.44/4.44pm

Stour, Dover etc

Last Thursday (15th June) a walk along the Stour from Westgate tower to the bridge next to the Miller's Arms. A large Pike was gliding around under the water and pushing itself downstream over the rocks. Ducklings. A clear view of a bat from the bridge next to the Miller's arms.

On Saturday morning I went out early (at around 5am) and saw swans among other birds. I walked around Broad Oak Nature Reserve next to the river (the outside: the gate was locked). Riverbank very overgrown.

Various sightings on Monday during a cycling trip to Dover. There were a large number of Rooks nearing Dover on farmland. A small collection of Cockateils and Budgerigars were located in a park next to Dover castle (13 Cockateils and 8 Budgerigars, approximately). Highlight was a Little Owl on the return journey. Also a Hare, which dashed off very near to the road.

Fox early this morning at Kent College grounds (approx. 1.30am)

Time now: 16:41/4.41pm. June 23 2006

Canterbury Environmental Education Centre

17.46/5.46pm 15th June 2006

Canterbury Environmental Education Centre online: www.econet.org.uk

Also see interesting wildlife info on this website: www.naturegrid.org.uk

Canterbury Broad Oak Centre (www.econet.org.uk) overlooks the Broad Oak Nature Reserve located at Vauxhall Lakes, Canterbury.

Blog name change: Wildlife Kent to "Wildlife Canterbury"

I have changed the name of the blog from Wildlife Kent to Wildlife Canterbury.

To all readers: Please note that there is a comment link underneath each and every post. Please add your thoughts.

Also, N.B. the web address of the blog has not changed.

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TROUT

Time now 19:36/7.36pm June 14th 2006.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 13th June 2006) a beautiful Trout in the Stour river. This fish was of beauty and harmony in form.

Saw baby ducks. The Canterbury Christchurch University Moorhens have six (6) offspring. They have a pair of adult parents. I think they are doing very well.

Fox and rabbits and Jay, Egret and Woodpecker

Time now 19.32/7.32pm 14-06-2006 (Wednesday).

Monday (5th June), a fox sighted at around eight in the evening and many rabbits, all near to Kent College, Canterbury.

Today (14th). Fortunately was out in the country this morning by virtue of a bike ride. Jay, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and perhaps most spectacularly, a Little Egret.

Interesting bird sightings. Also, lots of wet weather.

Three Little Greebs

Current time approx 19:45/7.45pm, Date: 12/06/2006

On Monday 5th June 2006 near Marsh Side (Chislet Marsh) 3 Little Greeb. Little Greeb baby birds. Cuckoo; Kestral soaring.

Saturday 10th June Greater Spotted Woodpecker (on bike ride to Rhodes Minnis).

Sunday 11th June a.m. Medium sized Pike (1). Several Perch (striped fish). Kestral. I think I saw a Cetti's Warbler.

Woodpeckers, Gulls, Buzzards, Pikes, Roe Deer

17.08/5.02pm Friday 2nd June: Jay (at around 12 'o clock) over Hamill Terrace car park. Green woodpecker (at around three thirty in the afternoon) at Chartham Hatch crossing.

Saturday June 3rd: Green woodpecker (around 0945am) between Canterbury and Stelling, near some orchards.

I travelled to London on Saturday 3rd and noticed a number of Black-headed gulls at Faversham. Realised these birds had reduced in my sightings in Canterbury. One Kestral.

Sunday 4th June (today). Two buzzards separately (around 11 to 12 'o clock) near Wakefield. Common Gulls at Faversham station.

Beautiful weather this weekend. Also saw Pikes in the canal and a Roe Deer nearby to it in Leeds.