Friday 11th May

The report of a large movement of Swifts over the French coast yesterday manifested itself in the appearance of 7+ Swifts over the High Street, East Malling as I drove into work this morning....the globe still works! A walk to the usual Spotted Flycatcher haunts is needed this weekend I think!

A Sparrowhawk floated over the glasshouse cold-store as I took delivery of some plants at 09:30, and a new influx of House Martins were making use of last year's nest under the eaves of the caretaker's house.

The Lesser Whitethroat was heard calling in Ditton Quarry again at lunchtime, along with all the other usual suspects. My second Sparrowhawk (female) of the day swooped down on to something on the scrub area, but noticed me and took off again almost immediately -I searched the ground but couldn't find what it was after. 7x Common Lizard in 2 locations were sluggish in the strong SW wind which also buffeted 3x Common Blue and 1x Peacock along. A Cuckoo called in the distance, an uncommon sound in the quarry, although I suspect it may have been calling from the Research Station land.

Collecting crates this afternoon I came across a Blackbird's nest that had been made, precariously, in the bottom of a crate. I could hear the alarm call of a Blackbird in the distance so retreated as soon as I had taken a photo.

Thursday 10th May

Sweet Chesnut

My first walk in for 10 days - how things have changed since my last walk...nature waits for no man! The bluebells had come and gone and everything was in leaf. The Sweet Chesnut coppice had greened up and blocked views of across some of the areas I watch, particularly the path beside Gallagher's Gallop. 5x ChiffChaff (one on a TV aerial!),3x Blackcap, 2xWhitethroat and 5x Yellowhammers sang. A Goldfinch and Linnet made up the duet in the 'Duet Tree'. 10 Linnets in total were seen, 1 female of a pair carried nesting material in her beak, and a male Bullfinch showed briefly before disappearing back into the undergrowth. 2x Swifts scythed their way north as I approached Kiln Barn Farm and a Swallow dipped over the hedgerow and low across the pasture. A second Swallow was seen on the wires at Kiln Barn Lane corner.

'Duet tree'

Another Swift flew South over the strawberry plots mid-morning, and 3x House Martin weretaking water from apuddle at the back of the site garages.

Wednesday 9th May

I've not had a chance to walk into work for over 10 days now, so a stroll out to Ditton Quarry at lunchtime was literaturely a breath of fresh air. The Queen Anne's Lace formed a fantastic white avenue along Kiln Barn Lane. Light, spitting rain turned into constant drizzle so no butterflies today, but the humid air was enough to keep the birds singing. 8x Whitethroat 'scratched' along, 1x male Blackcap flitted around, probably irrited by my infringement of his territory. A ChiffChaff and Garden Warbler were also heard in the dense scrub. However the 'rattle' of a Lesser Whitethroat made my day - heard in an area I rarely explore and my first record of this species at the quarry this year. Things improved even more as the bird showed briefly and managed to flush out a pair of Bullfinches, who 'phewed' alongside me as took the path back out of the quarry. Almost made up for the Glossy Ibis I missed at Pett Levels by 10 minutes on Saturday! By the pond a Fox cub was curled up in the long grass and failed to notice me as I crept past - obviously in deep, contented sleep.

A broken Song Thrush egg was evidence of yesterday's high winds.

Also noticeable was a large number of Ladybird larvae around on the stinging nettles, good year Ladybirds but not so good for the aphids hopefully.

Friday 4th May

A Cuckoo was heard calling in the River Medway valley, Barming at 05:30 this morning.

My usual visit to Ditton Quarry was met with a clamer albeit more overcast day than my previous visits this week. The Common Lizards were out basking again - 4 in total with 1 found at a new site. 8x Whitethroat were heard or seen, a Garden Warbler babbled along beautifully and showed well for a couple of minutes before taking flight in response to a male Blackcap jumping onto a nearby perch to eat some unidentified grub! 2x Chiffchaff continued calling throughout the visit.

Butterflies were more evident, but no new species; 3x Brown Argus, 1x Common Blue, 1x Small Copper (very faded), 1x Speckled Wood and 1x Red Admiral. 2x Large Red Damselflies were a new addition for the year but didn't hang round long enough to be photographed. Various beetles and an interesting, if not tiny, cricket were in evidence.

3x LBB gulls, 3x Skylarks and 2x House Martin were seen on the Research Station this afternoon.

Thursday 3rd May

A quick trip to East Farleigh at 07:30 under overcast skies didn't show up any Med Gulls in a much reduced gull flock of 4x LBB Gulls and 20x BH Gulls.

No walk in nor trip to the quarry at lunchtime, so had to be satisfied with a lone Swallow on the wires at the junction of Kiln Barn Lane/Sweets Lane, Ditton on my way home.

Wednesday 2nd May

The House Martins returned to East Malling Research Station today. A pair tried a number of old nests before settling for one on the old Entomology building. It was the most intact, and with the lack of mud on site I think it was probably a wise choice.

It was pleasant walk to Ditton Quarry turned up a few Holly Blues and again lots of Chiffcaffs and Whitethroat singing but not much else - it was sunny but too windy for butterflies.

Late a trip to Samphire Hoe confirmed that there were approx 9000 Early Spider orchids flowering, although most were just on the turn. Nottingham Catchfly was also in flower. To cold and windy for butterflies, but 2x Whimbrel looking a bit forlon on one of the pools added interest.

Tuesday 1st May

Brown argus

A fantastically sunny day, but cold in the strong SW wind at times. A visit to Ditton Quarry at lunchtime yielded my first Swift of the year flying fast NE and also the first Garden Warbler I've heard at the quarry this year. I went with the intent of looking for butterflies and had 2x Red Admiral, 1x Speckled Wood, 1x Small Copper, 2x Common Blue, 1x Brown Argus (or female Common Blue). Also an interesting and colourful moth - identity yet to be checked (see photo).

Burnet Companion

Passing through East Farleigh after work I noticed a very large, mixed flock of gulls in a tilled field between Forge Lane and Lower Road (TQ738533). A quick scan revealed at least 5x Med Gulls in fantastic summer plummage, but suspecty the number had been higher if I'd been able to get a better view of a separate flock at the bottom end of the field.

A trip down to the lakes even later after work resulted in 7x Nightingales (1 showed very well on top off brambles at north end of Abbeymeads), 3x Cetti's Warbler, numerous Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sand Martin. No sign of Hobbies, Whimbrels or Little Gulls though! 4x Hairy Dragonflies were seen (inc 2 females).

A second Swift was seen scything across New Hythe Lane, Larkfied and under the eaves of a house on my way back from the lakes. The world still spins round!