Saturday 15th August

Off patch late afternoon (and yesterday for Red-backed Shrike at Halling Common) - to a deserted Queendown Warren, nr Stockbury. I was hoping to get good views of some Blues, Silver-spotted Skippers and maybe Lady's Autumn Tresses. Much to my suprise (considering I had the kids with me) I scored on all three (better than Villa did against Wigan, doh!).

I didn't manage any decent shots as it was pretty windy, but James my eldest was fascinated when an Adonis Blue walked onto his finger (and then flew off!).

Good numbers of Chalkhill and Common Blues, 8+ Silver-spotted Skipper, a couple of Small Coppers and 5 colonies of Autumn Lady's Tresses.

Exciting the kids even more, just before their bedtim,e I took them down to Paddock Wood to watch 'Tornado' steam through. A Sparrowhawk drifted down Red Hill, Wateringbury as I waited at the traffic lights on my way back to Barming.

WARNING: Video starts off very loud with 'Tornado' whistle!

Tuesday 11th August

The 'Discovery' harvest in the Barming orchards is now complete, only the windfalls remain and what's not taken for juicing will provide winter fodder for the Fieldfares - not that I was considering winter in today's 26.C heat!

On my way back home from work early this evening a lone House Martin dipped over the hedgerow and accelareted ahead of me. As I followed it racing into the distance I picked out a large flight of Swallows congregating around a young Oak. Some were on the wing but the majority were sitting in the uppermost branches. I rarely see Swallows other than on the wing or sitting out on a telegraph wires on this patch, and with wires so close I wasn't sure why these birds chose an Oak tree? There were 30+ birds, quite vocal, but seeming intent to roost.

Monday 10th August

40+ House Martins feeding voraciously over a windbreak opposite Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton this evening.

Saturday 1st August

An hour snatched in my garden in Barming yielded a couple of smart Painted Ladies and a smiling male Brown Hawker.

Friday 31st July

Running the East Malling Research Running Club's relay at lunchtime I was sure I heard the bisyllabic call of a Quail! It was only heard once, from a stunted cereal field next to weedy area, as I sped past. I had someone of my heels so didn't stop! I racked up a reasonable 6:37 mile and returned to spot latter in the day. Nothing heard or seen, except a hen Pheasant. Intriguing. Kent's had a good year for Quails, but late-July in the midday sun - mmmmm?!

My earlier disappointment was soon to be forgotten. I sat out in the orchards between South Street and Rectory Lane, Barming early this evening, hoping for a Spotted Flycatcher (my garden bird has been absent for 10 days now). A couple of Swallows dipped low over the burgeoning 'Discovery' trees and then a small bird took flight from a pair of old, knarled apple trees. It's deep undulating flight, black-and-white colouration with a dash of red on the head meant it could only be a Spotted Woodpecker. It's very small size, and the deep troughs it dipped into in flight, made me instantly think Lesser. Fortunately it alighed into the uppermost branches of a large willow on the bank of the River Medway not to far from where I was sitting. I had excellent views of the white-barring on its back and small red cap as it swivelled around the branches and flitted amongst the treetop. By far the best views of had of Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, and my first for this patch (although I've heard reports of them further upstream).

Thursday 30th July

59x Painted Ladies on the cycle into work, many disturbed from the brambles as I cycled down the 0.5 mile stretch of track on the eastern edge of Oaken Wood, Barming. Amazingly fresh and bright. A family party of 5x Bullfinches revealed themselves in flight near the gallop underpass. A lone Little Owl looked out from the cattle barn opposite Kiln Barn Farm.

This evening I went out looking for Barn Owls near Teston Bridge and the Nightjar in Oaken Wood, neither were located, but the green, LED-like light from a single Glow Worm shone brightly as I made my way back to the car.

Monday 27th July

I was eyeballed by this little fella as I did some photocopying at work today. The ruin of a nest he occupied has been left derelict for a couple of years now, it's last inhabitants, a pair of House Sparrows, moved on when the floor fell out! Perhaps this House Martin was sheltering from the persistent rain, or the pestering Collared Doves, but it was good to see one close-up again. For the last few weeks these aerial orcas have been dashing skilfully low over the car park and windbreaks of East Malling Research, flashing their neat plummage of navy and white.

A quick sortie of the badger set copse to check the Dormice boxes. No sign of these furballs, but one contained a nest of leaves (looks promising!) and another a Blue Tit nest, weaved together with badger bristles and infested with earwigs!

Swifts were scything high above South Street, Barming when I arrived home this evening. joined fleetingly by what I initially though was a Kestrel, but turned out to be a Hobby! This is my second garden tick for this species this year - I wonder where they're ranging from?