Fordwich lake- Nr Canterbury, Kent (1 Viewer)

[michaelmacey]

Had a good evening with a few notable birds walking around fordwich today, It was pretty overcast until the last hour when the sun came out and transformed the Lake. It has to be 1 of the most picturesque lakes in the region. (Mind you, the fishings crap).

Parked the car and heard what i thought was a Nightingale after a hunt round im pretty sure i saw it, along with Robin-Dunnock-Blackbird-Chaffinch-Mallard-Coot-Great crested grebe-great tit. A fair start as i hadnt yet locked the gate behind me.

I walked up the straight past 'Riches' and 'Little riches' fishing swims where i noted Whitethroat-Moorhen-Mute swan-Cormorant(uurhg)Treecreeper. As i got to the spit, an arm of land that goes into the lake (forming the canal stretch behind it) i heard a Cuckoo and saw Greylag-Herring gull-Songthrush-Reed warbler.

The deeps toward the end of the lake had a large number of Great crested grebe, there may be as many as 20+ on the lake. I saw what i think was a Willow warbler at the end of the lake, and had a quick look at the Trout pool. There was a Heron on the far side, which i made a poor job of digiscoping. On my way back to the carpark i saw a Cock pheasant on the footpath and a Wren near the end of the straight. I had 1 last look across the lake from the disabled swims trying to spot the Cuckoo but got a quick glimpse of a Kingfisher to end the day with. Apart from hearing Cetti's twice as i walked the straight, that was my evening. The 2nd pic is of the river Stour, which runs behind Fordwich Lake.

Mick

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[Mickymouse]

Nice one Mick, I am well over due a visit to Fordwich lakes, did you know that Fordwich is the smallest town in England? We visited the little church there a few years ago and it has always amused me that we had to get the keys from out of the Pub.

Mick

 

[michaelmacey]

I had heard that somewhere mick. In the Compleat Angler by Issak Walton, written in 1653, he mentions the river stour for its Sea trout fishing, but back in them days it was called Forditch.

It was nice to see the treecreeper again, thats 3 different places this year and the 2nd time iv seen 1 at Fordwich. The straight road from the carpark to the spit was alive with bird song, i didnt know where to look first. What did amaze me, was the fact i was there for 3 hours and didnt see 1 single person. No dog walkers, no-one. Mick

 

[michaelmacey]

I went to Littlebourne lakes today for a few hours fishing. And spent the day surrounded by Linnets-Goldfinches-Yellowhammers-chaffinches & Great tits. There were at least 6 Yellowhammers that all spread themselves around the small lake i was fishing and sung at once. I had 1 behind me. I was looking on a tree top at 2Linnet and 1Yellowhammer when the male Yellowhammer swooped in quick and nailed the wife good and propper. The Linnets didnt bat an eyelid. In all, there must have been 15 or more Finches around the lake, plus a Skylark which appeared every now and then. And i caught 4 carp, good day. Mick

10lb 6oz - Not very birdlike i know, but the birds were watching

 

[michaelmacey]

Saw a good close up of a Cuckoo today, right above me with the sun on it, at the carpark end of Fordwich Lake. Pretty hard to see anything in all the cover they now have but managed 37 birds.

C/dove - blackbird - Rook - starling - H/sparrow - H/martin - Song thrush - w/pigeon - chaffinch - reed warbler - great crested grebe - c/tern - coot - whitethroat - Willow warbler(i think) - wren - dunnock - moorhen - magpie - swan - great tit - blue tit - carrion crow - greylag - heron - cormorant - herring gull - jay - robin - kestrel - canada goose - greater spotted woodpecker - chiffchaff - mallards - blackcap(female) - greenfinch

Not a bad walk either, spoke to the anglers, about 20 carp out over the weekend. So me rods and me bins will be back tomorrow night. Mick

 

[Mickymouse]

Mick have you ever been to Monkton nature reserve(The Chalk Pit) I spent a splendid couple of hours there this afternoon, I'm sure your little one would like the visitor centre. http://www.mnr.manston.net/

Mick

 

[michaelmacey]

I havnt been in with Paige since she was in a pram, and it was quiye late in the year. I pass there fairly regular, so i should pop in really. Il give it a go this weekend i think. Mick

PS Just had 6 hours fishing at Fordwich, watched a carp feeding all evening over my bait and didnt take the hook. Heard Cuckoo, Tawny owl, and spent ages watching a bat flying around our heads (very close) and into the line a couple of times. All good fun, back on wednesday for that fish.

 

[michaelmacey]

Had a right giggle tonight, sitting in front of Fordwich lake witha rod in me rests and a lap full of line and tackle making some rigs, when a baby Wren flew out the tree behind me and landed straight in me lap. No bigger than a golf ball, i dare'nt of touched the little blighter, it looked so frail. It rested for a few seconds and launched itself into the bush overhanging the water. I thought i was gonna have to dive in (id have used my net really) if it needed saving.

Saw all the usual stuff there, but did have a cuckoo visit the tree opposite for a good half hour.

ps, Dont ask about the fishing Mick

 

[Mickymouse]

What about the fishing?

Mick

 

[michaelmacey]

After getting a Personel best Tench last night, 5lb 13oz, i didnt get a bite tonight, oh well.

 

[JimMorris]

Hello you Kent boys,
Just found this thread, I wish it had been 2 weeks ago as I was on Sheppey seeing family for a week and visited a friend in Westbere half a mile from your Lakes. I could have had a few hours birding if I had known the lakes were there. I shall give it a go next time I visit Sheppey.

My brother told me he has seen 3 big Owls sitting on a pipeline alongside the Pheiffer drug company site that is somewhere near you. He's seen them 3 times so keep an eye out if you are around that way. Happy birding from a Sheppey'ite living in Staffs.
Jim Morris

 

[michaelmacey]

Cheers Jim
The pfizer's drug company is in Sandwich, about 10 miles from Fordwich/Westbere. There are a lot of good places to visit around that area, with some nice walks along the River Stour also. I will say 1 thing though. If you ever find yourself Birding around these sites, pop a bottle of insect repellent in your bag. Even through the day some areas can be really nasty. There are a lot of boggy swampy bits as you walk the footpaths. Other than that, hope you make it sometime. Mick

 

[Mickymouse]

Hi Jim, Westbere is nice if you find yourself there with a bit of time to spare, just wander off in the direction of Fordwich and you will come to Westbere lakes first, I'm well overdue another visit there myself.

Mick

 

[GMS]

My brother told me he has seen 3 big Owls sitting on a pipeline alongside the Pheiffer drug company site that is somewhere near you. He's seen them 3 times so keep an eye out if you are around that way. Happy birding from a Sheppey'ite living in Staffs.
Jim Morris

Yes, and he will surely see them again as they are decoys at the companies waste water facility
Seen Barn Owl close to the old power station though (which is just down the road from there) so there is still a chance to see some real ones.

 

[michaelmacey]

They're never plastic ones surely. lol.

The other week whilst taking me Mum and erindoors around Dunganess, i stopped the car and jumped out as i had seen something really strange in the middle of 1 of the pits. It turned out to be a plastic Parrot. And yes, i was laughed at for the rest of the day. Mick

 

[JimMorris]

Yes, and he will surely see them again as they are decoys at the companies waste water facility
Seen Barn Owl close to the old power station though (which is just down the road from there) so there is still a chance to see some real ones.

Thanks GMS,
Can't wait to phone my brother, the plonker. He did say they were in the same place every time he passed. Thats made my day. Thanks again mate.

Thanks for the advice Michael & Micky.

 

[michaelmacey]

Started out at Fordwich but couldnt fish/birdwatch so we went to Stonar at Sandwich where we saw a Turtle Dove (Lifer) sat on a post. We got within a few feet of it before it hopped over to a pair of wood pigeons. Had a brief glimps of a Little Owl across the golf course on our way home. Mick

 

[Mickymouse]

Well done with the Turtle Dove, I saw one today at Pegwell this evening.

Mick

 

[michaelmacey]

Had a painful few hours fishing/birding at Fordwich this evening. My back went into spasm for the 3rd weekend running, not much fun. Did see a good lot of birds though. A pair of Kingfishers were buzzing about, and lots of Reed warblers There was also about 30 Long tailed tits and what looked like Willow warbler im not sure but they looked different to the others flitting about. There was also a bird im going to put on the id page, not sure what it was, warbler shaped with lots of different colours. As i limped off to the car, a Jay flew overhead, there's a few of these around the 3 lakes. Hopefully next time il get a better veiw of the ones i coudnt id and maybe even a fish. Im off to demand a hot water bottle lol. Till next time Mick

 

[Mickymouse]

I was at Fordwich this afternoon with my girlfriend! We explored the path that runs from Fordwich to Canterbury and then a little look round the churchyard, we were amused by the poster offering a reward for a lost duck that was attached to the church gate post.
Hope your back gets better pronto, back pain is awful.

Mick