Bird Lists
KENT WILDLIFE TRUST
RUXLEY GRAVEL PITS NATURE RESERVE
ANNUAL BIRD REPORT FOR 2018
Prepared by Derek McWalter, email address;
Please may you email him a copy of your sightings for Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve the season 2019/2020? This would be much appreciated.
SUMMARY
The early part of the year was mild. But that changed on 22 February with the arrival of the “Beast from the East” with cold weather and snow lasting to the 4 March. The rest of the year was mild and during the summer months record warm temperatures were recorded.
The Dartford Ringing Group made five visits to the site and I will indicate the birds ringed and retrapped against their entry in the report.
The Great White Egret that was seen at the end of 2017 remained on the reserve until the end of January.
Peregrine Falcon was seen on several occasions also Egyptian Geese, Mandarin Duck and a Tawny Owl.
Also seen on 8 February was a Pochard/Tufted Duck hybrid.
SYSTEMATIC LIST
LITTLE GREBE
Present from January to 22 March and again from 14 August to the end of the year. Counts 9 on 5, January, 8 on 6 March, 12 on 18 and 28 November and 20 December.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE
Up to 6 birds seen throughout the year. Two birds successfully bred, five young birds were seen. One pair with three, the other two. All five were seen until 2 September.
Final outcome not clear.
CORMORANT
Present in small numbers throughout the year. Counts of 4 on 9 January, 6 on 30 January and 7 on 21 September.
LITTLE EGRET
Present most months with counts of 4 during August and September.
GREAT WHITE EGRET
The single bird was present on the reserve until the end of January.
GREY HERON
Seen throughout the year with counts of 7 on 7 January and 6 on 14 April, 4 August and 13 October.
MUTE SWAN
3 birds seen during January and up to 10 February. Then one pair nested and fledged
6 young 5 on which survived. During December they were joined by 5 other young birds.
GREYLAG GOOSE
Up to 7 birds seen from 27 January to 15 July. Then single birds on 18 and 28 November and 2 birds on 23 December,
CANADA GOOSE
Seen throughout the year. Counts of 42 on 28 February, 24 on 19 April, 26 on 14 August, 58 on 18 November and 82 on 23 December. Up to 13 young birds were seen during May and June. Final outcome not known.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE
2 birds seen on 25 and 30 January and again on 9 June. 1 bird seen on 16 June and
5 on 6 December.
WIGEON
2 birds seen on 5 January and 1 on 3 November.
GADWALL
Seen throughout the year. 31 on 14 January, 26 on 24 February, 35 on 19 August,
40 on 6 September, 78 on 22 September, 76 on 2 October and 77 on 23 December.
TEAL
3 birds seen on 28 February, 4 on 3 March, 2 on 6 March, 1 on 18 July, 1 on 14 August and 1 on 17 December.
MALLARD
Present on the reserve every month. Counts of 11 on 11 January, 15 on 10 February,
14 on 29 April, 12 on 7 June, 13 with 3 young on 27 June, 5 with 3 young on 27 August, 25 with 4 young on 27 September and 9 on 23 December. The outcome of the ducklings is not known.
SHOVELER
Up to 19 birds seen January to 19 April then up to 12 on dates August to December with a count of 23 on20 December.
POCHARD
Seen January to March then 3 on 20 May then from August to December. Counts of
20 on 9 January, 11 on 10 February, 12 on 28 November and 14 on 17 December.
TUFTED DUCK
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 137 on 17 January, 139 on 7 February, 9
Ducklings seen on dates in July, outcome unknown. 94 on 27 September, 111 on 17 November, 140 on 17 December and 172 on 23 December.
MANDERIN DUCK
2 seen on 22 March.
COMMON BUZZARD
Seen over the reserve every month, 2 birds seen on 1 April, 6 July and 7 October.
SPARROWHAWK
1 bird seen most months.
KESTREL
1 bird seen most months.
HOBBY
1 bird seen on 27 September.
PEREGRINE FALCON
1 bird seen o 18 March, 3 May, and 30 September. 2 birds seen on 6 September.
PHEASANT
2 birds seen on 25 January, 4 on 15 April, 1 on 21 July and 1 on 23 December.
WATER RAIL
Present on the reserve all year. A count of 4 birds on 17 December.
MOORHEN
Present throughout the year. A count of 15 on 15 September, 7 young birds seen on
4 and 19 August, outcome not known.
COOT
Present throughout the year in large numbers. Counts of 220 on 9 January, 157 on 3 March, 129 on 11 August, 186 on 9 October and 226 on 18 November. 28 young birds were seen on 30 May outcome not known.
LAPWING
7 birds seen on 15 July.
SNIPE
2 birds seen on 28 February and 3 on 3 March.
WOODCOCK
1 bird seen on 28 February.
COMMON SANDPIPER
1 bird seen on 3 May.
BLACK HEADED GULL
Seen on the reserve most months. Counts of 139 on 2 January,174 on 20 February, 209 on 15 July and 197 on 9 December.
COMMON GULL
Seen on the reserve January to March and then September to December. Counts of 12 on 9 January, 13 on 3 March, 11 on 18 November and 12 on 23 December.
LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL
1 or 2 birds seen every month. Count of 5 on 29 April and 4 on 7 June.
HERRING GULL
Seen every month, usually between 3 and 20 birds but counts of 24 on 27 August, 54 on 7 November, 23 on 2 December, 43 on 17 December and 77 on 23 December.
FERAL PIGEON
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 51 on 19 and 27 August.
STOCK DOVE
Seen on the reserve most months 1 to 4 birds. 5 birds seen on 3 March, 6 on 9 September, 23 on 27 September and 8 on 26 October
WOOD PIGEON
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 40 on 11 January29 on 4 April, 48 on 29 April, 34 on 6 May, 39 on 21 July, 46 on 23 July and 34 on 6 December.
COLLARD DOVE
Occasional sightings of 1, 2 or 3 birds.
TAWNY OWL
1 bird heard on 3 March.
RING NECKED PARAKEET
See or heard now on every visit to the reserve. Normally 1 to 10 birds. 21 seen on 13 October.
SWIFT
Seen on the reserve from 11 May to 27 August. Counts of 15 birds on 11 May, 12 on 2 June, 26 on 9 June, 16 on 18 July and just the 1 bird on 27 August.
KINGFISHER
1 or 2 birds are seen most months, although 3 birds were seen on 21 July.
2 birds were ringed.
GREEN WOODPECKER
1 to 3 birds seen or heard every month.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
1 or 2 birds seen every month.
SAND MARTIN
Seen from 28 April to 22 September. 32 birds seen on 28 April then small counts until
3 birds on 22 September.
SWALLOW
First seen on 4 April. Last bird seen on 22 September. A count of 23 on $ April, 47 on 29 April, 10 on 6 September and 3 on 22 September.
HOUSE MARTIN
First bird seen on 4 April, last birds seen on 22 September. A count of 2 on 4 April, 30 on 29 April, 30 on 25 August and 8 on 22 September.
GREY WAGTAIL
1or 2 birds seen most months. 3 on 3 birds seen on 3 May.2 young birds seen on 30 May.
PIED WAGTAIL
1 bird seen on 30 September.
WREN
In good numbers all year round on the reserve. Counts of 7 on 16 March, 13 on 14 April, 10 on 25 May and 9 on 16 August. 8 birds were ringed and 1 retrapped.
DUNNOCK
Up to 4 birds seen every month. Counts of 5 on 2 June and 27 September. 2 birds were ringed and 2 retrapped.
ROBIN
Seen in good numbers on the reserve all year. Counts of 7 on 11 January, 11 on 25 January, 9 on 11 March, 11 on 4 April, 12 on 5 April, 10 on 5 May, 12 on 13 September and 14 on “9 September. 3 young birds were seen in July and August.
6 birds were ringed and 2 retrapped.
NIGHTINGALE
1 bird singing on 19 April, 3, 5, 6 and 7 May.
BLACKBIRD
Seen on the reserve all year. Counts of 10 birds on 28 February, 9 on 12 May 15 on 12 June and 7 on 20 December. 1 bird was ringed.
WHINCHAT
2 birds seen on 26 May.
FIELDFARE
4 birds seen on 3 March, 20 on 27 September, 2 on 30 September, 15 on 28 November and 5 on 6 December.
SONG THRUSH
Seen and heard on the reserve every month. Counts between 1 and 7 birds.
1 bird was ringed
REDWING
1or 2 birds seen during January to 18 March, 3 birds seen 13 October and 23 December, 2 birds seen 3 and 8 November and 6 December.
MISTLE THRUSH
1 bird seen on 27 January and 27 June. 2 birds seen on 11 March and 20 September.
REED WARBLER
4 birds seen or heard on 28 April. Last birds 2 on 6 September. Counts of 14 on 6 May, 12 on 2 and 7 June and 10 on 25 and 30 May. 31 birds were ringed and 11 retrapped.
CETTIS WARBLER
Seen or heard every month. Counts of 5 singing males on 4 April and 12 May.
4 birds were ringed and 3 retrapped.
LESSER WHITETHROAT
1 bird seen on 6 May.
WHITETHROAT
Up to 3 birds singing between 5 May and 18 July.
GARDEN WARBLER
1 bird singing on 3, 5, 17 and 25 May. 2 birds on 20 May and 1 bird on 9 and 12 June.
1 bird on 21 July.
BLACKCAP
First heard singing on 4 April when 13 birds were counted. Then between 1 and 12 until 22 September. 15 birds were ringed.
CHIFFCHAFF
Seen or heard on the reserve every month. Counts of 2 on 7 January, 8 on 4 April,
9 on 5 May7 on 11 August, 9 on 6 September and 6 on 9 September. 10 birds were ringed and 1 retrapped.
WILLOW WARBLER
2 birds were singing on 4 April 3 on 14 April and 1 on 28 April and 1 on 19 August.
GOLDCREST
Seen or heard on the reserve every month. Counts of 3 on 9 January, 2 on 8 November and 1 on 2 December. 1 bird ringed.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
1 bird seen on 26 May and 18 September.
LONG TAILED TIT
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 10 on 11 January, 11 on 22 February, 10 on 27 August, 17 on 23 September 26 on 3 November, 16 on 23 November and 17 on 22 December. 15 birds were ringed and 3 retrapped.
BLUE TIT
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 8 on 25 January, 6 on 4 April, 8 on 19 April, 7 on 7 June, 10 on 14 August, 6 on 28 November and 4 on 23 December.
14 birds were ringed and 3 retrapped.
GREAT TIT
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 8 on 14 January, 7 on 10 February, 6 on 16 March, 8 on 4 April, 6 on 7 June, 8 on 14 July, 7 on 29 September and 4 on 23 December. 10 birds were ringed and 1 retrapped.
JAY
1 to 3 birds seen every month but also counts of 4 on 14 April, 5 on 6 May, 4 on 27 June, 5 on 15 July, 6 on 11 August, 6 on 29 September and 4 on 23 December.
MAGPIE
Seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 10 on 17 January, 22 on 20 February,
10 on 15 April, 8 on 13 September and 12 on 23 December.
JACKDAW
Present on the reserve all year, normally in small numbers, but with counts of 13 on 6 March, 13 on 7 June, 59 on 23 September, 81 on 13 October and 118 on 26 October.
CARRION CROW
1 to 9 birds seen on the reserve every month. Counts of 13 on 12 June and 32 on 11 August.
STARLING
1 bird seen on 7 and 12 May. 6 birds on 25 May, 21 on 9 June, 40 on 4 August, 35 on 11 August, 37 on 2 September and 4 on 13 October.
HOUSE SPARROW
2 birds seen on 20 May.
CHAFFINCH
1 to 4 birds seen most months. Counts of 10 on 17 February, 16 on 30 September, 8 on 26 October, 12 on 3 November, 5 on 8 November, 10 on 14 November, 5 on 2 December and 6 on 20 December. 2 birds were ringed.
GREENFINCH
1 bird seen on 7 May, 3 on 26 May and 1 on 9 and 16 June.
GOLDFINCH
Present on the reserve all year. Counts of 5 on 11 January, 6 on 28 February, 6 on 11 March, 2 on 9 June, 4 on 11 August, 2 on 29 September, 6 on 13 October, 11 on 17 November, 30 on 28 November, 25 on 2 December and 22 on 22 December.
SISKIN
15 birds seen on11 January and 11 on 14 January.
LINNET
2 birds seen on 3 May, 1 on 7 May, 2 on 18 July, 5 on 9 October and 1 on 13 October.
REDPOLL
5 birds seen on 6 March and 1 on 14 August.
BULLFINCH
1 to 4 birds seen on the reserve every month. A count of 6 on 10 February, 6 on 9 June and 5 on25 July. 1 bird was ringed.
REED BUNTING
1 bird seen on 4, 14 and 28 April, 5, 12 and 30 May, 9 and 12 June, 6, 9 and 13 September. 1 bird was ringed and 1 retrapped.
I would like to thank Albert Watson, Martin Watts, Jo East, Linda Graham, The Dartford Ringing Group and Richard Herbert for sending in their sightings.
It should be noted that without the sightings sent in by Richard Herbert it would
not have been possible to create this report. He sent in 95 days of 3-4 hour observation.
Derek McWalter
My ref; C:\Documents and Settings\Linda\My Documents\MARTIN\RGPNR\bird lists\Bird Report 2018 rgpnr ver apr 2019.doc