[Jeremy Gloucestershire]

I know the Zitting Cisticola has been around at Pegwell Bay for a long time now, but I am hoping to travel to see it this week. Haven't found another thread on the bird so starting one now. Can anyone advise on the location the bird has been seen most often, and any other advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, Jeremy

[Xenospiza]

I guess all the answers should be here:
http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?...tailed+warbler
Park at the reserve, walk south along the salt marsh, check the reed and spartina (seaside) and bushes (landside) and have more luck than me the one time I decided to tag along on a nice autumn day...

[simon-p]

Lots of info on where it shows on here...check back to October.
http://www.planetthanet.org/

[kelvin]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Gloucestershire

I know the Zitting Cisticola has been around at Pegwell Bay for a long time now, but I am hoping to travel to see it this week. Haven't found another thread on the bird so starting one now. Can anyone advise on the location the bird has been seen most often, and any other advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, Jeremy

Get there early. If the carpark is not open you can park near the petrol station. Stake out the area around the hide and chat to the locals for info, they are very friendly. Scope the seaward side and check the scrub behind the hide constantly. Took me three visits to get it so don't give up.

[Paul Woolnough]

Originally Posted by kelvin

Get there early. If the carpark is not open you can park near the petrol station. Stake out the area around the hide and chat to the locals for info, they are very friendly. Scope the seaward side and check the scrub behind the hide constantly. Took me three visits to get it so don't give up.

I checked the RBA website for sightings of the fan-tailed warbler.
Kelvin is right-
1) bird generally only around early in the day
2) no guarantee of seeing it

Given this and it being awkward getting around the M25 and across Kent (and back) the bird remains unticked by me.

Zitting and cisticola must be dream words in scrabble
Who is zitting and is cisticola a fizzy drink?

[birdboybowley]

Nah, that's just it's proper name, seeing as there's a Fan-tailed Warbler already!! Zitting coz that's the noise the make when dispalying and cisticola coz that's what it is!!!
Does seem odd to've been around for so long...I heard on the rumour mill that a pair bred there this year...dunno how much of a chinese whisper that is...might explain why the bird's been hanging around if its' on territory...??

[chris butterworth]

[quote=birdboybowley;1634269]there's a Fan-tailed Warbler already!! QUOTE]
... but it's not a real warbler
Chris

[kelvin]

Originally Posted by birdboybowley

Does seem odd to've been around for so long...I heard on the rumour mill that a pair bred there this year...dunno how much of a chinese whisper that is...might explain why the bird's been hanging around if its' on territory...??

I was talking to a local and said how pleased I was to get the bird on my life list and he said ," Yes, and you probably have got a proper British one" may be a wind up who knows?

Kelvin

[birdboybowley]

Ohhhh, the plot thickens!!

[ben_lewis]

I think 'the locals' are taking you for a ride. No evidence of any breeding in the area as far as I or anyone I have spoken to knows. If this one stays around until the spring and the rest of the population catches up with it, next year could be the year, lets hope so anyway.

[Frenchy]

If it is, lets hope no egg collectors are reading this...

[wetlands_wedge]

Dear Each,
I am not at all familiar with this area so could I ask if I need to go to the 'Country Park' or the 'Sandwich and Pegwell SNNR' site? I am sure it will be the latter but with my luck..............
Also is there a cafe or similar nearby where I can get a hot drink / brekkers?
Finally, if you see a fat bloke on a big green m'bike DO say hello!

All the very best,

Reg

[JoanT]

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Dear Each,
I am not at all familiar with this area so could I ask if I need to go to the 'Country Park' or the 'Sandwich and Pegwell SNNR' site? I am sure it will be the latter but with my luck..............
Also is there a cafe or similar nearby where I can get a hot drink / brekkers?
Finally, if you see a fat bloke on a big green m'bike DO say hello!

All the very best,

Reg

The site is the 2nd one you come to If coming from Ramsgate direction (not the one with the replica viking ship adjacent to it) or first one from Sandwich There is a cafe adjacent to the car park which serves hot drinks and snacks

Joan

[Birdingben]

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Dear Each,
I am not at all familiar with this area so could I ask if I need to go to the 'Country Park' or the 'Sandwich and Pegwell SNNR' site? I am sure it will be the latter but with my luck..............
Also is there a cafe or similar nearby where I can get a hot drink / brekkers?
Finally, if you see a fat bloke on a big green m'bike DO say hello!

All the very best,

Reg

This should tell you all you need to know to get there:
http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/...h-pegwell-bay/

There are brown road direction signs in the near vicinity advertising the Country Park

If you see the huge Richborough Power Station towers you are nearly there! If they are on your right you've gone too far!!

[Dryocopus]

Finally - FTW - well Zitting Cisticola to me. (Uk lifer and on the Kent list.)

Thought it might not show as I didn't get on site until after 9. "Showing well at 8am", it said on the pager! Worrying.

Thanks to local birder - Dylan for his knowledge of where the bird might go - his hunch was correct.

Cheers Mate!

C

[dbradnum]

Originally Posted by Dryocopus

Thanks to local birder - Dylan for his knowledge of where the bird might go - his hunch was correct.

Cheers Mate!

So, for the benefit of those going over the weekend.... where did it go?!

[Andrew]

Is anyone from Devon or Cornwall thinking of going and passing Tiverton or Junction 27 of the M5?

If so do you have a space?

[Andy1979]

I was there on Wednesday morning and most people were stood looking behind the hide, then a guy from Sussex thought he'd check the reeds by the car park. I went back to the car as i'd forgotton to pay!!! Then joined the Sussex guy and within minutes it popped up in the reeds on and off for about 15 mins. Then it flew to the long grass near the shoreline where it showed well - if you knew where to look... I think everyone got to see it, and not just flight views.

Good luck.
Andy.

By the way, the bird both fanned its tail and zitted - just to claim both its names.

[John Cantelo]

When I was there a while back I met an out-of-county birder who insisted that the species had 'obviously' bred in the county. The fact that I, as a reasonably well informed Kent birder (I should be as I edit the KOS newsletter) poured cold water on this idea didn't dent his confidence one iota. However, the fact that a number of keen (and very well informed) Kent listers had to work pretty hard to get the bird on their county list says it all.

Good to hear Dylan was so helpful, David, he certainly knows the area very well,

[username]

Thank gawd the bird showed well this morning...me mate's second trip from Leicester...he's a happy man....at last...!

[Xenospiza]

Originally Posted by username

Thank gawd the bird showed well this morning...me mate's second trip from Leicester...he's a happy man....at last...!

I went there this morning and it was indeed most obliging. I arrived at 8 am when it just flew off onto the saltmarsh. After a lot of singing (mostly while sitting down!) and calling it eventually showed nicely in the bushes close to the hide. I can't remember ever having heard that ticking call before, so luckily it was educational as well.
Still lots of people there, which makes seeing it when it's very close to the path rather difficult as it gets blocked from view easily!

[username]

Originally Posted by Xenospiza

I went there this morning and it was indeed most obliging. I arrived at 8 am when it just flew off onto the saltmarsh. After a lot of singing (mostly while sitting down!) and calling it eventually showed nicely in the bushes close to the hide. I can't remember ever having heard that ticking call before, so luckily it was educational as well.
Still lots of people there, which makes seeing it when it's very close to the path rather difficult as it gets blocked from view easily!

I can't remember having heard that 'ticking' call you describe either....then again...i haven't seen this species for a very long time.....[saw the Norfolk/Holme one in UK yonks ago....and it was just 'zitting' up n down in typical yo-yo fashion]..!

Glad you 'connected'....

[Dryocopus]

Originally Posted by John Cantelo

When I was there a while back I met an out-of-county birder who insisted that the species had 'obviously' bred in the county. The fact that I, as a reasonably well informed Kent birder (I should be as I edit the KOS newsletter) poured cold water on this idea didn't dent his confidence one iota. However, the fact that a number of keen (and very well informed) Kent listers had to work pretty hard to get the bird on their county list says it all.

Good to hear Dylan was so helpful, David, he certainly knows the area very well,

Hi John
Twas I that Dylan helped not David!

David - accordingly the ZC appears first thing in the reeds near to the sea wall not far from the cp. as it gets later it moves out onto the salt marsh and then to the grass on the far side...looking out to sea. As the morning progresses the bird then move over to behind the hide -an area of small trees and shrubs - which when you get on site is fairly obvious as you walk down the tarmac-ed path towards the hide, there is an area which is open surrounded by those trees and shrubs....its known locally as grassy knoll or some such... in the afternoon it goes off somewhere else and none knows where! appears to roost in the reeds in front of the seawall.


(It was a pleasant day for those that went - especially if it was singing a lot.

200+ there this morning I gather - I received a couple of texts from happy birders who connected- some as far as SDevon.



C

[Lawts]

I see the first report (only report!) each day is of it behind the hide. Do ny of you locals believe it to still be roosting in the reeds but moving before first light, or is it likely to be roosting now in the Knoll?

I know it may not be that easy to answer this but I thought someone may have thoughts on this based on the time they arrived on site.

Just wondering where best to start.

Cheers.

[ben_lewis]

If you go on a bright day with little wind the best place to start is behind the hide, the bird is most regularly seen at this location. However as you have already heard the bird has been seen from the car park saltmarsh all the way to stone Lees, a distance of 1.5 km. I am not sure where the bird is roosting and would think it best not to publicise this info if known. If at the hide, stick to the footpath as the bird favours a elder bush 5m from the path, standing on the grass will cause the bird to appear in the more distant bushes. The bird is usually only reported once a day as it is only seen once or twice a day (baring in mind most people who want to, have already come to see it) .

Please do not play recordings of ZC as the bird has recently flown off very far (and not returned in a hurry!) as a reaction to this.

Good luck