Sunday 24th May

I helped lead the Leybourne Lakes bird walk this morning between 8am and around 11.

We met by the CP car park and walked into the small wood. Here we had at least 2 Treecreeper performing well. They appeared to be feeding young as the had beakfuls of grubs. Also here a Garden Warbler sang from high up and we heard our first snatch of Nightingale song as well as the odd Whitethroat, Blackcap or two.

Nightingale

Wandering on we saw and heard more Blackcap and several Reed Warbler as well as a pair of Reed Bunting that again appeared to be feeding young. A Cuckoo called very distantly and a Swift went over. A Four spotted Chaser showed well in the grass by the scrape.

Peacock

Moving on we added more singing Reed Warbler and in the west Scrub several Willow Warbler, more snatches of Nightingale and a brief Cettis call.

At the top of the path to Brook House we had our first really good Nightingale with one in full song, then via 2 or 3 Water Vole in the ditch nearby another Nightingale singing and showing exceptionally well.

Orange Tip

I had heard that there have been good numbers of Painted Lady with thousands moving through Europe. I saw at least 3 here today and lots more elsewhere during the day. A Large White, several Peacock and a single Orange Tip were also noted.

Painted Lady

Banded demoiselle

Monday 4th May

The rarest thing on my patch today was me.....two days in a row...blimey. I was out between 8.15 and 9.30 today. Not long but more than usual! I even remembered to charge the batteries in my camera.

Whitethroat

Today I parked in Brooklands Lake car park and did a circuit around that lake and through the sunken marsh at the top of Abbey Mead. Not as long a walk as yesterday so the numbers are well down.

Cuckoo

The first of 3 Chiffchaff was singing in the car-park as I pulled in and was joined by the first of 6 Blackcap. As I walked around Brooklands it was clear that there was a singing Reed Warbler virtually every 20-30 feet. really good numbers around this year. Whitethroat, as yesterday were everywhere too - I only counted 7 in my short walk but there were probably many more and must be scores in the area as a whole.

Reed Warbler

A Cuckoo called from wires over the Sunken Marsh and 3 Swallow went over. Also a Sedge Warbler here and several Nightingale (5 counted in total)

Nightingale

Later in the day I drove down Lunsford Lane and had a showy Nightingale here as well as c100 Sand Martin on Alders as the rain began to fall.

Sunday 3rd May

Rarest thing seen today was me actually out on my patch!

I was out from 8am for a couple hours or so. It was unexpected so when I grabbed my camera the batteries were dead...so no pictures today I am afraid (and typically there were a few potential opportunities for some good pictures.....!)

I started off by the water works and walked through the east and west scrub, over the railway, along the medway (very high tide), through the sunken marsh and then around Brooklands and along the Millstream and back.

Obviously as I haven't been out for ages I was able to tick off the migrants today. I also kept a count which I don't usually do.

Numbers were.....23 Whitethroat, 13 Nightingale, 13 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler (Millstream) 3 Willow Warbler (all West scrub) 6 Swift, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 4 House Martin, 2 Sedge Warbler (1 Sunken Marsh and 1 Millstream) 12 Blackcap, 6 Cettis, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Swallow, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Green Woodpecker. Other wildlife - 2 Slow Worm and a single Small White.

Sunday 26th April

Well almost another frustrating weekend of non-birding but I did manage to get out for half an hour or so from 8pm - so catching the last half an hour of daylight.

I had been woken up at home this morning by a Cuckoo and was pleased to at last add one to my New Hythe list this year on my brief walk around the West and East scrub. Added to that 6 Nightingale, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Green woodpecker and a solitary Slow Worm. Not a great list by any means but so good to get out!

Great to add Whitethroat to my garden list as well this year with one singing on Monday morning from the scrub near my house.

Sunday 19th April

I haven't been able to get out at all recently due to a combination of a new job, my wife being ill (not made any easier by her being nearly 4 months pregnant with our 5th child!) and having a week in Scotland visiting relatives.

I thought it was going to be another weekend of no birding until I received a call from Jerry Warne at 7pm tonight. A Whooper Swan had been seen on Tesco Lake. I was there by 7.45 and in the fading light had good views of the bird. I wonder whether it is the same one Simon had on his Mote Park patch? As I haven't been out this Spring I was also able to add a single Nightingale, a Willow Warbler and 20+ Sand Martin to my list.

Sunday 22nd March

After reading Ken's blog yesterday I decided not to go straight to New Hythe for my spare couple of hours this afternoon. I knew that the nice weather would have brought out the hoards. Instead I ventured up to to Holly Hill en-route in hope a few butterflies and perhaps an Adder.

Orange Underwing

Peacock

Slow worm

The weather was warm and sunny as I arrived. Too warm for Adder in my experience which disperse quickly when it warms up and are unlikely to be seen under the refugia that I have laid. I did however find my first Slow Worm of the year which was very welcome.

Dotted Beefly

Small Tortoiseshell

Wood Anenome

Also up here amongst the several singing Chiffies I saw 4/5 Peacock, 1 female Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell - my first for a couple of years would you believe and a Orange Underwing Moth. Quite a bit of rustling in the undergrowth was probably the first Common Lizard of the year but I didn't actually see any.

Fox droppings! (note white due to the large amount of bones in Fox diet)

Some early Spring flowers up here included Lesser Celandine, Wood Anenome and Violets.

I then moved onto New Hythe hoping for my first Sand Martin of the year. They have been seen all week here on and off but usually wheel over the lakes when the cloud is lower - no chance of any today as the sky was blue. 2/3 more singing Chiffchaff, several Cettis and 4 male/2 female Wigeon on Abbeymead (new for the year) were notable. I also added a Comma in Brooklands Lake car park for my 4th butterfly species of the day.

Saturday 21st March

Out between 8am and 10am this morning in the bright sunshine. Really Spring like this morning despite a cold start. I was hoping to note my first migrants of the year but had to be satisfied with 5 Chiffchaff singing. Also of note was 1 Redpoll in the West Scrub, 10+ Siskin in a mixed flock with Goldfinches feeding in Poplars aong the railway track. 3/4 Great Spotted Woodpecker including one drumming. A single Green Woodpecker about completed the list.

Later in the day I had 2-3 Brimstone and a Peacock at home in Birling - my first Butterflies of the year. Also late news from Friday the regular Ryarsh Buzzard was seen circling high near the school.

Lesser Redpoll

Great Crested Grebe

Saturday 6th March

I am finding it difficult to find the time to get out at the moment....highlights of the last couple of weeks are lots of Common Buzzard seen in the area - 2 over Wrotham (1st) , 1 Ryarsh (6th) , 1 Detling Hill and virtually daily from the M25 near Clacketts Services. Also a Tawny Owl calling from Birling Churchyard on the 2nd and Little Owl calling near my house nightly.

Driving past New Hythe today I saw a large bird over the trees near the Water Works - I pulled in quickly and grabbed my camera to get a record shot of a Bittern.....apologies for the quality! - but at least I got a snap!

Bittern

Sunday 15th February

Glad to get out late afternoon today as I didn't think I would get a chance this weekend. On my way back from a trip out with the children I took a drive down Lunsford Lane and again had good views of the male Brambling.

I was out proper from 3.3o until around 5.15. The light wasn't great and there was drizzle in the air - hence no photos. I parked at the Water Works entrance just off the A228 and wandered first through the West and then East scrub I was hoping to flush a Woodcock as I seem to be the only person who watches here regularly who hasn't seen one this winter. No sign. A few Fieldfare clacked as they passed over and a small party of Siskin called as the headed towards the Alders on the East scrub.

Best sighting of the day was a Water Shrew. A mammal tick for the year for me. I was turning over bits of old wood hoping for a Toad or something and it shot out towards me and then doubled back and disappeared down a hole.

Over towards Abbey Mead there wasn't much to report, good numbers of common duck however on the pit. I then walked along the Medway path. The water here was really high. The heronery is started to build up and a Little Egret was on the bank underneath. A few Bullfinch and Redwing were also seen along this stretch.

Walking on through the sunken marsh I flushed a Pheasant (my 70th species of the year) and heard a Reed Bunting but not much else. I then did a circuit of Brooklands but didn't add much apart from the impressive roost of Goldfinch near the fisherman's building. I then headed back along the path between Abbey Mead and the railway line. I scanned back across the pit and added two Shelduck to my year list.

I waited by the Bittern spot at the end of the Millstream Pit until it was almost dark but no sign. A Sparrowhawk flapped and glided across and a few Goldcrest called close by. A Cettis called the only one I heard during my visit....I am still yet to get a view of one this year to add to my list.

Saturday 7th February

I was out from around 3.45 until 5.30ish today. This afternoon we had to go to Thurrock/Lakeside and as we were wandering around the furniture shops I had the unmistakeable tingling call of Waxwing and sure enough 7 drop into a tree in the car park showing down to about 6 feet! Of course no bins or camera!

Back to New Hythe....after a tip off from Jerry Warne I added a male Brambling to my year list along Lunsford Lane and also my first Reed Bunting of the year (!!) driving around to the Water works entrance I took a walk around the east scrub but only saw a Kestrel and a few Redwing and Fieldfare in the fading light.

I hoped to see a Bittern again but no sign this evening. A Sparrowhawk and active Kingfisher was about it.

Reed Bunting

Sunday 1st February

I late PM visit today - 3.30 until about 5pm. It was around 0 degrees with a covering of snow.

Birds were thin on the ground. Best sighting was a single Bittern briefly at the end of the Millstream just before 5pm. Good numbers of Gadwall all over, a few Fieldlfare, 2 Green Woodpecker, a flock of c80 Goldfinch roosting at the end of Brooklands Lake and several Goldcrest were the best sightings.

Saturday 24th January

I didn't manageto get out until about 4.20 today so only time for about 40mins birding before it got dark. I briefly checked the Bittern spot at the end of the Millstream Lake but initially no sign. So I walked around the West and East scrub. Well over 100 Fieldfare (with a few Redwing) were feeding on the ground in the East Scrub and showing really well. Also a Green Woodpecker and Goldcrest.

Back over to the Bittern spot around 4.50 I saw some movement in the reeds and then 1........2......3 Bittern appeared. All within a few feet of each other. One flew briefly into the front of the reedbed. Really pleased with that. I later heard another Bittern was seen around the same time on Brooklands Lake so at least 4 in the area.

Thursday 22nd January

A post work visit for the last half an hour of daylight today. I was delighted to at last add Bittern to my year list. One showed quite well in the reeds at the end of the Millstream pit. Also 2 Chiffchaff were makng their 'hueet' call and there were good numbers of Fieldfare coming into roost around the east and west scrub. A few Goldcrest were also calling. Too dark for any pictures I am afraid.

Sunday 18th January

I only had time for the briefest of visits today to add Goldeneye to my year list at New Hythe. A pair were showing very well on the small Trout Lake adjacent to Alders Lake off of Lunsford Lane. Whilst I was there a Kingfisher shot past. I managed to get some quick snaps (of the Goldeneye, not Kingfisher!)

Goldeneye

Sunday 11th January

After yesterday's excitiment I was able to get out for a 3 hour stint from 9.15am. I parked up at Lunsford Lane hoping for another sighting of the Jack Snipe. Although it had been seen early on I couldn't track it down. I did see 2 Lesser Redpoll along the road here shortly after bumping into Adam who was also trying to track the Jack Snipe down.

Robin

Wandering from here I headed towards the scrape where I saw a Common Snipe and 4 Lapwing. On towards the Bittern area I had a scan of the frozen pit, no sign of Bittern but I did see a Treecreeper - a difficult bird to get at New Hythe sometimes.

Lapwing

On around the West Scrub I added Goldcrest and a Rook over. Through the East Scrub where there were lots of common finches I crossed the railway. I scanned Abbeymead and on the open water I saw a redhead Goosander (I later heard that the Goosander on Alders was there around the same time so this looks like a second bird for the area)

Common Gull

The water was high on the river and the only birds of note were a good numbers of Teal. Another Rook came over low and several Bullfinch were calling. A Sparrowhawk came over low.

Around Brooklands Lake I was scanning for Bittern (seen here over the weekend by others) but didn't add anything new.

Along the Millstream a Cettis called briefly (only the second I have heard this year) but I didn't see anything else of note. Back over the mound by the scrape I had some good views of the male Stonechat. A Kingfisher also wizzed past along the Millstream.Wren

I had a brief look in the small wood by the Country Park carpark and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming, close by another was drumming loudly on a pylon. Another Kingfisher was along the Millstream along Lunsford Lane as I was checking again for the Jack Snipe.

Saturday 10th January

With -9 on the thermometer this morning it was frustrating to know that i couldn't really get out. On the way to Tesco this morning I did however convince the management that we should drive down Lunsford lane so I could check the Millstream from the car. I was really pleased to add a Little Egret here to my New Hythe year list but little else.

Later in the afternoon I had worn the kids out so with my 4 cherubs all sound asleep in the back of the car I again meandered down Lunsford Lane to see if there would be anything attracted to the running water of the Millstream, I drove up and down several times and was delighted to flush a Jack Snipe firstly about ten feet and then a little further. I couldn't get any decent pictures in the fading light so excuse the one I have posted. Also a Water Rail here that was jumpy but kept coming back to the the water to feed. Another Little Egret, 15 Goldfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were also noted. Excuse the pictures as the light was fading fast when I returned mid afternoon.

Water Rail

Jack Snipe - through the windscreen!

Water Rail

Saturday 3rd January

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a good few hours out today - 10am until around 4pm. Also lucky enough to meet Fred from Greenie in the Wild shortly after I arrived so had some good company all day. The weather was fantastic all day and so were the birds. Early on I re-found the redhead Goosander on Alders Lake off Lunsford Lane and had a Kingfisher shoot past. Just before meeting Fred a Redpoll went over Lunsford Lane and alighted in a tree top with some Goldfinch.

Redhead Goosander

A male Stonechat was showing well in scrub by the Round Pond and I picked up a Snipe on the fringe of the scrape (the first of 4 seen today with two other in flight)

We had a scan for Bittern but no sign - only to hear 20 minutes later that Jerry Warne had it sitting in the reeds. When we returned a dog walker was screaming at their dog and it was diving into the lake.....unsuprisingly the Bittern had dissapeared. We also saw a soaring Sparrowhawk close by. Walking through the East scrub we saw the first of several Siskin flocks today. They seemed to be all over the place. Also Goldfinch feeding on teasels and Greenfinch and Chaffinch as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker over.

Siskin

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Over to Abbeymead there were 6 Teal on the pit and a large flock of Pochard but not much else of note. Walking along the river we heard the first of many Bullfinch and more Teal on the river as well as a Redshank. Suprisingly the sunken marsh was very quiet and viewing difficult on Brooklands because of the low sun.

Fox

Back along the millstream we had another scan for Bittern but still no sign. We did however have nice views of a Fox that was sunning itself in a gap in the reeds. We we were alerted to the presence of a Firecrest near feeding in scrub along the ditch by at the end of the West scrub, after searching for 20 minutes we located it associating with a Goldcrest and wer rewarded with some crippling views.

Firecrest

Goldcrest

Back towards Alders I managed to locate the Goosander for Fred and got some record shots. We then drove around to the Water Works entrance for one last go for the Bittern as the light was fading - I guess we were pushing our luck! We did however have good views of a Water Rail walking on the ice close to the reed bed and had small flocks of both Fieldfare and Redwing over - both birds we hadn't seen all day.

Thursday January 1st

Frustratingly I couldn't get out until about 2pm today so had a couple of hours or so to kick off my year list at New Hythe. I did manage to see 47 species and hear 2 more - so that's not bad. Last year i spent all day there on January 1st and managed 60 species.

Best species were a redhead Goosander on Alders Pit (off Lunsford Lane) and a drake and 2 duck Red Crested Pochard on Tesco Lake. The first I have seen here for a number of years. I also saw a Stonechat. I missed plenty of common species so plenty to add on my next visits.

List was:

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, Cormorant, Red Crested Pochard (3), Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Common Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Sparrowhawk (2), Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Chiffchaff (2), Pochard, Starling, Lesser Black backed Gull, Pigeon, shoveler, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Goldfinch, House Sparow, Herring Gull, Goosander, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, song Thrush, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare. Heard only - Cettis Warbler and Water Rail.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Sunday 28th December

A cold, clear and sunny day today and I managed to get out out for a few hours this afternoon.

I parked by Alders, the lake here is full of hundreds of Coot and assorted wintering duck - but nothing too exciting. Lots of Goldfinch were feeding on teasels along Lundsford Lane and were unusually confiding.

Goldfinch

Over towards the scrape a Little Egret was feeding on the far bank - too far away for a decent picture. A Chiffchaff also called in the bushes here. My main quarry was a Firecrest but despite searching it still eluded me. I did see a Goldcrest, 10+ Fieldfare, a few Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Siskin.

Sunday 21st December

This afternoon I joined fellow blogger Fred at Warren's patch a few miles away in Hadlow. The aim was to put up Warren's superb Barn Owl box. Armed with ladder, ropes and power tools we arrived at the tree. Whilst Warren, his friend Dave and myself surveyed the scene Fred took off like a Mountain Goat, up the tree and bish bash bosh all sorted. Fingers crossed this box attracts Warren's local Barn Owls.



Putting up the Barn Owl box in Hadlow.

Sunday 14th December

I thought it was supposed to be better weather today but it remained murky all day - but at least it wasn't raining.

I parked by Alders Lake and scanned the ducks here. Huge numbers of Coot and a smattering of Gadwall, Pochard, Shoveler and Tufted duck as well as at least 6 Great Crested Grebe. Nothing rarer I am afraid. Walking from here there was a male Stonechat perching up typically in the scrubby area at the top of the scrape as well as a single Redwing. I then waited around the end of the Millstream Pit hoping the Bittern would make a reappearance after last night - it didn't show up tonight but a Cettis, calling Water Rail, a couple of very confiding Goldcrest and a few Fieldfare over.

Saturday 13th December

What a terrible day - heavy rain all day but I did manage to get out for an hour or so late afternoon for my 300th blog post.

I wasn't expecting much (through wet glasses and wet bins!) I started with a quick scan at the Bittern spot but no sign at around 2.45pm. A female Goldeneye showed distantly in the murk. I wandered along and crossed the railway track to Abbey Mead. A flock of Long Tailed Tits passed through as well as a couple of Goldcrest. Along to Brooklands, close to the tunnel to the carpark I had vert good views of a Chiffchaff and another Goldcrest.

Along the Millstream another Chiffchaff called and some Goldfinches went over as well as a Grey Wagtail. As the light was fading I arrived back at the patch of reeds that regularly holds Bittern in the winter. I could see a ligher shape in the reeds and then it turned its head and flapped its wings - at last I have caught up with a Bittern this winter. It showed well, climbing up into the reeds at around 3.45pm....I left, soaked, but happy!

Sunday 7th December

Firstly some late news from Friday. I was caught in horrendous traffic on the way home from work so was driving down the country lane between Snodland and Birling at about 8pm. I had fantastic views in my full beam of a Tawny Owl on a branch over the road.

Out at New Hythe today from 1.30 until 4.45, I parked by Alders and walked around the lake in the fantastic winter sunshine. Alders had large numbers of duck and gulls and the Alders held 6 Siskin, a single Redpoll, a Treecreeper and several Goldcrest, 2 Kingfisher were also seen/heard. A Grey Wagtail went over as I reached the bridge by the Millstream a Buzzard flew in low from the Leybourne Lakes car park area and then gained height and circled over the Scrape. There were the constant sharp calls of Redwing as they flew over and fed on hawthorn.

Pochard

Black Headed Gull

Gadwall

I walked down towards the scrape and had good views of a pair of Stonechat. A Chiffchaff was associating with a mixed Tit flock in the scrub.

Stonechat

I retraced my steps and walked back around Alders. I then drove around to the Water Works entrance for a Bittern vigel. Again no sign but the constant sound of Goldcrest in the trees here, a 'singing' (if you can call it singing!) Cettis and several Water Rail.

Long Tailed Tit

Great Tit

Sunday 30th November

Finding it really difficult to find any time at all to get out at the moment. A brief 45 minute trip out from 4pm (almost dark!) to 4.45pm (pitch black!) My target bird, Bittern, did not show although it was seen on Saturday and during the last week by others. A few squealing Water Rail, a calling Cettis, several Goldcrest and Redwing were again about it.

Wednesday 26th November

I had a quick half an hour walk up and down Lunsford Lane again in hope of finding the Firecrest....no sign but the female Goldeneye is still on the small pit near the road and there were several mixed tit flocks that contained the odd Goldcrest. A few Redwing called as they went over.

Friday 21st November

A Firecrest was reported along Lunsford Lane near Alders Lake so I took a detour on my way somewhere else on the off chance that I might hear it calling. I didn't in a brief search but did see a female Goldeneye on the small fishing lake adjacent to Alders. Also a few chirpy House Sparrows along here and a small flock of Siskin over.

Sunday 16th November

Out between 9.15 and 11am today. I parked in Brooklands Lake car park and wandered to meet Terry Laws who was standing in the north east corner of the sunken marsh. A couple of Goldcrest called as I wandered over towards him and 6 Teal came up off the river. A Reed Bunting also called but remained hidden and a few small Redwing flocks went over. Whilst talking to Terry a lone Fieldfare went past and a couple of Mistle Thrush sat on a pylon and a few Rook went over as did a Kestrel. Cettis called constantly.

On my way back around I added a couple of Bullfinch, 2 or 3 more Goldcrest and a sizeable Long tailed Tit flock. A quiet morning......

15th November 2008

I managed to get out between 3.30 and 5pm today - light was already failing when I arrived. My aim was to look out for Bittern at dusk in the area where it has been seen regularly in previous winters. Unfortunately no sign but I will keep trying when I have the opportunity.

I did see a flyover Little Egret, 2-3 Grey Wagtail on the Millstream, a calling Chiffchaff, 6+ Goldcrest, several calling Water Rail and a Cettis Warbler. Interestingly no Redwing around.

Light of course too poor for any pictures.....

Tuesday 4th November

A visit this morning between 10am and 11.15 saw me add two more species to my year bird list at New Hythe up to a very poor 98. A lone Wigeon on Abbeymead and a flyover Redpoll close to the sunken marsh. Also a very good showing of Rook here today - a previously scarce bird with between 10 and 20 flying over throughout the visit. Other highlights included a Little Egret, a Redshank on the Medway along with a few Teal, good numbers of Redwing and still plenty of Goldcrest calling, a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also put in appearances. A Chiffchaff also called in Brooklands Lake carpark and 2 Grey Wagtail went over.

No pictures today due to the murky weather.....

Monday 3rd November

I am not back to work until Wednesday so managed to snatch a quick hour at New Hythe today after dropping the children off this morning.

Most noticeable was the number of Goldcrest around, I must have seen/heard 10 during my walk. Also good numbers of Redwing around, at least 100 I would say, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, also numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Gadwall are starting to build up.

Most interesting was the number of Newts I found. At least 20 Smooth/Common Newt of various ages......any help here Fred, are the sandy coloured ones efts and the greenish ones sub-adults or adults? I have since been told that the darker ones are adult male Smooth Newt and the two at the bottom adult female Smooth Newt. They are now hibernating so I certainly wont disturb them......

SMOOTH/COMMON NEWTS

Sunday 2nd November

Just back from a week in North Berwick - no chance of any wildlife watching although I did see a few Buzzard, Eider, Gannet, Grey Seal, Stoat, Purple Sandpiper in passing.

This morning I made a attempt again for the Halling Red-backed Shrike - I heard it had been seen up until late last week. I spent almost 2 hours on Halling Common but no sign. I did note a Stoat, Little Egret, 30+ Redwing, several Fieldfare, 2 Snipe, 2 Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, 10+ Meadow Pipit and 10 Lapwing.

I dropped in very briefly to New Hythe and had a couple of flyover Siskin

STOAT

LITTLE EGRET

Saturday 25th October

A thoroughly frustrating day today....and proof that kids and birding do not mix. I heard mid-week that a Red-backed Shrike had been found just up the road in Halling. A ten minute drive away. I was hoping that it would stick around for the weekend. Time as always was short and I shot out at 8am for a 45minute shot at the bird. It was hand dumbingly cold and a whistle stop search for the Shrike only revealed a few Meadow Pipits and Green Woodpecker. No sooner was I home than I was texted that the bird had been found. I knew I would be lucky to get back today but at 5pm as the light was fading I had a chance to go out but had to take my 4 month and 2 and half year old sons. I arrived at just before half 5 and a combination of crying baby and fading light meant I stood no chance........a Kingfisher across the Medway was my only sighting of note after I gave up after 10 minutes.....

Off to Scotland on holiday for a week from tomorrow morning so gutted that I will not see the Red-backed shrike..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Whinge over!

Sunday 12th October

Good to get back to my patch today with a visit between 1pm and 2.30pm. Bright sunshine and a warm Autumn day.

Despite large numbers of people/dogs enjoying the day I managed a few half decent sightings. Butterflies included 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Comma, 2 Large White and 1 unidentified White. Lots of Dragonflies still around, Ruddy and Common Darter were the most obvious, many still flying in tandem and egg laying. Also 3/4 Migrant Hawker. In the East Scrub I found 12 Newt Efts under an old wooden board but no other reptiles/amphibs. A Water Vole showing well in the usual spot.

Bird-wise it was pretty quiet - 2 Kingfisher along the Millstream, a few Goldcrest, 2 Cettis, 2 Chiffchaff (including one singing) and a Green Woodpecker.

Speckled Wood

Sunday 28th September

Another quick hour this morning from 8.30. It was chilly with some mist still in the air. Best sighting was 3 Redwing, my first of the autumn. Also a Blackcap, a few Chiffchaff that were Chiff-Chaffing, a Grey Wagtail, a flock of 20+ Goldfinch. There seemed to have been a fall of Robin with at least 20 seen in the east scrub but I couldn't find anything rarer.

A Water Vole in the usual place completed my sightings in a flying visit.

Saturday 27th September

An hour at New Hythe this afternoon with all four kids wasn't at all conducive to watching any wildlife...however the ever obliging Water Voles, three of them today.....the children were fascinated....for a few minutes. Also I added 2 Small Copper - my first here this year. One in the West Scrub and one near the Water Works. Both eluded being photographed. Other sightings included Cettis Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woddpecker, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Speckled Wood, Comma and lots of Whites. Plenty of Migrant Hawker around and Common Darter were everywhere.

I have been told about a Redstart that was seen in the West Scrub on Thursday....another bird that has eluded me this year!

Water Vole

Sunday 21st September

Out at New Hythe today between 11am and 1.15pm. I was hoping for an Osprey....another was seen here yesterday following 3 seen last weekend. No such luck.....it still remains a bird I have never seen here.

2 Water Vole showed well despite the huge amount of activity from the diving club around them. A Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the East Scrub as well a few Goldfinch. Over towards Abbey Mead a few butterflies showed themselves - Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small White and Green Veined White. Along the Mill Stream there were egg laying Common Darter, Migrant Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly. 7 Lapwing also flew over.

Migrant Hawker in flight

Green-veined White

Speckled Wood

Red Admiral

Sunday 14th September

Not much doing today....a very quick wander around the east and west scrub at New Hythe just obscured views of a Water Vole, a Common Lizard, 2 Slow Worm to show for it. Later in the day up to Holly Hill for half an hour. Foolishly I'd left my camera at home so no pics. A few butterflies despite it being late PM - Small Heath, a female Common Blue and Small White. I looked for Adder in my usual spot here but again nothing (well 7 Slow Worm!) Also up here a Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker.

Around home today there was definitely some bird movement - 20+ Mistle Thrush, a few Coal Tits, and small flocks of Greenfinch and Goldfinch as well as small parties of Swallow were all passing through.

Saturday 13th September

Great to get out today after a couple of weeks of not being able to escape work/chores....I was at New Hythe between 9.30 and 11am. It was misty and fairly cool so no butterflies or dragonflies seen at all.


What was most noticeable today was the number of 'singing' (can you call it singing?) Cettis Warbler. At least 7 were heard throughout my walk. A flock of 80+ Goldfinch including many juvs were feeding on teasels in the east scrub, also a juv Green Woodpecker there and 2 Slow Worm. Crossing the river Abbey Mead was virtually devoid of birds, I tried to walk along the Medway path but it was impenetrable so I used the parallel path without the river views and looked back along the river from the sunken marsh. Not much here at all, just a few loafing gulls and Grey Heron. I did photograph this ting fungi - only about 2cm high and very delicate.

Pleated Inkcap (thanks Abbey Meadows/Greenie!)

A wander around Brooklands Lake that was also very quiet and along the Millstream. 2+ Grey Wagtail along the stream and a Bar-headed Goose in amongst the Canada Geese on the Millstream Lake. Nothing out of the ordinary but a pleasant wander....

Saturday 30th August

An hour and a half out this morning from 10am. The weather was already very warm and up into the early/mid 20s by the time I left. Lots of butterflies on the wing today - inumerable 'Whites' mainly Small, at least 4 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 10+ Speckled Wood, and plenty of worn Meadow Brown and a few Gatekeeper.

In the East Scrub there was a lone Slow Worm again. Lots of Odonata - Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Brown Hawker, Common Blue, Small Red-Eyed Damselfly were all seen.

Birds of note were a Kingfisher along the Mill Stream, a Grey Wagtail over, a single House Martin and at least 4 singing Cettis Warbler.

Ruddy Darter

Common Darter mating 'Wheel'

Migrant Hawker in flight

Friday 29th August

A Bat Walk tonight at Leybourne Lakes. The weather was perfect, still and warm. Over 50 people turned up and we wandered around picking up a few on the bat detectors (45 khz) Common Pippistrelles then we were treated to some fantastic views of up to 3 Daubenton's Bat flying low over Tesco's Lake (at around 30khz).

Interestingly we also picked up lots of chirruping Crickets and coneheads on the bat detectors.

Birds seen were 2 Little Egret flying over, a pair of Gadwall on the scrape and a Sparrowhawk.

Batwatch

Sunday 24th August

The day started badly. I ran my moth trap last night after reading a forecast that said it would remain dry. It poured down in the middle of the night and my bulb ended up shattering....grrrrrr. Best species seen were a Light Emerald and a Mother of Pearl. The Mother of Pearl is in fact a 'micro moth' even though it is larger than many of the macros (?) I have seen alot of these lately. In certain light their wings show a colourful rainbow-like lustre hence the name.

Light Emerald

Mother of Pearl

Later I went to New Hythe for an hour. I spent it around my own version of Warren's migrant alley (see Warren's brilliant local patch blog www.pittswoodpatch.blogspot.com-) the East scrub. I didn't see a sausage (unless you count the ubiqitous dog do-doo) Only sightings of note were a Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, a flock of 20+ Lt Tit. I also had a look for Wasp Spider in places were I have seen them before, but again drew a blank........watching a local patch can be frustrating....but it is purple patches like the one Warren is having that keeps you going!

Saturday 23rd August

A visit to New Hythe for an hour and a half from 4.30pm today.

I again parked at the Water Works entrance, walked through the West and East scrub over the railway to Abbey Mead, along the Medway path and the sunken marsh at the top of Abbey Mead, around Brooklands and back along the Mill Stream.

From the West scrub I could see 2 Buzzard circling high over the North Downs, in the scrub here there were several Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Moving to the East scrub 2 Sand Martin shot over and I had brief views of a Garden Warbler amongst the Elderberries. Also 3 Slow Worm here and a good number of worn Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, also at least 10 Comma. 20+ Migrant Hawker and a few Common Darter here as well, also probable Ruddy Darter.

Walking on it was fairly quiet - some nice swathes of Fleabane and Water Mint around Abbey Mead but not much else of great note - nice however to be out in the sunshine for a change.

Common Blue (female)

Comma - I can never resist taking pictures of butterflies - they'll be gone soon

Sunday 17th August

A visit to New Hythe this afternoon between 3pm and 4.30.

I parked by the Water Works entrance with the aim of doing a circuit through the East and East scrub, over the railway, along the edge of Abbey Mead and Brooklands Lake, through Brooklands Lake car park and back along the Mill Stream to the Water Works entrance.

Best sighting today was a flock of 20 or so Terns that flew high over shortly after I arrived. I pretty sure they were Common Terns and are by far the biggest number I have ever seen here - having only seen 2/3 together in the past. Also several Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and mixed Tit flocks.

Butterflies seen were 9 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Comma, 1 Large White, 18 Gatekeeper and 6 Meadow Brown. I again saw several Small Red-Eyed Damselflies (on Abbey Mead as well as Brooklands) Red-Eyed, Common Blue and several Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker. There were 3 Slow Worm in the East Scrub.

Common Darter

Saturday 16th August

A quick afternoon dash to New Hythe this afternoon. I decided to try Brooklands Lake for Small Red-Eyed Damselfly and was pleased to find at least 20 and probably many more. Also a few along the Mill Stream. A number of Common Blue, Red-Eyed, Azure, Brown Hawker and a single Emperor as well. Butterflies seen included 3 Comma, a Red Admiral and several Gatekeeper.

Small Red-Eyed Damselflies

Friday 15th August

I managed to get a quick 45 minute wander around New Hythe this morning from 9am with Felix in the pushchair whilst my other three cherubs were at the Leisure Centre just around the corner. Not a great deal of bird interest, a Sparrowhawk flapped and glided across the 'scrape' and two Juv. Green Woodpecker were in the East scrub. I decided to head straight for the Round Pond where last year I had Small Red-Eyed Damselfly from the dipping platform. My heart sank when I got close as I could here the loud splashes of two dogs being thrown sticks into the pond from the platform. There should be a 'No Dogs' sign put up here. No wonder there has been no sign here of the Small Red-Eyes.........

Still lots of Gatekeeper, a few Meadow Brown and one each of Comma and Red Admiral.

Comma

Red Admiral

Later I had a very rare trip away from the immediate vicinity and took myself off to Queensdown Warren for a couple of hours. This is a fantastic Kent Wildlife Trust reserve about 20 minutes drive away. With the weather warm and sunny I was hoping for some good butterflies and as usual Queensdown Warren didn't dissapoint. Straight away the air was alive with Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Adonis, Chalkhill and Common Blue, Brown Argus, as well as singles of Comma, Peacock and Speckled Wood. My real target was Silver-Spotted Skipper that has been reintroduced here. I searched for ages until I eventually found a single one which posed for a few pictures. I am not sure what the density is here...but really pleased with seeing just one!

Another target was Autumn Ladies Tresses - a lovely Orchid that I have had here in previous years. i managed to find 10 or so spikes to photograph.

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Common Blue

Large White

Wednesday 13th August

A quick wander around New Hythe between 9 and 9.45 with Felix in his pushchair - a brisk wind was blowing and sightings of any great interest were thin on the ground. I did hear one Cettis Warbler, see one Slow Worm, plenty of Gatekeeper and a few Meadow Brown and 2 Speckled Wood. A Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and a few Common Blue Damsels were the only Odonata seen.

Speckled Wood

Great Crested Grebe

Long Tailed Tit

Sunday 10th August

Today I managed to get an hour out up at Holly Hill just up the road. This is an area of open chalk downland and part of the North Downs Way. Despite the very strong wind it was excellent as usual for butterflies. Numbers today were 5 Chalkhill Blue, 4 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 100+ Gatekeeper, c60 Meadow Brown & 1 Large White.

I checked my usual spot here again for Adder but probably too warm at 2pm, there were 7 Slow Worm however.

Brown Argus

Chalkhill Blue

Holly Blue

Saturday 9th August

I could only spare an hour this morning for a quick outing to New Hythe. It was bright but there was a stiff breeze. I parked at the Water Works entrance and just did a circuit of the Round Pond, East and West scrub and a quick scan across Abbey Mead.

Seeing as it was early I suprised by the number of butterflies, 60+ Gatekeeper, 12 Meadow Brown, 1 Common Blue, 1 Large White, 1 Essex Skipper, 2 Speckled Wood and best of all in the East Scrub my first Brown Argus here for the year - a bit worn but pleased with that.

Brown Argus

I scanned the Round Pond again for Small Red-Eyed Damselfly but no sign again, I did see good numbers of Red-Eyed Damsels a few Black-tailed Skimmer and several Common Darter.

Bird were few and far between - Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler (in song as well as 'hueeting') and a large flock of Long-tailed tit.

Common Darter (Fred - a worn female?)

Wednesday 6th August

An evening bat survey at Manor Park in West Malling this evening with Greg Hitchcock. The evening started warm and dry but from about 8.45 the lightening started and at around 10 the rain started. Despite that we saw/picked up on the bat detector a single Noctule - this is a high flying bat and one of the earliest to emerge in the evening, it is also one of the largest found in Kent. Picked up at around 20khz. We also picked up several Common Pipistrelle at around 45khz.


Some decent birds as well with 2+ Spotted Flycatcher, a Hobby, 4 Green Woodpecker and a flock of c20 Mistle Thrush roosting. Later we had 2 calling Tawny Owl and some very noisy Foxes.

Greg bat detecting!

Saturday 2nd August

I managed an hour and a half around New Hythe today from 10am. As I left a Nuthatch called loudly from Birling Churchyard. First I have heard here since the winter. Very quiet bird-wise this morning around the lakes. 2 Willow Warbler huueeeting around the West Scrub, a brief burst from a Cettis Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk were about it.

I was principally looking for Small Red-Eyed Damselfly but no sign again as I searched through all the Red-Eyed Damsels. Still plenty of Gatekeeper around and a few Meadow Brown. I have started scanning all the Buddleia in desperation for Small Tortoiseshell - I haven'thad one here (or anywhere else for that matter for 2 years) 1 Slow Worm in the East Scrub. 3 Water Vole were by the divers car park bridge it was like Piccadilly Circus there so I managed to grab only one shot.

Red-Eyed Damselfly

Water Vole

Wednesday 30th July

Following a tip off from Jerry Warne I located and photographed Broad-leaved Helleborine on the Motorway Lake at New Hythe this afternoon. There were around half a dozen spikes of this really attractive Orchid - a New Hythe first for me. Also 6 Speckled Wood, 2 Large White and several Gatekeeper around this pit which is accessed off of Lunsford Lane.

Afterwards i had a very quick check of the round pond for Small Red-Eyed Damselfly - no sign here yet but a few Red-Eyed Damsels, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and Azure/Common-blue Damselflies. 20+ Gatekeeper, 10+ Meadow Brown, 1 Comma and 2 Large White were also seen in my brief visit.

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Black-tailed Skimmer

Sunday 27th July - 2nd post...

We had a wander today at Great Comp Garden - a beautiful place just a couple of miles up the road. Well worth a visit if anyone is interested. A Kestrel posed on an overhead wire in Ryarsh on our way.

Kestrel

Quite a few Green-veined White which was good as I didn't note any this morning. Frustratingly my photos of them were rubbish! Best sightings were an Oak Egger caterpillar - a huge beast around 3 inches or so long, Migrant Hawker that was freshly emerged on one of the ponds and a dragonfly Nymph that needs identifying.....any ideas? I suspect it is a Migrant Hawker.

Oak Egger Caterpillar - huge beastie at well over 3 inches long

Migrant Hawker - freshly emerged

Any ideas what species this Dragonfly Nymph is? (my guess is Migrant Hawker...what do you think?)

Sunday 27th July

An hours wander up at Holly Hill this morning from 7.30am. It is fantastic for butterflies up here at the moment. Seen this morning were 2 Marbled White, 10 Chalkhill Blue, 2 Peacock, 12 Ringlet, 12 Common Blue, 4 Essex Skipper, 1 Small Skipper and c5 which could have been either species, 100+ Gatekeeper, 8 Large White, 3 Small White and inumerable Meadow Brown.

Also 3 Slow Worm, but again no luck with Adder here - probably already active as it was so warm.

Six-spot Burnet

Chalkhill Blue

Small Skipper

Essex Skipper

Ringlet

Gatekeeper

Saturday 26th July

A visit to New Hythe between 6am and 7.15am this morning. Warm and still.

2 Green Woodpecker near the Water works entrance and family parties of Song Thrush and blackbird. Some nice views of a family of Long-tailed Tit here as well. Around the East Scrub there were c10 Gatekeeper and c15 Meadow Brown taking advantage of the early warmth. Also a few Essex/Small Skipper. Just the other side of the railway track 2 Purple Hairstreak showed briefly high up in an Ash Tree.

Most interesting sighting were an adult and juv. Nightingale, both birds were making very strange gutteral grunts and whistles.

Essex Skipper
Long Tailed Tit

Mid morning I took Felix for a walk along the lane that runs past my house in Birling. 4 Spotted Flycatcher were seen flycathing from a dead tree and wires. Also a Yellowhammer, 5 Speckled Wood, 4 Gatekeeper and several Large White and Meadow Brown.

Spotted Flycatcher - Birling

Saturday 19th July

Two short outings today. One between 5am and 6am to New Hythe. It was fairly overcast and didn't really brighten up enough during my visit for any photos. I went to see the White Mullien that Adam Whitehouse noted on his blog yesterday. Not a plant I had ever seen before - I may go back and try and photograph it but it is the other side of a chain link fence (that Adam had helpfully marked by putting a red plastic bottle through the fence. The grid ref is TQ7109 6029 if anyone is interested. Apparently it is a fairly scarce plant in Kent.

During my visit I also noted 2 juv. Green Woodpecker, 10 Swift, 2 Reed Warbler and 2 Blackcap.

Between 3 and 4 I went up to Holly Hill again. I am hoping for a Dark Green Fritillary up there but a fairly stiff breeze kept many butterflies down. I did see 1 Marbled White, 1 Chalkhill Blue, 1 Large White, 10 Meadow Brown, 8 Ringlet, 1 Large Skipper and 12 Small/Essex Skipper. Also 8 Slow Worm and plenty of Pyrammidal Orchid.

Small Skipper

Meadow Grasshopper

Chalkhill Blue

Gatekeeper

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar and Soldier Beetle

Sunday 13th July

I managed 2 hours out today. An hour and a half at New Hythe followed by just under half an hour at Holly Hill just up the road.

Principally I was looking for butterflies and was quite pleased in the end with my haul. At New Hythe I saw 2 Purple Hairstreak, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 2 Small White, 1 Large White, 3 Essex Skipper, several Small/Essex Skipper, 6+ Gatekeeper and 10 Meadow Brown. Also at New Hythe was a single Water Vole, 2 Slow Worm, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2+ Reed Warbler singing, a Green Woodpecker and family parties of Whitethroat.

Up to Holly Hill I added 6 Marbled White (my first here), a fresh Chalkhill Blue, 20+ Small Heath and 40+ Ringlet. 6 Slow Worm but no Adder seen here.

Around home this lunchtime I have had a Yellowhammer singing in the tree next to my garden and a few Speckled Wood and Large White around.

Comma

Chalkhill Blue at rest and in flight (lucky shot!)

Essex Skippers (New Hythe)

Gatekeepers (New Hythe)

Marbled Whites (Holly Hill)

Meadow Brown (New Hythe)

Purple Hairstreak (New Hythe) - bit distant!

Ringlet (Holly Hill)

Small White (Worn) Holly Hill

Saturday 12th July

I may get out to New Hythe tomorrow but at the moment I am needed at home with the new baby and our other 3 cherubs....I did manage to drag them around Ryarsh Wood this afternoon for about half an hour. I was hoping for a White Admiral or maybe even a Silver-Washed Fritillary...no such luck. I did see 3 pristine Comma, 20+ Ringlet (mainly fairly worn) 4 Speckled Wood and 2 Large White......

Comma

Ringlet (worn)

Speckled Wood

Thursday 26th June

Ok, Ok so I'm not getting out much! Here are another couple of pictures of the Spotted Flycatcher taken this morning on the school run! Much happier with these.

Spotted Flycatcher

Tuesday 24th June

As mentioned yesterday I saw a Spotted Flycatcher in Ryarsh the next village to mine, in gardens opposite the village school. I went back this morning and there was at least one probably two calling and catching insects on the wing from bushes and overhead wires. I did manage a snap but not great......light was a bit harsh and I was a bit rubbish!

Spotted Flycatcher

Monday 23rd June

I had an hour to spare today so I decided to go to the lower slopes of Trosley Country Park just down the road. This is one of the premier areas in Kent, if not the country for butterflies - it is extensive chalk downland - part of the North Downs area of outstanding national beauty. I was prompted by John Young's blog post yesterday that he had had a Dark Green Fritillary at Lullingstone yesterday. Trosley has always been a great spot for this species but the numbers have declined dramatically in recent years.

Bee Orchid - wide angle shot showing some of the downs

Meadow Brown

I am sorry to report that I didn't see any Dark Green Frits but I will return for another go in a week or so. I did however see 1 Grizzled Skipper, 20 Ringlet, 12 Meadow Brown, 50+ Small Heath and 4 Common Blue. I also saw an Adder (prob a female but moved quickly once I'd spotted it) and 2 juv Slow Worm. Lots of Pyrammiddal Orchid out and 4-5 Bee Orchid.

Later in the day I picked my daughter up from Ryarsh Primary school and had some cracking views of a Spotted Flycatcher in the front garden of the Vicarage opposite. I only had my wife's point and shoot digital camera with me and my photos were woeful. I will take my camera with me tomorrow so I hope it's still around.

Saturday 21st June

Pretty much confined to home today. I did however take one short walk from home along the lane by my house. A young Little Owl showed briefly in an Ash Tree, also a Yellowhammer calling, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Skylark, 2 Whitethroat and a Kestrel.

Later I took a short drive to try and get baby Felix to nod off, I drove past some of my best local sites for Spotted Flycatcher but no sign in a few brief scans. I did stop off on the Pilgrims way at the foot of Trosley CP and added my first Ringlet of the year, with two in close succession feeding on hawthorn at TQ 647 611.

Tuesday June 17th

Late news for yesterday was a Hobby flying low past Birling Church at 8.45 last night.

A visit to New Hythe today between 9.45 and 11.30 today. Despite it being warm and sunny the lack of butterflies on the wing continues to be startling. 1 Large Skipper, my first for the year north of the scrape and single Speckled Wood in the small copse by the car-park were the only sightings. Odonata faired a bit better with 25 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, 8 Banded Demoiselle and numerous Blue Damsels including good numbers of Blue-tailed.

Large Skipper in flight

Bird sightings were thin on the ground. 1 Nightingale, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow and 10 Swift.

Banded Demoiselle (female)

In the East scrub 1 Grass Snake and 3 Slow Worm. Pyrammidal Orchid continue to emerge with at least 15 seen, also 1 'new' Bee Orchid.

At 3.45 this afternoon I was driving back into Birling when I saw a large Raptor fairly low being mobbed by Crows. I quickly realised it was a Red Kite, a second Kite then appeared alongside it and they disappeared towards New Hythe........

Sunday 15th June

With our other three staying with their cousins and the new baby fast asleep I managed to get out for an hour and a half. I spent my time just in the east and west scrub and the area around the scrape.

Best sighting were 4-5 Twayblade which I found after a tip off from Jerry Warne. Also a few Bee Orchid, hundreds of Common Spotted Orchid and the first emerging Pyrammidal. 4 Slow Worm and a Common Lizard in the East Scrub and only 1 Red Admiral and 1 Common Blue Butterfly, 1 Male Black Tailed Skimmer and several teneral BT Skimmers, a few 4-Spotted Chasers and innumarable Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Azure Damsels.


Birds of note were 2 Nightingale, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.

Twayblade

Bee Orchid

Juv. Starling

Saturday 14th June

Our fourth child arrived yesterday (I resisted adding Stork to my New Hythe list!) This is obviously going to affect my posts a little for a few weeks (or maybe not...perhaps he will like a few walks around the patch!?) Added a Little Owl driving back into Birling along Bull Road from Maidstone Hospital at 8.30 last night.

Felix - 9lb 8oz born (Friday!) 13th June 10.12am

Sunday 8th June

National Moth Night last night so I put my Moth Trap out. A Tawny Owl was calling as I did. They are only occassional around my house in Birling. I was a bit disappointed with my haul, a Snout, a Common Swift and White Ermine was about it. During the day I had a Hobby and a Kestrel over the house.

Snout Moth (you can see why!)

I did manage an hour at New Hythe from 5.20 until around 6.20. I wandered around the East and West scrub. I didn't see one butterfly, but did see several Black-Tailed Skimmer, Four-Spotted Chasers and loads of Common and Azure Damsels. In the West Scrub there was a Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Nightingale, Willow Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Whitethroat and Green Woodpecker. Also lots of Common Spotted Orchid, 1 Bee Orchid and 1 Southern Marsh Orchid (which was nearly over)

Common Lizard

Common Spotted Orchid

In the East scrub I saw 2 Grass Snake, 1 male, 2 female and 1 juv Slow Worm and 1 Common Lizard. Also 1+ adult Water Vole and 1+ young Water Vole near the Diver's bridge.

Saturday 7th June

I was woken up at 3.50am this morning by at least 2 Little Owl calling near my house, a Skylark in full song and a Yellowhammer going at full pelt. I knew I was going to have little time to get out today so I decided to get up and go straight to New Hythe. I was there at 4.05am just as it was getting light.

During an hour and 45minutes I didn't see one other person...not even the dreaded dog walkers! Best sighting was 3 Hobby that were swooping around the round pond/scrape area at 4.15am. They were feeding on the wing and when I first saw them reminded me of the Nightjars I had seen a few days earlier. Amazing to see these silhouettes dashing just as dawn was breaking.

Female Chaffinch with nesting material

I walked through the west and east scrub, over the river, around Abbey Mead lingering by the sunken marsh and then around Brooklands Lake and back along the Millstream. In total I saw/heard 20 Whitethroat, 8 Nightingale, 10 Reed Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 40 Swift, 4 Reed Bunting, 7 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 song Thrush, 9 Cettis Warbler, 1 Shelduck, 1 Great Spot and a Black Swan!

All this and I was back home by 5.45!

At 11.30 I was driving past Alders and Tesco Lake, I did my usual scan for Terns and at last added a Common Tern on Tescos sitting on a buoy. My 96th species here for the year.

Wednesday 4th June

My annual visit to Mereworth Woods this evening a few miles away. Arrived at 8.30 and left around 10.30. Heard at least 3 Nightjar with some great fly-past views and wing-clapping. Also c4 roding Woodcock and a distant Tawny Owl. Also hundreds of Common Spotted Orchid around the wood and a number of fly past Pipistrelle Bats.

Tuesday June 3rd

A quick visit between 4.30 and 5pm today - it was drizzling which was a shame. Best sighting was a Hobby over the west scrub, 5 Nightingale still singing, 6 Swift, 2 Linnet still in the east scrub, 1 Green Woodpecker and a Mistle Thrush. 1 Grass Snake and 1 juv Slow Worm.

Sunday June 1st

I was out between 9.30 and 11.15 today, overcast but still. 4 Nightgale were heard, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Reed Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, c40 Swift and best of all 2 Linnet in the East scrub - my 95th species for the year. Also a Kestrel in the area. Around the East scrub I also found 1 Grass Snake and 4 Slow Worm.

Overcast and warm conditions are good for insect photography....these would have all been better with a tripod but I can't be bothered to lug one around!

Cardinal Beetle

Male Scorpion Fly (gets it's name from the tail)

Male Banded Demoiselle (thought I'd post this as it's better than the one I took the other day)

Long-Jawed Orb-Weaver

Late update - here is a White Ermine, one of three I trapped last night.

Saturday 31st May

From 4am this morning I had 3 Little Owl calling around my garden. One was viewable from my bedroom window high up in a tree. We usually have 2-3 pairs breed around the village so good to hear they are still holding strong. I also ran my moth trap last night just one Treble Lines moth (Charanyca trigrammica) and two male Common Swift (Hepialus Iupulinus)

My only visit to New Hythe today was again with the children from 2 - 3.30. We took our pond dipping stuff and spent our time on the dipping platform again over the Round Pond. Lots of Pond snail, Ramshorn Snail, Water Beetle and Whirligig Beetles. Also 6 Damselfly Nymphs - anyone any idea of the species?

Damselfly Nymph

My three cherubs looking at our pond dipping catch

Best bird sighting was a Hobby circling over, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler and 2 Pairs of Reed Bunting feeding young.

Friday 30th May

I took some time off work today to help out with the children. We spent some time behind Birling church then an hour and a half with a picnic at New Hythe followed by an hour at a playground in the next village of Ryarsh.

I was hoping to see a Spotted Flycatcher in Birling Churchyard but no sign. Just a calling Cuckoo and a Whitethroat. Over at New Hythe we walked from Lunsford Lane to the dipping platform on the round pond and back. Not many birds singing, just a few Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting and Blackcap. On the Round Pond we watched 2 Four-spotted Chasers duelling over the water and chasing Blue Damsels. Later back-up at the Millstream on Lunsford Lane we saw at least 6 female and 4 Male Banded Demoiselle.

Banded Demoiselle (female)

Banded Demoiselle (male)

Ryarsh was very quiet and as we went back to the car I heard a Greenfinch making a strange alarm call by the village hall. I turned expecting to see a Sparrowhawk shoot by but instead I was suprised to see a Little Owl sitting on the village hall roof. I grabbed my camera and managed to get one shot before it flew off. Not bad picture seeing as I took it with my macro lens!

Little Owl

Thursday May 29th

I had an hour to spare this afternoon and after the good weather this morning thought I would get a chance to take some photos around New Hythe...no chance, it was bucketting down again. I did hear 2 Nightingale, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler and around 20 Swift and 3 sand Martin were forced down low by the weather.

6 Slow Worm, 2 Common Lizard and 1 Grass Snake were found sheltering from the rain in the east scrub. I also saw c6 Common Spotted Orchid and some nice Ragged Robin.

Sunday May 25th

It was the Leybourne Lakes CP Bird Walk this morning from 6am. Of course this coincided with heavy rain almost throughout. Still 5 of us braved the weather. Bird song was significantly down on recent weeks we heard/saw 4 Nightingale, 1 Cuckoo, c40 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 3 Willow Warbler, several Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Also 1 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker and a lone Stock Dove. Looks like more of this weather for the rest of the day and tomorrow as well....

Update for mid PM Sunday, i was driving back into Birling and there was a Little Owl on wires over the road. I later went up the road to Holly Hill for half an hour as the weather picked up. Here I found this Adder, 3 Slow Worm, 1 Dingy Skipper, 1 Grizzled Skipper, 2 Small Heath and 8 Common Blue

Adder

Slow Worm

Small Heath

Wednesday 21st May

I am off to Bristol for a few days with work but managed to fit in an hour and a half visit around lunchtime today.

Best sighting was 2 (probably 3) Hobby (94 for year) hawking over the Millstream path/Millstream Lake - a new one for the year for me. Other birds of note were a single Cuckoo, 2 displaying Sparrowhawk, several Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a single Nightingale. A few Swift, Sand Martin and House Martin were also around.

Butterflies were thin on the ground. A Grizzled Skipper was in the far corner of the East Scrub by the railway line, a probable Small Copper, 1 Speckled Wood and a Small White were about it.

A dark (newly emerged?) Broad-bodied Chaser was in the West Scrub, a single Large Red Damsel, 2 Hairy Dragons, 1 Banded Demoiselle and hundred of 'blue' damsels of various species. Some Common Spotted Orchid are also emerging in the West and East Scrub.

Monday 19th May

I didn't get to New Hythe at all over the weekend....our fourth child is due in less than a month so home called! I did a quick half an hour on Saturday out of home along the lane at 5am. A Cuckoo called and flew across the path in front of me. Also 4 Whitethroat were heard and a Yellowhammer sang as did a Skylark - two birds I don't see too often at New Hythe.

On Monday I did manage 45 mins at New Hythe between 5 and 5.45pm. I hoped for some butterflies but didn't see any at all. There were 100+ Swift screaming overhead, as well as a few sand martin and house martin on Alders. Several Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Nightingale sang. A Water Vole was in the usual place, 2 Slow Worm, 1 Common Lizard, 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 1 Blue-Tailed Damsel and several Common-Blue Damsels completed the sightings.

Common Lizard

Sunday 11th May

I was out between 6.15 and 9.15 today. Shortly after parking near the Water Walks I saw a Treecreeper - a fairly scarce patch bird. It flew onto a tree fairly near me and then fed on the outer branches. Really pleased with that but couldn't get a decent picture. Across the area today I had 21 Whitethroat, 20 Reed Warbler, 11 Nightingale, 8 Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Sedge Warbler, only 5 Cettis, and 5 Swift. In addition I also saw 1 Great Spot, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Chiffs, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Trush, 1 Male Bullfinch, 1 Reed Bunting and a Green Woodpecker.

WATER VOLE

LESSER WHITETHROAT

GREEN-VEINED WHITE

Best sighting of the day was a patch tick in - a Green Hairstreak! Fantastic, I found it feeding on Buttercup at the west end of the scrape. Also a Green Veined White, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small White and several Orange Tip.

GREEN HAIRSTREAK

1 Water Vole was also noted as well as 2 Grass Snake, 6 Slow Worm and a Common Lizard. Also 1 Hairy Dragonfly, and several Azure and Common Blue Damsels

Later I joined a KRAG walk (Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group) walk at Wrotham Water about 3 miles away. Here we noted 1 Grass Snake, several Slow Worm, 12 species of Butterfly - Small Heath (20+), Common Blue (20+) Dingy Skipper (c10) Grizzled Skipper (c10), Brimstone (2), Peacock (1) Comma (1) Speckled Wood (1) Green Veined White (2) Small White (c10) Holly Blue (3) Orange Tip (c10) Also lots of spikes of Man Orchid, Common Twayblade and one Common Spotted Orchid

GRASS SNAKE - WROTHAM WATER

COMMON BLUE PAIR MATING

Saturday 10th May

Out between 6am and 7.30am today.

Most prominent bird was Reed Warbler with 24 seen/heard. Interestingly numbers of Nightingale and Whitethroat seemed to be down with only 7 of the former and 12 of the latter noted. I wonder if they have now paired and bred so are not singing as much?

Also noted today were 11 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 11 Cettis, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove, 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Bullfinch including a stunning male. A Water Vole was also seen in the usual place.

WILLOW WARBLER

Thursday 8th May

I visited from 7.45pm to 9.15pm tonight. I was hoping for Hobby but no sign. I added a Common Sandpiper to my yeat list along the Medway - i think that takes me to 93 bird species. Also 3 Cuckoo, 6+ Nightingale, good numbers of Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler.


1 Grass Snake, 6 Slow Worm and a Water Vole were also seen.

Bank-side Orb-weaver (thanks Greg!)

Tuesday 6th May

Now things don't often fall into place like this.......I decided to drop in quickly post work (4.45 - 5.15ish) principally to try and find either Green Hairstreak and/or Hobby. I saw neither BUT had the fantastic sight of 3 Crane drifting over for about 10 minutes. They first appeared over the east scrub and then drifted first over the west scrub and then towards Tesco, then came back over me and drifted over Snodland and towards the North Downs. Obviously a New Hythe tick for me!! excuse the pictures...I managed to wrestle my macro lens off whilst holding my bins and throw my 100-400 lens on. So silhouettes are the best I could manage at such range.

3 CRANE drifting over at 5pm

Only other sightings of note in my half hour visit were 7 Slow Worm, 2 Grass Snake, 1 Common Lizard, 1 Orange Tip, 1 Peacock, 2 Nightingale and several Whitethroat.

Monday May 5th

I had a couple of hours out yesterday afternoon (4th) and then a quick half an hour today was all I could manage.

GRIZZLED SKIPPER - HOLLY HILL

2 COMMON LIZARD - THEY WERE EVERYWHERE ON HOLLY HILL

Yesterday I went to Holly Hill first at around 1.30 - 2.30pm. 5 Grizzled Skipper, 2 Dingy Skipper, 2 Brimstone, 3 Orange Tip and a Peacock. Also 7 Slow Worm and numerous Common Lizard - rustles in the grass everywhere.

I then nipped down to New Hythe principally to try for Green Hairstreak - a species that has eluded me here for a number of years. No sign but I did see another nice Grizzled Skipper and managed a better photo than my last New Hythe effort.

GENUINE NEW HYTHE GRIZZLED SKIPPER!!

Today, Monday, I literally had a quick half an hour wander around the scrun to the west of the scrape, again on the look-out for Green Hairstreak. Still no luck but I did see 1 Holly Blue, 2 Orange Tip (males) and a Large White.

HOLLY BLUE - IN SCRUB BY SCRAPE

Sunday 4th May

Overcast but very warm fro my visit this morning. I only had an hour and a half so it was a quick trot around between 5.50 and 7.20am.

I may try and get around again later principally for butterflies. Yesterday around Birling i had several Orange Tip, a few Speckled Wood and a Holly Blue.

Here this morning I counted 16 Nightingale, 25 Whitethroat, 11 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Cuckoo, 6 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Cettis, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Shelduck on the Medway. It was interesting this morning to watch a pair of Whitethroat chase each other in a figure of eight around some bushes, they must have completed the circuit 50 times!

4 Water Vole were feeding by the divers car park bridge as usual. I can never resist photographing them. In the east scrub I had 3 Slow Worm including a juvenille.

More Water Vole pictures!!

Saturday 3rd May

A visit between 5.30am and 7.30am this morning. A very misty and cold start but it got progressively brighter. I added my first Garden Warbler of the year on the peninsula near Brook House. Apart from that what was most noticeable were Whitethroat numbers - I counted 25 in total. Also 15 Blackcap, 8 Nightingale, 13 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Swift, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Song Thrush, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Shelduck, 1 Water Rail, 2 Shelduck and several young Heron feeding along the Medway.

WHITETHROAT

CUCKOO
BLACKCAP

Also 2 Water Vole, one by the divers bridge and another at the end of the Millstream by the Brooklands Car park entrance.

Sunday 27th April

I only had the opportunity for an hour and a half visit today between 2.30 and 4 with a pushchair to keep my youngest contained. That meant I was limited to a wander around the east and west scrub area. Nothing new today but 16 Swift, 6 Nightingale, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Willow Warbler and numerous Blackcap.

Cuckoo (heavily cropped as distant)

Jay

2 Water Vole showed well by the divers car-park bridge and there were 2 Grass Snake, including a huge 2 footer, 3 Slow Worm and a Common Lizard in the east scrub and 1 Peacock in the West Scrub.

Saturday 26th April

I was out between 6am and 9am this morning. Bright and sunny and quite warm by the time I left. I counted an amazing 18 Nightingale this morning, along with my first Turtle Dove (my 90th species for the year), 11 Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 7 Swift, 4 Swallow, 5 Reed Warbler, 6 Cettis, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spot, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Kingfisher (my first for a while), 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Shelduck on the Medway.

Nightingale - one of 18 today

Turtle Dove - distant but you can see what it is!

Non-bird sightings included a pair of spiralling Speckled Wood in the west scrub, 1 Male Orange Tip, 1 Water Vole, 2 Slow Worm, 1 Newt Eft and a Bee Fly.

Later I visited again with my 3 children running riot. I was hoping for some more butterflies as it had warmed up. I was pleased to add my first Grizzled Skipper for the year (excuse the terrible picture, the butterfly wouldn't allow close approach and my 2 year old was hurtling towards it so I fired off on frame very quickly from 20 feet away!!) Also 1 Small White, 3 Peacock and another Orange Tip.

Grizzled Skipper (east scrub)

This week there have been some other interesting sightings seen here by others. An Otter was seen just down river on Wednesday and a Grasshopper Warbler in the Sunken Marsh area on Friday....

Thursday 24th April

A pre-work visit between 6am and 7.20am today....too murky for any photos. Some good numbers and one new bird for the year today - a Lesser Whitethroat rattling from the path between the railway and Abbey Mead - I think that is my 89th bird species of the year here..I must have a tot up! In addition to this 11 Nightingale, 15 Whitethroat, 11 Blackcap, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Cuckoo (on wires over the sunken marsh), 6 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Song Thrush, and 1 each of Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker.

Also one Water Vole in the drainage ditch between the east and west scrub.

Wednesday 23rd April

A quick 45 minute visit between 4.30 and 5.15 today, I was hoping for some butterflies as the weather had brightened up after a dull and misty day. All I saw was a distant 'white' - probably a female Orange Tip but too distant to be sure.

I saw my first Common Lizard of the year as well as 3 Slow Worm and 2 Newt Efts.

Common Lizard

Bird-wise a singing Goldcrest in the West Srub was a a suprise, 5 singing Nightingale, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Cettis, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff across the East and West scrub (which was as far as I got in the time!)

Sunday 20th April

I spent a lot of time at New Hythe today. From 6.30 to 10am with Greg Hitchcock and then 10 - 12.45 with the first Leybourne Lakes birdwalk of the year and then again for half an hour 6.15 to 6.45.

Little Gull on Brooklands Lake

Some really good sightings today, Terry Laws found a Little Gull on Brooklands Lake which gave some very good views and late PM a male Wheatear in the East Scrub area. I also added a Cuckoo (at last) calling close from the back of the sunken marsh.

Male Wheatear East Scrub

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Other sightings of note included 8 Nightingale, 4 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Water Vole together near the divers car-park bridge - the largest number I have ever seen here. 2 Newt Efts were also seen. The adult Little Gull showed really well on Brooklands Lake. Early evening a Wheatear was found in the east scrub area it allowed a fairly close approach and then sat up in the bushes.

One of the most interesting sightings on our bird walk was the sight of a Water Vole 2 feet or so off the ground in a rose bush near the divers car park bridge. It had obviously scrambled up and was wondering what it was doing there!

Saturday 19th April

A very grim morning today, I left home at 6am in heavy rain. I parked by the water works entrance off of the A228. As i parked up 2 Nightingale were singing close together either side of the road by the Water Works entrance. These were the first of 8 Nightingale heard this morning.

NIGHTINGALE SINGING IN THE RAIN!

I added two new migrants for the year to add to yesterday's Swift. 2 Sedge Warbler (getting quite a scarce bird here now) were seen and heard from the path that runs through the sunken marsh at the top of Abbey Mead, also 2 of 6 Reed Warbler heard today were there. 16 Sand Martin, 9 Willow Warbler, only 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat and 11 Blackcap were also noted.

I addition to the birds 1 Water Vole and 3 Newt Efts under a plank of wood (either Palmate or Smooth - pretty impossible to tell at this stage)

Still no Cuckoo for me this year (although one was heard last week here)

Friday 18th April

The day off work today but no chance to get out to New Hythe....I did drive past Alders Lake on the way to do one of my chores and a Swift was wheeling overhead. a very early record for me.

Tuesday 15th April

A male Redstart was seen yesterday by Alan Roman in the East Scrub (exactly the same place that i found one almost exactly two years ago) I visited this morning at 6am pre-work in the hope it would stick around. I could only stay an hour and couldn't find it. I did hear 3 Nightingale and 3 Whitethroat along with at least 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Cettis, 1 Great Spot and 1 Green Woodpecker. These were all in the East and West scrub area.

Sunday 13th April

Another nice bright but cold start this morning. Out at 6.20am until 9.30.

BLACKCAP

2 Nightingale today, one near the Brook House entrance and one still by the stile near the east scrub. Also the Whitethroat that I saw on Tuesday was refound in the same area - I managed a quick snap but it was very mobile. Other birds of note were 19 Blackcap, 12 Cettis, 11 Willow Warbler, 2 Sparrowhawk, a pair of Reed Bunting, 3 Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

WHITETHROAT

Also 1 Grass Snake, 1 Slow Worm, 4 Newt Efts (not sure what species they are) and 3 Water Vole, including a 'new' one at the end of the Millstream near the entrance to Brooklands Lake car park.

SLOW WORM

2 of 4 Newt Efts seen today

Saturday 12th April

A nice bright but cold morning for my visit between 6.15 and 9am. I was hoping to increase my list of Spring migrants but added just one, a Nightingale singing close to the stile by the railway line in the East Scrub area. It responded to my whisltles but didn't show itself.

Other sightings today were 17 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler (lower than recently so a number must have been on passage) 10 Cettis, also 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Soaring Sparrowhawk (a pair which are nesting close by) 1 Bullfinch and 2 Reed Bunting. Also one Water Vole.

Great Crested Grebe with young on her back

Tuesday 8th April

Out between 6.30 and 8.30 this morning. Still more Willow Warbler in with 16 heard/seen in the area. Also a Green Sandpiper on the scrape, 14 Blackcap, 12 Cettis, 13 Chiffchaff and a single Swallow.

REED BUNTING

Best sighting was my 81st species for the year on my patch, a lone Whitethroat near the scrape. Other birds of note were 4 Green Woodpecker, one drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Bullfinch and two Reed Bunting. One Water Vole showed well.

Monday 7th April

After all the snow yesterday I was amazed to find Saturday's female Adder again at Holly Hill at 6.30pm in a quick post work visit. With some snow still around and the temperature only 7 degrees this was a really notable record......and I managed a few pictures (at last) Not New Hythe I know but only a mile or two away!!

Female Adder - fairly docile as it was cold. quite pleased with the second one with her tongue out

** I have since been informed by a contact at Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group (KRAG) that this is infact a male. Below is a copy and paste from an email from Rick Hodges:

'The adder you show is a male you can tell that by the very dark edging to the rostral scale (the one on the tip of its upper lip). Hopefully the next issue of our newsletter will have an article on using this feature to sex adders. This adder also appears to be about to shed, quite of few males on the downs where I monitor are in the same condition. After shedding they will take on the much lighter colouration typical of males in the breeding season.' Thanks Rick!!

Sunday 6th April

I was again out at 6.30 today in the half light, hoping to get around before the snow arrived. There continues to be an arrival of Willow Warbler with 11 heard/seen this morning, strangly enough I also noted 11 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff and 10 Cettis.

The snow began falling at 7.45, it was entertaining to watch 20+ Sand Martin and 2 Swallow over Brooklands as the snow fell heavily. Also noted this morning were 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Teal and 2 Shelduck on the Medway and a Grey Wagtail over. A single Water Vole was showing at the end of the path by the east scrub.

Heavy snow began falling at around 7.45 today

Saturday April 5th

Out this morning from 6.30 until 10.30 with the last half an hour at Holly Hill just above Birling.

SPARROWHAWK DISPLAYING

WREN

The weather alternated between showers and bright sunshine. Two new bird species for the year for me today with 6 Willow Warbler (with 4 in the West Scrub area) and 3 Swallow, 2 over the scrape with 60 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin and one over Brooklands with a few Sand Martin. Also 11 singing Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 10 singing Cettis and at least three Sparrowhawk. The Sparrowhawk were very active this morning with lots of displaying. 2 Teal were lingering on the Medway, a Shelduck over, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Green Woodpecker and a Stock Dove completed the bird sightings.

WILLOW WARBLER

I saw my first Grass Snake of the year and 2 Water Vole - the usual one near the divers car park bridge and another in the ditch near the east scrub.

GRASS SNAKE

On my way home I called in at Holly Hill to check for reptiles. I saw a female Adder (wasn't quick enough to snap it!) and 4 Slow Worm. Also my first Peacock butterfly of the year.

SLOW WORM (HOLLY HILL)

Saturday 29th March

A visit between 6am and 7.45 this morning, a lovely bright sunny start to a day which promises to get progressively worse weather wise.

14 Chiffchaff singing on my walk this morning as well as 5 Blackcap, 2 along the Medway and 3 along the Millstream path. A Great Black Backed Gull (78 for the year) over was my first for the year here, also 6 Cettis, including this confiding bird near the fisherman's building by Brooklands Lake. 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Redwing, 1 calling Treecreeper, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk completed the sighings.

CETTIS WARBLER

Monday 24th March

Very cold but bright for my visit between 6.30 and 8am today, at last the wind has dropped.

A Green Sandpiper was on the scrape and the first of 6 Chiffchaff was singing as I started my walk. Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were calling, with the latter drumming. I crossed the railway and walked along the Medway, 2 Lesser Black Backs were on the river as well as 6 Teal and a few Stock Dove were around. The first of 5 Cettis called.

Brooklands Lake had 20+ sand martin zooming around over it and along the Millstream I added 3 Sparrowhawk and a Grey Wagtail, and at last, a Little Egret (77 for the year) on the scrape, my first here for the year - although it has been present for weeks.

SAND MARTIN - BROOKLANDS LAKE

saturday 22nd March

Awful weather today so I just had a quick scan of Alders Lake from the car mid PM. 30+ Sand Martin were wheeling over the lake as the rain/hail/sleet fell. A pristine male Reed Bunting was also nearby.

Thursday 20th March

An hours visit from 6.30am today, cold and drizzly. Amazingly I as I heard 3 Jackdaw flying over I realised that these were my first here of the year - so up to 76 species now for the year. Apart from that this morning 8 sand Martin, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Green Woodpecker and 4 singing Chiffies were the highlights. I also had some good views of a different Water Vole than my usual one near the east scrub.

Water Vole

Cormorant

Wednesday 19th March

After a tip off from Terry Laws I had a quick (and I mean quick!) pre work visit today and added Brambling on the feeders in the front garden of the house on Lunsford Lane by the corner of Tesco Lake. Plenty of common finches and House Sparrow here as well.

Monday 17th March

A quick hour visit this morning from 10.30 proved to be very worthwhile as I added two new species for the year. An incredibly early House Martin was flying high over the Poplars close to the railway line along with 16 Sand Martin. Nearby there was a Green Sandpiper on the scrape, 5 singing Chiffchaff and two 2 Green Woodpecker. As I was about to leave i stopped to talk to Martin Warburton & Martin Coath and we saw a large Sparrowhawk flying towards Abbey Mead and then 2 soaring Common Buzzard behind.

Sunday 16th March

A really dank morning visit today between 6.30 and 8.30am.

Best sighting of the day was a singing Blackcap near the sunken marsh, 5 singing Chiffchaff, 6 Cettis singing around the area, 3 Shelduck on the river along with 10 Teal.

Saturday 15th March

After a trip to Scotland and a busy time at home today was my first patch visit for almost 4 weeks. I managed to get out between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. The weather was amazingly mild, 17 degrees and overcast.

It proved to be a really successful visit. I started off with 3 butterflies in quick succession, my first for the year. 1 Red Admiral fluterring past in the west scrub then 2 Comma in the east scrub area. Also the first of 6 singing Chiffchaff here and 2 Green Woodpecker.

The best sightings came along the Mill Stream where I added my first ever Ring Necked Parakeet for the patch perching high in a tree calling for about 15 minutes. Then 12 Sand Martin appeared from nowhere as I looked over towards the line of Poplars alongside the railway. Then to cap in all a lone Oystercatcher was on a raft on the scrape, only my second ever here. So three new species for the year and a patch 'tick' - a good couple of hours.

Ring necked Parakeet

Sunday 17th February

Only a quick 20 minute visit today from 11.30 but well worth it. An adult Med Gull showed well with Black Headed Gulls on Brooklands Lake. Another new one for the year.

I am off to Scotland with the family for a week from this afternoon so no posts for a week or so.

Saturday 16th February

Apologies for the late update for the late update for this weekend....

I visited between 3.45 and 5.45 on Saturday. I was hoping to find a Med Gull as several had been seen during the week. I started at Brooklands but no sign. I did however see a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 20+ Lapwing, 10 or so Teal on the river. 3 Snipe also appeared on the river as the tide fell. A new one for the year.

I drove around to Alders Lake as the light was going. A Little Egret has been roosting here but no sign. I decided to wait on and see if the Bittern showed. It did around 5.40, giving some nice views in front of the reeds at the end of the Millstream/Streamside pit. Also good views of a Water Rail here.

Tuesday 12th February

Another frustrating day as there was thick fog up until lunchtime and I only really had chance to visit this morning. I did walk around the small copse near the wardens office/pay and display car park. I did get some snatched views of a Treecreeper here that was calling high up.

Thick fog around the lakes this morning

I vistited again at duskver briefly and snapped the sunset.

Sunday 10th February

Just a brief visit this afternoon between 4 and 5.15. Only sightings of note were a Water Rail that flew across Brooklands Lake and a few Redwing. I was planning on staying and hoping to see the roosting Bittern but there was someone fishing close to the reedbed and about 20 cars parked close by with continued slamming of car doors and shouting and screaming.....no chance of the Bittern turning up with that racket....

Saturday 9th February

A beautiful morning today. Sunny and clear but very cold, 0 degrees on my car as I pulled up by the water works at 9.30. Unfortunately I could only spare just over an hour today.

As I walked through the gate a Cettis Warbler called loudly and showed briefly to my right and several Goldfinch called as the flew over. I walked to the Millstream/Streamside Lake and the Red Head Smew was still there diving frequently. The air was full of bird song as I scanned Abbey Mead - nothing out of the ordinary here though. As time was short I retraced my steps and had several Redwing by the scrape including two that were chasing each other through the trees - probably pairing up.

Red Head Smew (heavily cropped as still distant)

I decided to drive around to Brooklands Lake car park and see if I could locate the Redpoll that has been seen here. No sign unfortunately but another Cettis sang loudly but typically remained hidden. I quickly scanned Brooklands but the light was against me.

Great Crested Grebe

Sunday 3rd February

Two visits today, first between 9 and 10.30 and then again 4.15 to 5.15.

Blackthorn

This morning it was bright with a stiff breeze. I parked at the Water Works entrance, 5 Goldfinch were tinkling in the trees as I walked in and a 4 Cormorant loafed on the scrape. I checked the Millstream/Streamside pit. 10 Shoveler and some noisy Herring Gull were seen, I then picked up a Red Head Smew, probably the same one that was on the Motorway pit recently. It seemed to be associating with a small group of Tufted Duck.

Red Head Smew

As I walked past the ditch by the divers car park something caught my eye, i thought it was the usual Water Vole but it moved too quickly. I paused and had excellent views of a Stoat...lets hope the Water Vole wasn't on his breakfast menu. I walked on towards Abbey Mead, past two smart looking Little Grebe on the railway pit.

Around Abbey Mead, a few Bullfinch called but it was fairly quiet. The river was at high tide so I didn't check take a detour to check the banks. I walked around to the inlet by Brooklands Lake and had good views of a Water Rail swimming across from one patch of reeds to another...i was too slow to grab my camera. A mixed Gull flock of 100 or so birds were on Brooklands - mainly Black Headed and Common.

Back down the Millstream I managed some distant pics of the RH Smew and saw at least one Kingfisher. I had my only Cettis of the day as I left.

Later in the day I visited again and had good views of the Bittern flapping in front of the reeds at about 5.10pm, also one Water Rail flew across to the reeds and a Chiffchaff called close by. The Smew was also still present.

Monday 28th January

A very frustrating morning today. I actually had two and a half hours to spend at New Hythe between 9 and 11.30 but there was thick fog! All I managed to see was a Water Rail, 20+ Teal and a Redhsank on the river and I heard one or two Bullfinch. I did add another new bird for the year however in the shape of a Pheasant!

Sunday 27th January

I managed to get out between 3.30 and 5.30 this afternoon. I spent sometime around Brooklands lake Car park hoping for a Redpoll. No sign but two very confiding Chiffchaff and a flyover Rook - quite a scarce bird here amazingly. Back over towards the Millstream I spent a while observing a Water Vole. A Kingfisher, 2 Fieldfare, several Little Grebe and some calling Water Rail.

As it got dark I had some good views of a Bittern at the end of the Millstream (around 5.15, but still plenty of light)

Sunset at the end of Tesco Lake

Apologies for another picture of a Water Vole.

All pictures today taken with my old Panasonic FZ7 compact. Great little camera if anyone wants a good quality inexpensive digital camera.

Friday 25th January

Not at work today so managed a bonus visit between 8.45 and 10.45.

I visited the Motorway Lake first and quickly relocated the redhead Smew. The light was good but it remained right over the other side of the lake. I took a few pictures but it was just too far away.

I then drove to the other end of Lunsford Lane and walked from there. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well in a Silver Birch and a Green Sandpiper was on the scrape. The usual Water Vole was by the divers car park near the bridge. Over towards Abbeymead, I had the first of what must have been a dozen Bullfinch around the pit. They really have increased in number here. A Chiffchaff called close to the river and a Sparrowhawk shot past.

BULLFINCH

As I was scanning Abbeymead I saw something odd in the water on the far side, I walked around the lake and waded in. It was a dead, partially submerged Tawny Owl, caught up in fishing line. Apologies for the rather grizzly picture. I have never seen a live Tawny Owl here before although there were reports of one calling in this area by one of the fisherman last year.

TAWNY OWL caught in fishing line - unfortunately my first record for New Hythe

20+ Teal on the river, a brief Water Rail and 5 Cettis (actually saw 1!) were the only other sightings of note.

Long Tailed Tit

Thursday 24th January

I have just finished the first draft f my New Hythe web site. It is designed to compliment my blog. Please have a look and feel free to give me any comments..

http://newhythewildlife.com

Sunday 20th January

I managed a visit today between 3pm and 5.30. It was incredibly mild but fairly breezy.

I checked the Motorway pit off of Lunsford Lane for the Smew that I saw yesterday. It had been seen earlier in the day put i couldn't locate it despite an extensive search. I did have good views of Goldcrest again that was associating with a LT Tit flock. I then tried Alders Pit further down Lunsford Lane. At least 150 Coots here but no sign of the Smew or last weeks pair of Goldeneye.

The country park was busy as I walked through. I scanned the Gulls on Tesco Lake, c200 BH Gulls, a few Common and Lesser Black Backed. Over towards Abbey Mead to get away from the crowds. A Kingfisher called and shot across in front of me and a Chiffchaff called in the bushes as did a Fieldfare.

I retraced my steps and decided to stake out the 'Bittern spot' at the end of the Millstream until dark. I sat at a base of a tree for 40 minutes.....no Bittern appeared but I did see a Water Rail, a second Chiffchaff, another Kingfisher, a Sparrowhawk and a Cettis Warbler. Interesting what you see when you just sit.........

Saturday 19th January

A Red Head Smew on the Motorway Lake (off of Lunsford Lane) today. I only had my bins and teh bird was fairly distant and diving frequently. Not sure if its a female or 1st Winter male. Also 2 Goldcrest here.

Saturday 12th January

A visit between 9.15 and 10.45 this morning - lovely crisp bright morning.

BLUE TIT

Best sightings this morning were a noisy pair of Kingfisher on the Millstream Lake. I watched them for 20 minutes or so as they called and chased each other, then sat side by side on a low branch rubbing their beaks together pair bonding. One then dived repeatedly into the water from a branch no more than a foot from the surface.

Over towards Abbey mead there were good numbers of redwing feeding on the ground in the east scrub. 6+ Bullfinch called along the paths. A black rabbit darted along the path close the railway. Around Brooklands which didn't hold anything too unusual and along the Millstream where a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker were chasing each other high in the tree tops.

RABBIT IN THE REEDBED

A little later I photographed a pair of Goldeneye on the trout lake (Little Lunsford Lake on the map) next to Alders Lake off of Lundsford Lane.

Pair of Goldeneye

Saturday 5th January

I was out between 9 and 10.30 today. I had a brief visit on Thursday to Alders and thought I heard a Lesser Spotted woodpecker calling near the top of Lunsford Lane. I tried again this morning but no sign.

CORMORANT ALDERS LAKE

As time was short I drove around to Brooklands Lake car park. Walking around Brooklands there was a small flock of c10 Siskin in the Alders, a Sparrowhawk over as well as 7 Lapwing, a small flock of c4 Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff calling back in the car park.

SISKIN

Tuesday 1st January 2008

New Years Day and the opportunity to stay out all day and see how many species I could see on the patch. I arrived at Lunsford Lane at 7.20 whilst it was still dark and listened for the first birds of the day on Alders Lake. Just as it got light Terry Laws arrived and we decided to walk around the together and see if we could better Terry's last New Years Day total of 52 birds.

We quickly added all the common birds including a Mistle Thrush that gave a brief burst of song. Mist was still heavy so visibility on Alders was poor however a few twanging calls alerted us to a group of 20+ Siskin feeding high in an Alder. Within an hour we were up to 30 species and added a Water Vole along the Lunsford Lane stretch of the Millstream.

Over towards the round pond a flock of c8 Meadow Pipits were very active, calling and being flushed continually by dog walkers from the scrub. Next was one of the best birds of the day, a Treecreeper alerted me by it's call and quickly showed well at the end of the Millstream Lake, here we also added several Shoveler. We added several Little Grebe and another group of c6 Siskin in the east scrub before crossing the river towards Abbey Mead. A Shelduck, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker as well as the first of our 3 Chiffchaff for the day were seen here. We also added a Goldcrest (first of 2) and several Bullfinch. 2 Pike showed well in the shallows on the edge of Abbey Mead.

Down to the river we added 20+ Lapwing, 2 Teal, 2 Redshank and a Green Sandpiper, also 2+ Stock Dove the other side of the river. Grey Wagtail and Cettis Warbler called but remained unseen. A Vixen looked longingly from the bank at the Gulls and Lapwings on the Island in the Medway.

Back around Abbey Mead and over to the East scrub again we added our only Redwing of the day and then I saw 2 Water Rail chasing each other near the Millstream. Amazingly we waited until 2.45 to see our first Wren of the day and added a Stonechat shortly after near the round pond. Back to Alders we found House Sparrow but the Goldeneye seen by Terry yesterday remained elusive.

We returned to the end of the Millstream for dusk, 26 Fieldfare flew over calling and very late on the Bittern showed only very briefly at around 4.45. Over 9 hours and we saw 60 species and heard an additional 2. Very pleased with that.

Total list for the day (in the order seen):

1. Canada Goose 2. Coot 3. Mallard 4. Robin 5. Song Thrush 6. Dunnock 7. Magpie 8. Starling 9. Collared 10. BH Gull 11. Tufted Duck 12. Woodpigeon 13. Greylag 14. Pochard 15. GC Grebe 16. Common Gull 17. Grey Heron 18. Herring Gull 19. Chaffinch 20. Long Tailed Tit 21. Great Tit 22. Mistle Thrush 23. Pied Wagtail 24. Lesser BB Gull 25. Mute Swan 26. Blue Tit 27. Siskin 28. Goldfinch 29. Cormorant 30. Moorhen 31. Gadwall 32. Blackbird 33. Crow 34. Jay 35. Meadow Pipit 36. Treecreeper 37. Shoveler 38. Little Grebe 39. Shelduck 40. Kingfisher 41. Sparrowhawk 42. Chiffchaff 43. Great Spotted Woodpecker 44. Goldcrest 45. Green Woodpecker 46. Greenfinch 47. Bullfinch 48. Kestrel 49. Lapwing 50. Teal 51. Grey Wagtail (heard only) 52. Cettis Warbler (heard only) 53. Redshank 54. Green Sandpiper 55. Stock Dove 56. Redwing 57. Water Rail 58. Stonechat 59. Wren 60. House Sparrow 61. Fieldfare 62. Bittern

Sunday 30th December

A short visit today between 9.30 and 10.45. It was extremely busy with dog walkers. Looking forward to the lighter mornings over the next few months when I can get out before the area becomes too busy. My first sighting was a Great Spotted woodpecker that was drumming loudly on a pylon off of Lunsford Lane.

ROUND POND AND POND DIPPING PLATFORM

Fantastic views of Water Vole today by the divers car park bridge. The Water Vole here seems pretty unconcerned with the amount of activity in the area. Whilst I was taking photos some children ran past and the Water Vole just froze and carried on regardless once they’d passed. A Chiffchaff called nearby and a few Redwing called as they flew over.
WATER VOLE

A Mistle Thrush sang continually from high up on a pylon - I could only manage a silhouette (which I have converted to Black & White) A quick scan of Abbey Mead produced good views of a Kingfisher.

MISTLE THRUSH SINGING FROM A PYLON EAST SCRUB

I stopped by Alders Lake around 2.30pm today and saw a female Ruddy Duck - my first for the year here. Not sure what my year list stands for the area - all I know is it is significantly lower than last year.

Saturday 29th December

My 200th post to my blog today so I hoped for something good today.......'fraid not too exciting during my visit 1pm to 3pm. The weather however was beautiful - very still and sunny.

Best sightings were 6+ Bullfinch along the path between the Medway and Abbey Mead - there have been alot of Bullfinches along here this winter. A Sparrowhawk soared over the sunken marsh as I scanned in hope for a Buzzard over the North Downs, the weather looked excellent for raptors today. 20+ Lapwing flew behind the Paper Mill - probably feeding at Holborough Marshes.

BURHAM CHURCH VIEWED FROM THE SUNKEN MARSH

A male Stonechat was showing well in the scrub across from Tesco Lake as I returned to the car. A 'Crest called loudly and sharply near the west end of the scrape - I hoped for a Firecrest but couldn't get the bird to show despite 'pishing' for a few minutes. It didn't call again so I probably scared it off!

Friday 28th December

I visited between 12 and 2pm. It was incredibly quiet today with hardly a record of any note. A few Reed Buntings and nice flocks of Long Tailed Tits was about it! I did drop in at Castle Lake off of Castle way Leybourne on the way home and had a couple of flyover Siskin. Lets hope the weather turns from this unseasonably warm weather and we get some good birds for the new year.

CHAFFINCH

Thursday 27th December

A very dank morning today for my visit between 8.30 and 9.45.

BLACK HEADED GULLS ON ICE ON ALDERS LAKE

I parked on Lunsford Lane and scanned Alders Lake. Quiet, the Gulls standing out really well. Over towards Tesco Lake, a Black Swan looked regal gliding close to the edge. Obviously an escape but I havent seen one here for a few years.

BLACK SWAN ON TESCO LAKE

A Spaarowhawk flew low over the scrape and a Water Rail screeched from the reeds on the Millstream Lake- a Cettis also called briefly. On the Railway Lake a pair of Great Crested Grebe were performing their head shaking courtship display. 10 Redwing flew up from the East scrub with a Green Woodpecker as I passed. A quick scan of Abbey Mead which was very quiet and I retraced my steps flushing a Meadow Pipit from near the round pond.

Saturday 22nd December

I managed to get out between 8am and 10am today - quite dark first thing but it did brighten up.

TESCO LAKE

I parked by Alders Lake which was almost completely frozen except for a strip around the island where all the birds congregated. Nothing out of the ordinary however. I walked towards the scrape and then scanned the end of the Millstream. A small flock of LT Tits fed close by and were joined by a Chiffchaff.

Over towards Abbey Mead - no sign of the Pintail of 88 Wigeon seen yesterday but a Bittern showed well in the bottom of a tree on the far side of the pit. A Kingfisher also shot past. At least one Bullfinch called from the bushes.

Down towards Brooklands Lake two Grey Wagtail called as the flew over and another Chiffchaff was with a tit flock in the car park. Along the Millstream path I scanned the tp of the Millstream pit - 23 Cormorant were on the island with Common/LBB and BH Gulls.

BLACK HEADED GULLS ON THE FROZEN MILLSTREAM LAKE

Back to the car 20+ Goldfinch were making their tinkling calls in the top of a bare Oak.

A FESTIVE ROBIN !!

Wednesday 19th December

I managed a visit between 4pm and 4.45pm this afternoon with the hope of seeing the Bittern on the Millstream Lake. I stayed until the light had completely gone but no sign. 2+ Water Rail were squealing in the reedbed and at least one Cettis Warbler called loudly. A Sparrowhawk flew over my head and launched itself into a bush....not sure if it caught it's prey.

Sunday 16th December

A visit between 9am and 11am today. Glorious sunshine but very cold.

I had a call from Eddie Denson at about 8.30 he was watching a Goshawk soaring over the Millstream lake....how infuriating!! I was there about half an hour later...but of course no sign.

I parked at the Water Works entrance and walked again towards the Water Vole spot. No sign but then all of a sudden there was one, digging out his hole in the bank...I managed a few shots before it was spooked by a dog walker.....they could see my there with my camera but still came bounding towards me screaming at their dog. These are the same people who tell me there is no wildlife here...I wonder why they never see anything!

WATER VOLE

Over towards the railway line pit......I could see a small grebe diving at the end of the pit. I got my scope on it....a Black Necked Grebe....excellent!! It was very active diving and flapping.

Close by a Reed Bunting called and showed well. Over towards Abbey Mead the first of several Bullfinch called - there are lots of Bullfinch around at the moment. Today I had some really good views of males and females - they are very flighty though.

PAPER MILL OVERLOOKING BROOKLANDS LAKE

Again plenty of Teal on the river and 2 calling Cettis and lots of Redwing around. Back along the Millstream a Lesser Black Backed Gull showed well and a Chiffchaff called.

DUNNOCK

Saturday 15th December

A visit today between 9am and 11am. It was a very very dank day with poor light so apologies for the picture quality.

I parked by the water works entrance and walked towards the divers car park. I was hoping to get close to a water Vole again but as i got to the bridge a loud plop and it was gone. I wandered through the west scrub area which held numerous Redwing, a Green Woodpecker and a Jay as well as a few Greenfinch and Chaffinch.

Over towards the east scrub I decided to check under the plastic sheets that I've laid down for reptiles in case there were any small mammals sheltering - sure enough a Shrew shot out - it was black and I am pretty sure it was a Water Shrew. I have only ever seen a dead one here before so really pleased with that.

Over towards Abbey Mead - lots of Redwing again and a small flock of Long Tailed Tit were seen. On the river there were lots of noisy Teal (I could see around 25 but i am sure there were lots more) Also a Redshank called loudly and shot past me.

Long Tailed Tit

Teal

Back along the Millstream there were a few Goldfinch in the Alders.

Back home I checked the Ash tree near my house for Little Owl (I heard one calling last night and they often use the tree during the day) No sign, but I did see a Redpoll which is my first for Birling.

Tuesday 11th December

The rumours of my demise are untrue....just been working like mad recently and my wife is 3 months pregnant with or 4th child so things have been a bit hectic. I did however get out today between 9 and 11.30. It was a beautiful bright morning.

I parked in the country park car park which I don't usually do. I was hoping I might see something interesting in the small wood there but it was very quiet. I did however get good views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker high in a Silver Birch and then close by a pair of Stonechat showed really well.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

STONECHAT MALE

A few Redwing 'seeeped' as they flew over and Greenfinch and Goldfinch were feeding on the teasels. I had really good views of a single Water Vole near the divers car park. I completely mucked my photos up though which was a shame.

There wasn't much on Abbey Mead which was surprising as it was so cold. Walking around the bottom of the lake I had good views of 2+ Goldcrest and the first of 10 Bullfinch. Along the Medway there were Redwing everywhere and the first of 2 Cettis called.


Back along the Millstream I scanned again for Bittern but no sign. 8 Cormorant here as well as Shoveler, Gadwall and Pochard. Back to the car park I added Mistle Thrush feeding on the ground.

CORMORANT & SHOVELER

MISTLE THRUSH

Back at home in Birling around 12 I looked out of the kitchen window and had great views of 3 Buzzard circling low and then moving towards Ryarsh. Later at around 1.45 I had another Buzzard high flying towards the North Downs in Ryarsh. Also 6+ Red Legged Partridge in Birling.

GREY SQUIRREL

Saturday 24th November

I wasn't able to get out today but I did manage to scan Alders Lake from the car with the kids asleep in the back of the car. There was a f Goldeneye seen here earlier. I couldn't find it but did see 2 Male and 1 Female Wigeon. Also 60+ BH Gull, 8 Common and 6 Herring Gull, 47 Pochard, 11 Gadwall and 2 Little Grebe.

Sunday 4th November

A lovely bright sunny morning for my visit between 8 and 10am. I was trying out my new camera. Still getting to grips with it so not the best images.

VIEW OF THE MILLSTREAM LAKE

I checked the end of the Millstream for any sign of the Bittern, no sign (apart from trampled reeds) A Cettis called here and Shoveler and Gadwall were feeding close by. A large flock of Long Tailed Tit were calling around the West Scrub and a few Redwing went over as well as the first of 3 flyover Skylark. A few Goldfinch were feeding on teasel heads. GOLDFINCH

FUNGI sp SOUTH END OF ABBEY MEAD

I crossed the river and scanned the numerous Tufted Duck for anything more interesting and wandered up towards the sunken marsh. The tide on the Medway was high so I didn't check the river. A few Cormorant over and a Grey Wagtail called as it flew over. 3 more Cettis called in this area.

CHICKWEED

Wednesday 31 October

A late afternoon visit 4.45 - 5.15. A Bittern showed well climbing up in the reeds at the end of the Millstream Lake. Also a Kingfisher and Cettis Warbler and several Redwing. A Brown Rat also seen close to where I was standing viewing the Bittern.

Saturday 27th October

A visit between 10 and 11.45am today. It was suprisingly mild this morning and fairly bright. I parked at Brooklands carpark. The first of 5 Cettis called as I walked under the bridge several Goldfinch called in the Alders around Brooklands lake. Up to Abbey Mead there was nothing too exciting, a few Redwing over. I scanned the Medway - good numbers of Teal here. Around Abbey Mead and over to the East scrub - a Skylark called as it flew over. It was so warm I checked for reptiles but nothing around. Filedfare and Redwing were very evident in the west and east scrub.

Along the Millstream, a Grey Wagtail showed really well but always too far ahead to photograph. A Hawker sp and Darter sp also showed but refused to settle for me to confirm ID.

VIEW OF THE MEDWAY FROM THE SUNKEN MARSH

TUFTED DUCK ON ABBEY MEAD

Thursday 25th October

A visit this morning between 9am and 10.45. The weather was dank, drizzly and overcast.

I parked on Lunsford Lane and checked Alders Pit first. A flock of 20+ LT Tits buzzed around me as I checked the flocks of Tufties and Coot for something scarce - but nothing out of the ordinary. The first of numerous Redwing called as it flew overhead.

After checking the gulls on Tesco Lake I headed towards the scrape - quiet as usual. The East Scrub area however was alive with Fieldfare, Redwing and Blackbirds. I heard a possible Ring Ouzel deep in cover but it didn't show for me to confirm the ID. 3 or 4 Meadow Pipits called, as well as a Green Woodpecker, 5 Mistle Thrush and a charm of Goldfinch.

I headed over the railway and towards the sunken marsh. A scan of the river revealed 10+ Teal and a Redshank. 2 Bullfinch called as well as several Goldcrest. A Redpoll showed briefly in the sunken marsh and a Lapwing flapped over.

Back around Abbey Mead I added 3 more Cettis to my total of 5 calling birds. Back over the railway a Sparrowhawk shot past and I added 3 more Meadow Pips near the round pond.

It was still barely light by the time I left so no photos today.

Tuesday 23rd October

A visit today between 9am and 10am. Lovely bright sunny morning with a heavy mist.

Not a great deal to report on a brief walk. A few Redwing 'seeeped' loudly as they passed overhead, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers showed well and a large mixed flock of Tits close to Brook House provided most of the entertainment.

AUTUMN LEAVES

Friday 5th October

I have been so busy lately that I haven't been able to get out. I did however manage a visit today between 3.45 and 5.30. It was a lovely sunny day with clear blue skies.

There has been a notable increase in duck here since my last visit - mainly Tufted, but a few Shoveler as well and a Teal on the river. Lots of Common Darter around and a few Migrant Hawker, also a Fox seen on the river and a single Grass Snake, Common Lizard and Slow Worm.

Other sightings of note were 5+ Cettis singing, a juv Green Woodpecker and a mixed flock of c100 BH and Common Gull and a Kingfisher on the pit by the railway. A path has been created through the sunken marsh which now gives good views down the river. Hopefully I can get out early at some stage over the weekend and see if any waders drop in. Someone was shooting there this afternoon so there was no chance of finding anything.

COMMON LIZARD

Sunday 15th September

Out this morning between 6.45 and 8.15am. Much more bird activity today at this time of day (compared with almost nothing yesterday!)

6 Cettis heard calling today all around the area, 2 Kingfisher, one along the Millstream and another over my head near the West Scrub. 3 Common Terns over calling and flying strongly south were good to see. 2 Chiffchaff singing one along the Medway and another along the Millstream.

Mid afternoon I was wandering around Birling Church with my 3 year old son. Saw a Buzzard soaring over the farmland and then dissapearing into the wood near the church.

LATE PM UPDATE - Just had 3 Buzzard soaring over the wood next to Birling Church.

EARLY MORNING ABBEYMEAD

Saturday 15th September

A brief visit this afternoon between 2pm and 3.15pm, very warm so not much bird activity. Amazingly I didn't see any butterflies at all but plenty of Migrant Hawker around, good numbers of Common darter and a few worn Black Tailed Skimmer. I had good views of Migrant Hawker oviposting in the ditch near the divers car park.

Later in the day I saw Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Green Veined White and a few White sp around Birling Church.

MIGRANT HAWKER IN FLIGHT

BLACK HEADED GULLS ON ROUND POND

OLD MAN'S BEARD

Tuesday 4th September

A visit between 3pm and 4pm today. Not much around really at this time of day. 5 Mistle Thrush in the East scrub, Green Woodpecker & Great Spotted Woodpecker were the only birds of note.

Comma, Small White, White sp, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown were seen as well as only one Migrant Hawker and good numbers of Common Darter.

Late news, I forgot to put on 2 Buzzard over my village of Birling on Sunday as well as 10 Stock Dove.

Thursday 23rd August

I don't usually report other people's sightings here but there were some good ones today. Jerry Warne had Osprey, 4 Turnstone and 2 Dunlin all over today. I was at work. How frustrating!

Monday 20th August

A visit today between 6.30 and 8.30 am. Very quiet again on a damp and overcast morning.

3+ Sand Martin around Tesco Lake, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Cettis Warbler were highlights. Lots of young birds were around the east scrub with a mixed flock of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. 2 Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Bullfinch were also seen.

A single Water Vole was by the divers bridge and a lone Slow Worm in the east scrub.

Thursday 16th August

I am off work this week so I managed to get out between 10.30 and 12.


Very quiet as I expected today. A Kingfisher called and flashed across the pit closest to the railway line. Also 2 Juv Green Woodpecker in the east scrub and a Great Spot over. A Sand Martin flew over and all of a sudden I was surrounded by c10 flying very low near the round pond, also 2-3 House Martin here.


Apart from the birds I saw a Small White, Speckled Wood and good numbers of Meadow Brown. A Green Veined White showed well on Water Mint. 9 Slow Worm was a good number to find in the east scrub. Plenty of Common Darter, Black Tailed Skimmer and 'blue' damsels around.

GREEN VEINED WHITE ON WATER MINT

COMMON DARTER

I had half an hour to spare so I wandered up to Holly Hill, not far from where I live and a mile or two from New Hythe. Here I added a female Adder under a sheet of corrugated iron that I laid down about 4 years ago. Also 4 Slow Worm here and a Common Lizard. This area is brilliant for butterflies. I saw 3 Chalkhill Blue, a male Common Blue, and good numbers of Small Heath here.

CHALKHILL BLUE

Monday 13th August

A quick hour visit between 6 and 7am today. Again very quiet. 2 Cettis Warbler signing were the highlights. Not much else at all really on a very sunny morning.

COMMON TOADFLAX BY SCRAPE

Saturday 11th August

A visit between 6am and 7.30am this morning. Very quiet. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cettis Warbler were the bird highlights.

No reptiles found in the east scrub area but I did find a Common Shrew which gave me good if brief views. The only other record of note was my first patch Painted Lady of the year which I flushed off the path along the Millstream.

Back at home I found a Large Yellow Underwing in my shed.

LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING

Monday 6th August

I mentioned the Buff Tip Caterpillars found near the round pond yesterday. I potted one up and took it home to photograph. They are apparently quite easy to rear so I will have a go. Here is a picture.

BUFF TIP MOTH CATERPILLAR

Sunday 5th August

Another extremely hot day today- I visited between 6.30am and 10am today.

I decided to park by Alders Lake today as I had a bit more time than normal. The first bird of the day was a Kingfisher calling and flying low across the lake. Walking on from here I added Jay and several young Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, also Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The scrape was quiet apart from a noisy family party of Reed Warbler. I decided to look around the round pond for Wasp Spider and amazed myself by finding one almost straight away. A really spectacular looking spider with an interesting zig-zag section to it's web.

WASP SPIDER - BOTTOM PICTURE SHOWING THE ZIG ZAG LINE IN THE WEB

Over through the West Scrub I stopped and looked for Roesel's Bush Cricket and managed a few snaps. A few Gatekeeper here but nothing like the numbers of recent weeks. Also 5 Slow wrom in the East Scrub. I then decided to try and stake out yesterday's Purple Hairstreak as it was such a warm morning. I was not disappointed as they were already active in the Ash tree by the railway line - next to the Oak they were in yesterday. There seemed to be 3-4 here - unfortuntately it was only the most worm individual that ventured to the lower branches where I fired off a few pictures. A Cettis called nearby and 2+ Kingfisher were very noisy fishing close-by.

PURPLE HAIRSTREAK (QUITE WORN)

ROESEL'S BUSH CRICKET

There were quite a number of Red Eyed Damsels, Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter, Emperor, Red Tailed and Blue Damsels around. But no Small Red Eyed here.

Walking back towards the car I at last added Small Red Eyed Damselfly near the dipping platform on the round pond. This species is expanding it's range rapidly and just a few short years ago was a extreme rarity in this country. Also around the pond were half a dozen or so Buff Tip Moth Caterpillar.

SMALL RED EYED DAMSELFLIES

Saturday 4th August

After last nights late visit I didn't manage to get out at dawn today - instead I visited late afternoon 5pm to around 7pm. It was an extremely hot day with temperatures still in the early 20s by the time I left.

It turned out to be a good visit for me with a New Hythe first - 2+ Purple Hairstreak around the top of an Oak tree just over the stile to Abbey Mead. This was a butterfly that I was hoping to add. They are extremely under recordedand probably much more widespread than people think. I was really pleased with that - but they were too high in the tree top to get any decent pictures. Also several Holly Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, 6+ Slow Worm. The only bird of note was a fly over Rook - always a scarce bird for New Hythe.

Friday 3rd August

A late night visit between 11pm and 1am to look/listen for Owls. A fisherman who has been camping by Abbey Mead for a month or so has reported hearing and seeing both Little and Tawny Owl over the past few weeks. A group of four of us arrived at 11pm torches at the ready but heard and saw no Owls at all. The best sightings were half a dozen or so Glow Worm around Abbey Mead and a Fox feeding along the tideline of the Medway.

Sunday 29th July

I wasn't able to get out on Saturday, although I had a call from Terry Laws to say that the Ferruginous Duck had been refound on Abbey Mead. I did however get out late afternoon on Sunday for a couple of hours. I did have a look for the Ferruginous but no sign.

Bird-wise it was quiet, a few young Chiffies, two Green Woodpecker and a few Swift were the highlights - not much else at all. Apart from birds I saw 6 Slow Worm (including 2 young) a Grass Snake, a Newt Eft, several Darter sp, 3 male Black Tailed Skimmer, good numbers of Red Eyed Damsels, as well as plenty of Common and Blue Tailed.

I spent a while watching an Emperor Dragonfly feeding voraciously at the end of the Millstream. It patrolled it's territory and seemed to snatch every insect that dared cross it.

Gatekeepers were everywhere, with 1 Large White, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, and a few Meadow Brown. Most interesting sighting was a Grey Dagger moth Caterpillar - nice larva - moth is dull though!

A NEWT EFT (PROBABLY SMOOTH NEWT)

GREY DAGGER MOTH CATERPILLAR

CATFISH IN MILLSTREAM (ABOUT 2 FEET LONG)

Found these smart looking Parent Bug nymphs on a Silver Birch near home (apologies for the poor picture)

PARENT BUG (Elasmucha grisea) NYMPHS

Sunday 22nd July

A visit today for the Wildlife Day which seemed to go down really well as the weather held. I managed to find a Slow Worm (amongst 3 I found in the east scrub) to add to the moths on show and the mini beast hunts came up with some interesting finds including a smart Brown Argus, Small Copper and several Gatekeeper. Also a male Banded Demoiselle and inumerable blue damselfly sp. GRASS SNAKE SLOUGH MEASURING 2.5 feet FOUND IN THE EAST SCRUB LAST WEEK

A quick walk out across the field behind my house late afternoon - a singing Yellowhammer, 3 Skylark, 6 Goldfinch, 10 Gatekeeper, clouds of Meadow Brown and a few large white

FIELD NEXT TO MY HOUSE IN BIRLING OVERLOOKING BIRLING CHURCH

Saturday 21st July

I didn't get out during the day today but did set up my moth trap at New Hythe to try and catch something interesting for the Wildlife Day on Sunday run by the Country Park. We set up in the West Scrub area at 9ish and stayed until midnight. It was a fairly cool evening so not ideal conditions and we waited a good hour before our first moth arrived. We didn't catch anything too spectacular but our haul included: Drinker, Common and Dingy Footman, Fen Wainscott, several Shaded Broad Bar, a Latticed Heath, a White Brown Tail and a male Glow Worm!

Greg Hitchcock had a bat detector and we picked up several Pipistrelle and a probable Noctule. Also a few Brown Hawker around feeding on the mozzies.

Setting up the moth trap in the West Scrub

Saturday 14th July

A visit between 6.15 and 8am this morning. Quite windy but very warm.

The first bird of the day today was a Kingfisher which I heard call as I parked up by the water Works and then it shot over my head a few minutes later by the scrape. I had a really good day for Kingfisher today with 2 others seen, one by the railway line and another along the Millstream.

I walked across the west scrub and heard Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and a Green Woodpecker, with 3 Swift over. A look around the east scrub produced 2 Common Lizard, 1 Grass Snake and a single Slow Worm. Also here I found a Gatekeeper, a Large White and a Robins Pincushion which is a wasp gall on a Wild Rose.

GATEKEEPER

ROBIN'S PINCUSHION

I walked around Abbey Mead and added several young Whitethroat and next to Brooklands Lake 2 Speckled Wood, a Red Admiral and took some pictures of Common Water Crowsfoot.

COMMON WATER CROWSFOOT

SPECKLED WOOD

Along the Millstream I saw an Emperor Dragonfly, several Blue tailed damselflies and 3 teneral Common Darter also a probable Small Red Eyed Damselfly (it was quite a way out and in the wind it was difficult to be sure) Also I had great views of huge Catfish in the shallows - one well over 3 feet long. Just by the rusty bridge near the scrape I managed to take a picture of a male Banded Demoiselle

Male BANDED DEMOISELLE

I returned around 2pm for about half and hour as my daughter wanted to see some butterflies. In half an hour we saw 2 Common Blue, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Small Heath, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 1 Large White, 3 Small Skipper and 1 Large Skipper. Also a Brown Hawker, 2 Emperor and good numbers of Large Red Eyed Damselflies. These were all seen around the West Scrub area/walk up from Brook House entrance.

Wednesday 11th July

A visit this morning between 5.40am and 6.30am before work. A few spits of rain but generally bright. As I arrived a few Swift were going over and I walked over the bridge towards the West Scrub. A Reed Warbler was singing in the Millstream - they seem to be one of the few birds singing at the moment. As I entered the West Scrub I flushed a juv Green Woodpecker from the ground and heard a snatch of Willow Warbler song. Across the East scrub a family party of 4-5 Bullfinch were feeding in the bushes and I heard a snatch of Lesser Whitethroat song. A Fox appeared briefly and shot off when it saw me.

FOX

I walked over the stile to Abbey Mead but it was quiet apart from 2 Great Crested Grebe. As time was short I walked back towards the West Scrub by the fishing lakes. 3+ Reed Warbler singing along here. As I reached the bridge by the divers car-park I watched a Water Vole feeding. Light wasn't great but I managed a few pictures.

WATER VOLE

In addition to the above around 7pm last night I had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth around home. I grabbed my camera, took about 10 pictures and then realised I'd left my memory card in my PC! Ahhhhhhhhh. Hopefully it will come back!

Sunday 8th July

An hour visit this morning accompanied by my 5 year old, Iris. She was keen to try out her new bins. Well of course she ended up finding something very interesting. A Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly Nymph.

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER NYMPH

We also saw a Grass Snake, 2 Slow Worm, 3 Reed Warbler, a female Bullfinch, Willow Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush and a Juv Green Woodpecker. Also this juv Robin.

Juv ROBIN

Saturday 7th July

First some late news which I kept off the blog as this bird was a possible breeder and prone to egg collectors. On Saturday 23rd June I found a Marsh Warbler - I will keep the exact location under wraps. The bird showed very well and sang continuously in the early morning - mimicing Reed warbler, Blackbird, Swallow, House Martin amongst its varied and vivd song. I saw it again on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th June and it was seen by someone else on Tuesday 26th. I couldn't find it on Wednesday 27th but found it again last Saturday in another area. I have found Marsh Warbler here before (I think it has bred here in the dim and distant past) but not for at least 6 years. I did manage a few pictures.

MARSH WARBLER

Now back to this morning Saturday 7th July........

I arrived at 5.45 on a beautiful morning. Lots of young birds around today. In total I saw/heard 15 Whitethroat, 10 Reed Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 8 Blackcap, 2 Cettis Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker and several LBB Gulls. I also saw 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Large White and 2 Common Darter.

GATEKEEPER

Saturday 30th June

A visit this morning between 5.45am and 7.15am. I managed to dodge the rain this morning but there wasn't a great deal around. 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Cettis Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Swift were the highlights. The Himalayan Balsam is in full flower now along the Millstream.

Wednesday 27th June

Out between 5.50 and 7.10 this morning. Good numbers of Swift wheeling around the lakes this morning, also a Nightingale still singing intermitantly by the pylon in the east scrub also a Green Woodpecker there and several Reed Warbler in this area.

Over the railway to Abbey Mead, the first of three Lesser Whitethroat was singing and a Cettis called loudly as I walked around the lake. Over to the sunken marsh - several more Reed Warbler, the Turtle Dove in the usual place on the wires and the two additional Lesser Whitethroat were rattling unseen in the bushes.

I struggled along the very overgrown path along the river (wish I hadn't half way down with head high nettles) back around the end of Abbey mead adding a Kingfisher which I was really pleased about - a real decline of this bird in the area over the last year.

Back over the divers bridge I lingered to see if I could see a Water Vole - I could hear one munching unseen further down the ditch here amongst the reeds and Loosestrife. A Sparrowhawk gave excellent views as it flew past with a small bird in it's tallons. I added a Great Spotted Woodpecker by the Water Works entrance just before I left.

Monday 25th June

A visit between 9am and 11am today - rain held off for most of the visit.

Still no sign of Water Vole in the usual place since the banks of the ditch by the divers car park bridge have been masacred.

PYRAMMIDAL ORCHID - WEST SCRUB

Good numbers of Swift around today. A few Meadow Brown, a single Ringlet and a lone Red Admiral were seen as well as a few Common Darter and Red Eyed Damselflies. Also one Grass Snake and 4 Slow Worm in the East Scrub.

WHITETHROAT

Sunday 24th June

A visit between 6am and 8am this morning - it rained almost continuously.

Parked at Brook House and walked from there today. Several Blackcap were in song along the path here, with a Great Spot calling but remaining hidden. Two Whitethroat were singing in the east scrub area. Crossing the railway track and walking around Abbey Mead - a Lesser Whitethroat rattled away - the first of three this morning. The odd Reed Warbler sang on the way around, a male Bullfinch showed well in the sunken marsh and a bedraggled Turtle Dove was on the wires, 2 Sand Martin went over as well as a lone Shelduck. All the way around Abbey Mead and back across the east scrub where a Cuckoo showed exceptionally well.

Saturday 23rd June

Gnerally quiet this morning during my visit. Interestingly the most prominent songs were Blackcap. No Nightingale or Cettis heard today and just a handful of Whitethroat, a few Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler. No Water Vole today by the divers bridge but the undergrowth has been cut back - something I would have seen as positive for Water Vole after their breeding season but isn't this slap bang in the middle of it?

17th June 2007

I didn't get out to New Hythe at all this weekend so didn't think I would have anything to post on my blog....but at 7.30pm on Sunday night my Mother-in-law rang to say she had caught an Elephant Hawk Moth whilst gardening. She kindly brought it over and here it is. What a fantastic looking moth.

ELEPHANT HAWK MOTH

Sunday 10th June

A visit between 3.45 and 4.45 today - weather warm and sunny.

Bird song was very subdued on this warm afternoon. 2 Nightingale singing, one of them interspersed with the strange Nightingale croaking call. Apart from that a single Green Woodpecker, 10 Sand Martin, a probable distant Hobby, 2 Garden Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler and several Whitethroat.

Unbelievably I saw no butterflies at all which amazed me! 4+ Four Spotted Chaser, a couple of Hairy Dragonfly and a single Common Darter. Added to this a lone Water Vole, 1 slow Worm and 1 Common Lizard.

COMMON DARTER

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY WHEEL

Saturday 9th June

I was out for an hour and a half from 5.30am today. It was warm but very overcast.

A Nightingale was in full song by the Water Works as I arrived and 6 Swift and a Great Spotted Woodpecker went over. The regular Water Vole was by the divers car park bridge and I watched it for a few minutes before heading into the West Scrub. Plenty of Pyramidal Orchid out here now and a few Common Spotted (including a few white ones) and 3 Bee Orchid. The light was too dull to try and pictures this morning - maybe tomorrow. A Cettis called here before I walked across the east scrub. The number of rabbits here now have increased dramatically over the past few years - also a few black ones here.

Around Abbey Mead, a Lesser Whitethroat rattled as well as 3 Cettis, 2 further Nightingale and 3 Reed Warbler. Around Brooklands with only Reed Warblers of note and a further Cettis. The walk back along the Millstream was quiet apart from common bird song and it began to drizzle so I was back in doors by 7am.

A few notes from around my village of Birling today - Skylark singing all day from the field next to my house, Goldcrest also in constant song in Birling churchyard. Red Admiral and curiously a fly past Banded Demoiselle were also noted.

Monday 4th June

A quick post today. I caught a Poplar Hawkmoth in my moth trap. A huge cracking moth that I managed to photograph. Also a Yellowhammer singing from the field next to my house.

POPLAR HAWKMOTH

Sunday 3rd June

A visit today between 3pm and 5.15pm.

A visit this afternoon to look for Orchids and Reptiles predominently. Still only a single Southern Marsh Orchid, 3 Bee Orchid and good numbers of Pyramidal and Common Spotted emerging in the west scrub. Best of all were a pair of mating Brown Argus butterfly in the west scrub, also several Common Blue and a Red Admiral here. 2+ Hairy Dragonfly near the divers bridge, 2 Teneral Black Tailed Skimmer and hundreds of 'blue' damsels - mainly a mixture of Common Blue and Azure.

3 Slow Worm and 2 Common Lizard in the east scrub as well as this superb Grass Snake. Bird wise - 3 Nightingale, 2 Willow Warbler and a few Whitethroat were most obvious as well as a cracking male Bullfinch in the east scrub.

GRASS SNAKE

Saturday 2nd June

A visit between 5.15am and 7am this morning. Lovely bright and sunny morning.

I parked at the Water Works entrance as usual and was pleased to hear that the Nightingale here was still in full song. The first of still singing here this morning. I crossed towards the divers bridge where a single Water Vole was sitting on the bank oblivious to my presence. The first of 4 Cuckoo was calling here as well as well as a Turtle Dove - atotal of 3 seen this morning. 2 Sparrowhawk flew past in quick succession and several Whitethroat were singing here - I counted 13 on my walk this morning. Also 10 Cettis singing across the area.

3 Lesser Whitethroat was the highest number for a couple of weeks, with one in the east scrub and 2 at the north end of Abbey Mead. Also 2 Common Tern briefly over Abbey Mead and latterly Brooklands.

REED WARBLER

Other sightings of note this morning were 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Garden Warbler, 9 Swift, a single Sand Martin and two Shelduck on the river. A fox was being mobbed by Magpies by the Brooklands car park bridge

STRIPED SNAIL (Helicidae Cernuella) I think

Thursday 31st May

My annual visit to Mereworth Woods a few miles down the road last night for Nightjar. It was a lovely still and bright evening. The first of c5 roding Woodcock appeared around 8.45pm but we had to wait until around 9.45 for the first churring Nightjar, shortly after one wheeled in front of us and disappered over our heads. We have watched and listened to Nightjar here for a number of years now and the young conifer plantations are now small woods - it does make you wonder who long the Nightjar are going to hang on. A Tawny Owl 'keewicked' as we left about 10.15.

Wednesday 30th May

A brief visit today. The first species of note was a Red Admiral near the Water Works entrance followed by a teneral Black Tailed Skimmer, my first here this year - it perched briefly not far from the bridge by the divers car-park.

Teneral Black Tailed Skimmer

Wandering through the East scrub I heard my first Nightingale of the day, with a second shortly after by the pylon in the west scrub area, as well as several Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler. I managed to take a picture of a Common Blue which was quite difficult as it was deep in the vegetation, but I managed not to disturb it.

Common Blue

Also here was my first Bee Orchid of the year and my first Southern Marsh Orchid of this season. Also a few Common Spotted Orchid that are just coming into bloom in this area.

Bee Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

Over to the West scrub which is full of noisy Starling families I added a Mistle Thrush and Green Woodpecker. Also here 3 Common Lizard and 6 Slow Worm.

Although a little further than I normally travel I went to Stockbury Wood about 10 miles away and took some snaps of Birds Nest Orchid and Lady Orchid. I have put the pictures here in case anyone is interested.

Birds Nest Orchid

Lady Orchid

Saturday 26th May

Out between 5.30am and 7ish this morning. It was overcast and breezy.

Numbers were down on recent weeks not helped by the weather. 6 Nightingale still in song across the area along with 22 Whitethroat, 10 Reed Warbler and 5 Cettis. In addition to this there were 3 Cuckoo, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler and a single Lesser Whitethroat along the path between Abbey Mead and the railway.

c50 young noisy Starling were in the east scrub, many being fed by their parents. The first of two Fox were here as well, with 7 Swift over. A Pheasant called from somewhere in the scrub. A single Water Vole was by the divers bridge.

The only other sightings of note were 2 Great and 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 young Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jay and a Kestrel.

Sunday May 20th

A visit between 6.15am and 8.45am this morning.


Nothing too unusual on today's visit apart from a Small Copper which I haven't seen here for a few years. I managed to get a few pictures as it was early morning and warming up on Nettles at the north end of Abbey Mead.

SMALL COPPER

Birds seen were very similar to yesterday - again large numbers of Nightingale, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Cettis. 3 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 100+ Swift were around first thing but then scarcer as the morning warmed up. 1 Lesser Whitethroat was around Abbey Mead. As Sedge Warbler sung well in the West Scrub area.

I searched again for Green Hairstreak in the West Scrub - no sign as usual. I thought I had one momentarily but it was the day flying Burnet Companion moth - I managed a quick snap. Also I couldn't resist another go at the Four Spotted Chaser. These are stunning Dragonflies and are showing well in the West Scrub and are easy to photograph as they warm up in the early morning.

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER

BURNET COMPANION - Euclidia glyphica

Saturday 19th May

Out between 6am and 9am today - good to be out, the first time for nearly a week.
Again I did a more detailed count on my walk. I didn't however go along the Medway path or around the scrape - so the numbers are obviously an under representation of what is here.

It seems that in general the Nightingale are quietening down. I heard only 6 this morning. In addition to that I had my best number of Cuckoo for the year with at least 5 in the area - including the usual one by the west scrub/end of the Millstream and the one on the wires over the sunken marsh. 26 Whitethroat around with quite a few seemingly feeding young or birds on the nest. 12 Cettis heard today (I try and be careful with counts of Cettis as the habitually call and move so are hard to count with any certainty) 14 Reed Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 100+ Swift, 10+ Swallow and 10+ House Martin. Only 5 Blackcap in song today, 2 Willow Warbler and 4 Chiffchaff.

Also nice to see 2 Grey Wagtail over the Millstream, 1 Lapwing over and 1 Stock Dove over. A juv Pied Wagtail being fed by its parent near the Paper Mill and 2 Green and 2 Great Spots across the area. A small colony of House Sparrow were nosiy and entertaining at the end of the Millstream.

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER

2+ Hairy Dragonfly, 4 Four Spotted Chaser and lots of Common Blue Damsels around. My first Common Blue Butterfly here for the year and a really neat Crab Spider on a Oxeye Daisy. These spiders are really interesting - they change their colour depending on the flower they are sitting on waiting for an unsuspecting insect to land. Also several Common Carpet moth on Nettles and 2 Slow Worm in the East scrub.

WHITE CRAB SPIDER

COMMON CARPET

Sunday 13th May

I was out this morning between 5.45 and 7.45.

As I arrived at the Water Works entrance a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in front of me and as I got out of the car I flushed a Green Woodpecker from the grass near the entrance to the works. The first of 3 Cuckoo was singing from close by.