Thursday, 10 May 2012

Thursday 10th May 2012


The wet weather continues, and its not at all conducive to being out birding!  I spent the weekend on a scouts camp in Tovil - yeh, I know - but managed to tot up some new birds for the KOS Atlas there, and was pleased to see my first Swifts of the years scything through the wet skies.

Yesterday I cycled through the quagmire but skidded to a stop when I thought I heard what was a Nightingale. I've never had Nightingale on patch and have spent some early mornings recently hunting them out for the BTO survey without success.  Listening intently I was pleased to find it was a Nightingale, and even managed to get a snap of it today.  I won't give its exact location away for obvious reasons, suffice to say it was in the Barming side of my patch.  A Song Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch and Dunnock all sang or called nearby.


At the research station a lone Swift sped North, while 4x House Martins were seen busily repairing last year's nests.

Nothing out of the ordinary on the East Malling paddocks, although a Skylark showed very well on the short turf (as opposed to singing it's heart out over the nearby cereal fields).  Along the stream near Bradbourne House a wet looking Grey Heron looked poised to 'go over the wall' into John Clement's garden!


2 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Nice account and shots. Love the House Martins.

Warren Baker said...

Well done Adam, another species for your patch :-) A real good 'un at that :-)