Wednesday 7th May

My first walk into work for a number of weeks. The Bluebells in Oaken Wood, Barming are looking fantastic at the moment, and clumps of Ransomes complement the scene very nicely. A lone Speckled Wood fluttered ahead of me through the dabbled shade. The path from the water tower, North Street, Barming down to Kiln Barn Lane, Ditton, was alive with song - Yellowhammers and Chiffchaffs were the main contributors, but a pair of Bullfinches lisped quietly in the background. The real star was a not-so-shy Garden Warbler that babbled it's song away in an Oak tree near the green gate south of the Pea Field. A Willow Warbler sang near the underpass by Gallagher's Gallop, and flitted furtively around the coppiced chesnut. A House Martin was seen on the ground near Kiln Barn Farm, but long-awaited Swallows on the telegraph wires were still absent.

Later a Peacock and Holly Blue were seen in the glasshouses area of East Malling Research centre.