Saturday 9th May

Back on patch a early evening/dusk walk along the River Medway between Barming and Teston Bridges. Lots of Yellowhammers and Common Whitethroats in song.

A Green Carpet moth posed in the lush undergrowth, not that well camoflauged despite it's grue hues. A Cuckoo was calling, and was seen, at the back of the houses on South Street, Barming.

Further along the river, just west of Barming Bridge I noticed a duck skulking under the overhanging willows and when it finally emerged I was pleased to see it was a female Mandarin Duck a new tick for me in Barming. I've seen them near the river at Beltinge near the Hop Fram so I shouldn't be too suprised to find one on the Medway. It was very elusive and in the dying light I only managed a rather blurred record shot.

Just before Teston I checekd for Barn Owls near the box they were nesting in last year. No luck, not a sound, I'll keep checking though. A lone Swift flickered fast above the river like some scythed-winged bat, and a couple of Swallows dipped down to the river, rippling it with their beaks. Finally a fox peered over the railway embankment to check what was making the rabbits bolt. Still hoping for Spotted Flycatcher, Turtle Dove and Barn Owl that frequented this stretch last year.