The first Large Red of the year

Saturday 12th May 2012 Cool start (6C), clear skies, light N/W breeze, dry. After such a miserable spring weather-wise, and with tetrads still to complete for the Nightingale survey, I was grateful for the company of my long-time birding pal, Patrick Giles. He was staying in Kent for the weekend, and kindly offered to share some survey work this morning. I picked him up in Faversham at 5am, and we started shortly afterwards in TR16Y. I did this tetrad a week ago and heard nothing, and most of it is housing estate, but there is some farmland and scrub by the railway line. I dropped PG off to walk the footpath across the fields, then took myself over the rough ground by the railway. PG didn't hear any, but I was really pleased having heard a bird singing by the footbridge over the railway line, just about audible from the thanet way. Next we covered TR16K, near Tyler Hill. Again we split up, with 2 obvious circular routes leading back to the car. This time we heard a single singing bird each, in exactly the same place as last week when I walked round. This afternoon my wife spotted the first Large Red Damselfly of the year near the pond.

Later I had a short walk at Brook. Little to report on the bird life, but the stream round the reservoir had many large carp splashing around, presumably spawning in the warm weather. Not sure what species of carp they were. This Whitethroat popped up on a bush briefly as I walked back to the car.

A visit to see the Duke

Monday 7th may 2012 Cold start (4C), becoming mild late morning (14C). Overcast becoming quite bright. My day started at 4am in TR16Y, listening for Nightingales, of which there were none to be heard. It was a very calm morning so they would be easily heard if they were singing. I chose Bank Holiday morning to do this tetrad because there would be much less traffic noise. Only a small area of the tetrad is suitable habitat, so by 5am I was on my way to TR16M, which held good numbers of singing birds on the first visit. It didn't take long until I could hear Nightingales, and I made my way along the hedgerows mapping the presence of birds singing. There were plenty of warblers singing as well, and at around 6am I came across a Little Owl sitting in a tree in the middle of a field. Better was to come, and at 6.30am I heard the distinctive singing of a Golden Oriole, not far into some woods. I listened for several minutes, while trying carefully to pick out the bird somewhere near the top of the trees, but I was unable to locate it, and eventually it went quiet. I finished the survey just after 8 o'clock, with 15 singing Nightingales, and headed home for breakfast. By now the sun was breaking through, and after a tidy up and some food and drink, I had to choose between searching Reculver for dragonflies, or heading over to Denge Wood for butterflies. As i'm back to work tomorrow, and the weather didn't look great for the week ahead, I decided to try for butterflies, or one in particular. The Duke of Burgundy should be on the wing by now, and has a limited flight period, which I didn't want to miss. The air was full of the songs of Blackcaps and Garden Warblers as I made my way to the favoured spot for these handsome little butterflies. On route I heard a Nightingale sing briefly, and 5 Crossbills flew over. I wasn't the only person out looking today, and I had a nice chat with a couple of lads also on the search. It wasn't long before we found 3 Duke of Burgundy butterflies, and I spent a little while taking a few pictures. Unfortunately I only had my long lens with me, so no close ups today, but a couple of record shots below:

Other butterflies seen were Large White, Peacock and Orange-tip. After some lunch I took a trip to Shuart, where a stroll up to the beach produced 1 Cetti's, 1 Cuckoo and the usual warblers, a female Marsh Harrier and a Hairy Dragonfly, my first of the year and made my day complete. The wind was really picking up just before I left, and a bit of drizzle seemed to push Swallows through, I had about 75 fly west in half an hour.

An evening stroll at Reculver

Sunday 6th May 2012 Cold, dry, overcast, N/E breeze. I was glad to get out for a walk this evening after a weekend of wedding and hangover, and I reached Chambers Wall at 4 o'clock this afternoon. The wind had dropped, and I was hoping to maybe hear the Grasshopper Warbler found by Marc Heath early this morning. Just before the car park I met Mark Chidwick as he was leaving, and he told me about a Spotted Flycatcher around the car park bushes, which was helpful. After parking, within a couple of minutes I had found the flycatcher, which was still quite active even in the cool evening air.

I strolled slowly up to Coldharbour, and on route had a Hobby fly fast overhead. I could hear 3 Lesser Whitethroats singing around the hedges, and there were Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sedge and Reed Warblers and Whitethroats all singing. A Common Sandpiper was in Coldharbour. I walked west along the seawall, and there were a few Yellow Wagtails flying around the fields. One landed on the sea wall, but as I readied myself for a photo, 2 cyclists came steaming past and scared the bird off. Two things I don't understand about cyclists. Firstly, why do they try to hold a conversation with their cycle companion whilst struggling for breath riding the bike? They end up shouting incoherently at each other, everyone for miles around gets to hear the conversation and any wildlife is frightened away. Why not peddle for all they're worth, then stop for a chat afterwards? Secondly, really, why the bright day-glo fluorescent jackets? This couple had a bright yellow and a bright pink jacket, yet there was no traffic to worry about, and no imminent blanket of fog about to engulf everyone. They could be seen for miles and miles. There were 2 Wheatears on the rocks west of Coldharbour, and a few waders on the shore.

The light was starting to fade.

I walked inland at the oyster farm, and as I approached the southeast corner I could see there was a large area of lovely looking mud, with 1 or 2 waders on. By the time I reached the corner, the waders were out of sight, so I hung around for a while hoping to get a decent sighting. Eventually I had to try to get a look at them, so I tried to get closer, but unfortunately they took off before I got a chance for a good view. However, I kept watching as 2 waders climbed high. One was a Dunlin, the other a smaller wader which called twice. A Little Ringed Plover. Cracking stuff, it made the whole walk worthwhile. I could also hear a Greenshank calling unseen. Other birds seen on the rest of my walk were 2 Grey Partridges and a Hepatic female Cuckoo, but no singing Gropper.

A garden surprise

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Cool with northerly breeze, overcast and misty with some drizzle.

It was another Nightingale survey early this morning, I visited the Clowes Wood area for the 2nd visit. This time I set off at 4.30am, still dark but before long there was enough light to see ok. Tawny Owls were calling, a Woodcock flew over the path 'roding', there were loads of Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, a few Whitethroats, Goldcrests, Coal Tits, 1 Siskin, 3 Redpolls and a lively flock of 10 Crossbills. They landed briefly and all the birds I could see appeared to be juveniles. After 3 1/2 hours round the woods I had recorded 9 singing Nightingales.

There was a lovely surprise waiting in the garden when I got home. I went in the kitchen for a cuppa, looked out the window and saw a male Bullfinch on the ground. I ran to grab the camera, but on my return there was no sight of him. However, a movement in the small apple tree caught my eye, the female Bullfinch. She sat still just long enough for a photo, taken through the double glazing, but it's still nice to see.

After lunch I took a trip to Chambers Wall in the hope of a few migrants, but the north wind looks to have slowed spring down again. I walked up to the beach and sat on the shingle in a bit of shelter to watch the sea, but apart from 5 Gannets flying east there was nothing about. A male Wheatear flew west and landed a little away, there were Shelduck, Gadwall and Shoveler in Coldharbour, a few Yellow Wagtails out in the fields, and the usual selection of waders around. I did have nice views of a male Cuckoo, and back at the car park there were 2 Lesser Whitethroats, as well as many Common Whitethroats.

This afternoon I had just finished cutting the grass when 2 Crossbills flew over calling, which was nice.

Waders and Warblers

1st May 2012
Mild (12C), dry, becoming bright and warm. Easterly breeze.

After some early morning rain, I made my way to Chambers Wall about 7am. The day started really well, with a Yellow Wagtail over the car park, and a male Redstart in the hedge by the car.

Walking north to the railway I added numerous Sedges, Whitethroats and 2 Lesser Whitethroats, plus Blackcap, and Chiffchaff. I wandered up to Coldharbour, and just as I reached the lagoon I could see 2 Avocets in the water. They didn't stay long, which is not unusual for waders in the lagoon itself, but I grabbed the camera as they flew off.

There were also 3 Common Sandpipers in Coldharbour, and as I walked east I had 2 Whimbrel, a Barwit and a Greenshank fly over. There were 4 Reed Warblers singing along the dykes, and 5 Wheatears scattered along the beach. A Bonxie flew just offshore, upsetting the gulls, before landing on the beach at Coldharbour.

1 Gannet flew east, and 8 Sanderling dropped down on the shore, there was a lone Grey Plover and 2 Sandwich Terns on a post at Plumpudding.

I headed inland at the stables, following the embankment slowly back to Chambers Wall. A came across the wonderful sight and sound of a pair of displaying Lapwings near the Wade crossing. As the day warmed up there were quite a few Swallows around, and I counted 17 Yellow Wagtails. I met Tim at the crossing, and we remarked how warm it was now the sun was out, and there were large numbers of flying insects about. I became aware of a growing flock of Swifts, numbers reaching at least 35 birds.

All in all, it felt quite spring-like at last.

Golden Wonder

Monday 30th April 2012 Mild (13C), N/E breeze F4, dry and sunny. I started with a Nightingale survey this morning, 5am just north of the main Thornden Woods. The west half of the tetrad stretches out to Chestfield Golf Club, and I located 4 Nightingales in thick hedgerows away from the woods. The eastern half was even more productive, with a minimum of 12 Nightingales singing. On more than one occasion recently I have come to realise that it's important not to rush through the tetrad, walking slowly or standing quietly for a few minutes can often reveal a bird which wasn't singing on initial approach to an area. As well as the general 'buzz' from finding so many singing birds, on walking across the fields at the top of Knockhimdown Hill a came across 7 Wheatears and 2 Whinchats in one small area. After a short trip home for breakfast I headed out to Shuart for a walk out to the coast to look for migrants. I managed 2 Wheatears, a selection of warblers and 2 Yellow Wagtails on the path north. By now it had warmed up, so I hid my jacket under a bush, to be collected later, and continued wandering around. Shortly afterwards I received a text from the wife asking to be picked up from a friend's house, so my trip was short-lived. I had lunch then set off to West Brook Valley, but it was very quiet. I was just thinking of taking a trip to the towers when I received a txt from Chris Hindle advising me of a male Golden Oriole at Shuart. I ran all the way to the car and got to Shuart as quick as possible, and set off up the track to the railway line. Taking time to look in the clearings along the hedge, I suddenly noticed the oriole flying distantly across some fields.

I relocated it in a bush beyond the hedges, and managed a couple of snaps of it, but then a cyclist came haring down the path and the oriole flew off to the railway embankment bushes. Next was a trip up to the Reculver towers to look for Wheatears to photograph. However, just after leaving the car I was looking at a Snow Bunting feeding near the rocks. This is the latest migrant Snow Bunting seen at Reculver.

I finished the day with a short visit to Chambers Wall, where the highlight was a sighting of a Stoat at close range. Of course, as I lifted the camera it disappeared into the hedge.

Sedge Warbler count

Friday 27th April Bright, mild, dry with a strong southerly breeze F5-6 Last weekend I enjoyed a long walk round the east of the Reculver area, and there were good numbers of warblers singing. During the week my friend Tim Hodge expressed 'surprise' at the count of 30+ Sedge Warblers recorded. Knowing Tim well, I take this to indicate suspicion of doubt, and I admit it was an estimate, there were so many I hadn't counted methodically. This morning, as it was too windy to carry out a decent Nightingale visit, I spent 4 hours re-visiting the area I walked last weekend, with the intention of counting the birds with more deliberation. I had to know, was it over-enthusiasm, duplication or errors made in the recognition of a Sedge Warbler song, or were there really that many Sedges in the area. The strong winds blowing across the marsh meant there were far fewer birds in general displaying and singing, and it was much harder to hear birds away from the path. I was very careful to ensure each bird recorded was a different bird, which isn't too hard with Sedge's, they tend to stay in one small area while singing. I am greatly encouraged to have counted the following on my morning's walk: 2 Swifts, 6 Swallows, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 24 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffs, 4 Blackcaps and 34 Sedge Warblers. Several areas there were no Sedge's singing today, yet I know they are normally present. This afternoon I had a pleasant walk round Denge Wood, where the wind wasn't quite so intrusive. Not far into the woods I could hear a Tree Pipit singing, and a pair of Common Buzzards flew over. Warblers heard were Chiffchaff, Willow, Blackcap and 2 Garden Warblers, my first this spring. Butterflies seen were several Peacocks, 1 Brimstone and a few restless Orange-tips. With much patience I managed a few photos.

This evening I had a Hobby fly over Boughton golf course.