Wednesday 25th April

I was woken up by a Cuckoo calling in Birling at 5.30am so I was up and out and at New Hythe for 5.50 - a Goldcrest was singing in Birling Churchyard as I left.

Arriving at New Hythe I heard the first of 8 Nightingale singing by the Water Works. Whitethroat were very prominent this morning, I recorded 9 this morning across the area. 2 Willow Warbler were singing in the east scrub.

SUNRISE OVER THE NORTH DOWNS

Over around Abbey Mead, a Cettis was along the river and 13 Shelduck were on the Medway. A Turtle Dove was purring on wires over the sunken marsh and a Cuckoo was again nearby. In the reeds here a single Sedge Warbler and 2 Reed Warbler were in song. My only Lesser Whitethroat of the morning was close by as were 2 more Cettis.

WILLOW WARBLER SINGING IN THE EAST SCRUB

I walked all around Abbey Mead. At the south end 6 drunk lads were fishing and the place was a terrible mess - they were quite aggressive so I backtracked and crossed the railway along the top path.

As I crossed the bridge near the divers car park I had good views of a Water Vole. A Kestrel went over and a Mistle Thrush was feeding close by on the ground.

WATER VOLE