Wednesday 28th March

Fantastic sunset again last night, but left too late to see many birds, most having gone into roost for the night. 4x LBB Gulls were still on the ground in the field opposite Gallacher's Gallop.

This morning there was still a nip in the air and a hint of mist hanging round the edge of Barming Woods. A quick scan of the Scots Pine near the allotments turned up my first Chiffchaff of the year (for the walk-in route anyway) and a Coal Tit, but no Goldcrests. Mostly quiet until I walked down the bridleway adjacent to to Gallacher's Gallop - another Chiffchaff, this time singing, frantically trying to flit on to every branch of every tree! Obviously trying to grab as much terriotory as possible before the others arrive. 3x Linnets showed well sitting on the low chesnut coppice, but the glow of the Yellowhammers won the day again. 6 in total this morning.

Off on holiday from tomorrow so no more blogs for 2.5 weeks.

Tuesday 27th March

The mist was very heavy in the valley this morning, quite a difference from the late sun I enjoyed on my walk home last night. The walk through the woods was even quite sinister, not helped by the discovery of yet another dead being - this time a fox, propped up against a tree. Morbidity aside I had a suprising number of species considering the visibility was so bad, although I did have to rely on songs and calls...not really my forte! 5Yellowhammers, 3 GS Woodpeckers and the first Green Woodpecker seen for 2 weeks (although I hear the yaffle most mornings)...and to top it all off a pair of Goldfinches, at last!

The walk home was last night was very pleaseant - good views of Skylarks, Yellowhammers and the long awaited return of the Bullfinch pair, the male showing extremley well in the evening sun. A fox failed to see me on the track home and trotted down towards me, sniffing all the undergrowth as he went before disappearing into the chesnut coppice. Even the rabbits were stretched out on their fronts soaking up the last of the sun! There were an abundance of flies, can't help thinking that the spring migrants are missing out- they must be on their way now.

Glimpsed the first bat of the year as I glanced out of James' bedroom window as I put him to bed.

Monday 26th March

What looked to be a cold, misty day when I looked out the window this morning turned into a lovely, sunny walk in to work. I think I probably felt the first warmth of Summer today, and there could be nothing better than an exaltation of Skylarks to lift your spirits on a Monday morning! A reasonable number of species this morning (29) including a female Bullfinch, one of which I've not seen on this route for over 3 weeks now. Goldfinch were still noticeable by their abscence...couldn't even find any body parts!

Sunday 25th March

A quick trip out to the River Medway, Nettlestead this afternoon with my little lad. Highlights were a Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail on/by the river, pair of Bullfinches, 10x Yellowhammers and a flock of 114 Fieldfares feeding in the stubbly ground opposite Nettlestead Place. A pair of Kestrels were also in the area.

A day trip to Warwickshire for my mom's suprise 60th birthday - she had a lovely time! The trip up there resulted in 14 Red Kites and 2 Common Buzzards between Jcn 4 & 8 on the M40, and a Common Crane, after a slight (!) detour off the motorway, at Banbury (Liz and james needed the toilet aswell!).

Low species count (23) this morning into work this morning - late start and raining. 3 Skylarks and 2 Yellowhammers (m) singing and Grey Heron flying south were the highlights, but lack of Goldfinches (usually see up to 6) apart from the reminants of one on the side of Kiln Barn Lane (see photo).

20 Fieldfares flew west over the glasshouse area around 11:30 as I walked back to the office - the first I've seen in a week.

Lovely crisp morning but nothing out of the ordinary in the way of birds. Nine jays made a hell of a racket by the Quarry. I've included a photo of Heron that landed on the tree of my back garden last week - 4 were seen that day, but nothing since!

Here's my first attempt!