Friday 30th July 2010

A couple more moths caught overnight included a Willow Herald (?) and Riband Band. 

Cycling into work was met with all the other species; 2x Little Owl (although one didn't want to pose as normal!), family groups of Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Great Tit, Linnets with Swallows and 2x Bullfinches all thrown into the mix. 

At lunchtime I did a circuit of Oaken Woods, nr Barming.  Butterflies were the order of the day with Gatekeepers (60+) predominating, but Speckled Wood (x3), Red Admiral (x3), White Admiral (x1) - in good nick on a buddeleia near Gallagher's Underpass, Meadow Brown (x16), Peacock (x9), Large Whites (x7), Common Blue (x5), Holly Blue (x3) and best of all a Silver-washed Fritillary. 

This only my second SW Frit on patch, but it wasn't hanging around and I struggled to keep up with on my bike!  It touched down briefly a couple of times, long enough to get a record shot.  It was seen in almost exactly the same location as the one I had 2 years - is there a small undiscovered colony in these extensive woods or am I seeing roaming males?! 

Southern Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Lots of Dragonflies on the wing as well with Emperor, Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers and even a Black-tailed Skimmer.  Only one moth, a Rosy Footman. 

Going back into the woods I was suprised to see how dank they'd remained in this recent heatwave.  Lots of puddles, skated over by Water Boatmen (how did they find themselves on puddles in the middle of a wood?!).  Also on the track verges the first mushrooms of the season (any suggestions for ID welcomed!)

Mushroom A

Mushroom B

Mushroom C

Tuesday 4th May

Garden Warbler - the song is more exciting than the plumage!

A bitterly cold NE blew against me all the way into work - a Garden Warbler was the only thing of note, but Chiffchaffs and Blackcap, all  good coppice birds were singing.  A scout of the paddocks around at lunchtime East Malling checking all those fence posts turned up a Little Owl, a couple of Song Thrushes and a Pied Wagtail.  On the way back home a couple of Swallows skimmed the paddock opposite Kiln Barn Farm and, at last, a Cuckoo heard from the South Street Orchards in Barming and a couple of Whitethroats near the railway line.

Spot the Blackcap - another leaf warbler that can be very well hidden.

Monday 3rd May

After yesterday's deluge it was good to see a few clouds with silver linings!  I was pleased to get out the house for a cycle around Barming Woods with my lads.  Nothing out of the ordinary, more Blackcap and Garden Warbler song, I was hoping to maybe hear a Turtle Dove but the clattering of the coppice in the strong NE put pay to that.  Back at home I was pleased to see three fledgling Dunnocks in the garden - the first young of Spring I've seen.

At a loose end looking after the kids (my wife was working a 12-hour shift) I decided to take them trainspotting - they're both into trains - Lenham Heath seemed the ideal place for some reason!  I was pleased to see the Hoopoe again - such an exotic bird to have in the neighbourhood.  I managed a couple of poor record shots before it took flight, giving fantastic views as it dipped and rose through the air.  Nearby a Willow Warbler was singing, five Linnets were tinkling away and a couple of Swallows sat on the wires in Harrietsham.

Monday 26th April

A tour of Barming Woods and Paris Farm Paddocks before work this morning turned up good numbers of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, but no Tree Pipit or other migrants. 

A quick visit to Ditton Quarry at lunchtime proved more successful with my first Whitethroat and Garden Warbler of the year.  Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Bullfinches were also seen.

On the way home I caught sight of a couple of Swallows and the Little Owl opposite Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton. 

A visit to the orchards just before sunset produced a couple of Linnets and Chaffinches but no sign or sound of the Cuckoo that has been reported by other locals. 

The pear trees were in full blossom with the first apple blossom starting to open.

Tuesday 5th May

Everything was in full song this morning; Blackcaps, Yellowhammers, Linnets, Great Tits, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Skylarks the lot! Managed 30 minute cycle around Oaken Woods, Barming and located my first Garden Warbler of the year, 5+ Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers. A couple of Peacock and Speckled Wood butterflies, but numbers seem to be down on a few weeks ago and were outnumbered by Speckled Yellow moths.

A pair of Swallows on the wires by Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton as I cycled home at 18:00.

These evening while having a kick around with my lad over the Parish Playing Fields, Barming he pointed out 2 birds flying high north - Swifts - first on the patch this year and a great spot by a 5-year old!