Tuesday 11th May

A tour of the coppiced areas of Oaken Wood before work failed to turn up a Tree Pipit, a species I'm likely to have to miss off the patch list again this year.  Numbers of Willow Warbler seem to have increased.  With news of a Black Stork in Mote Park, and then it's subsequent disappearance I felt the need to check out Bradbourne Lake/Sream and the surronding fields just on the off-chance.  Of course I didn't find it (a possible was reported over Dagenham as I looked!). 

I did see a 'swarm' of Swifts and Swallows over the Sports Ground opposite Bradbourne House lake. 

A couple of Whitethroats were flycatching from a willow at the western end of the lake - the first time I've had this species in this location. 

Crows hopped amongst the Greylag Geese near the stream, with one individual having very worn primaries, showing as a white band on the upperwing as it flew.  A couple of Coot chicks were being well protected by their parents

A Lesser Black-backed Gull sat on the roof the Ditton Laboratory as I cycled home.

Tuesday 16th February

Only 20 minutes at lunchtime and in the pouring rain, and the car at my disposal I decided it was time I paid a long overdue visit to Bradbourne House & lake, East Malling. A Little Grebe was spinning around the stream by the bridge to Bradbourne Lane, joined by a couple of Black-headed Gullsup to their waists in the water and a pair of Mallards. The lawn in front of Bradbourne House was monopolised by a gaggle of 48 Canada Geese (no sign of Barnacle this year). Six Pied Wagtails noisily flew ahead of the car along the track to the Pavilion. Twenty-three Black-headed Gulls sat out on the cricket pitch, hunched against the drizzle, with a couple of Common Gull amongst them. Leaving the comfort of the car I braved the rain to check out the stream and lake. Thirty-five Coots ran in formation across the lawn and back to the lake, joined by 8 Moorhen. The lake held more Black-headed Gulls, 4 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Grebes and a star site bird, male Shoveler, a new site tick for me. I'm waiting on word from the BaldBirder, holder of the definitive EMR site list to see if it constitutes a new Research Station site tick. Predictably I didn't have the camera with me!

Monday 1st February

Frosty and Icy start and down to the river at day break to see if I couldn't relocate the Common Sandpiper I had yesterday (or a Jack Snipe!). I flushed a couple of Snipe, they didn't 'squelch' like normal, but flew high and I get them in the bins for a couple of minutes...I think they made it to Teston but just wouldn't come back down! A couple of Cormarants flew onto the river, joining a Mute Swan, Coot, 2x Canada Geese and a pair of Little Grebes which were skirting around the river edge just west of Barming Bridge. Little Grebes area real scarcity on this part of the river, only my 2nd record.

Back up the hill and on to work, with 12x Lesser Redpoll in the Silver Birch at the top of South Street, joined by a Greenfich and a volery of Long-tailed Tits. House Sparrows everywhere, doing what House Sparrows do. A Sparrowhawk drifted over Gallagher's Quarry, and at Kiln Barn Farm the Little Owl was seen again. As I passed under the railway bridge 2x Foxes trotted past! At lunchtime I paid a long overdue visit to Ditton Quarry, not much out of the ordinary, except a large gallup of Redpolls, 17 in total (I thoght there were only 10, but when they took flight another 7 appeared from somewhere!).

Best sighting of the day though goes to Karen, the receptionist at the Research, spotted taking some lunch home for her pet panda!