Wednesday 6th October

A busy day at work again, but the earlier rain had cleared to give a beautiful evening.  As I left work Swallows were dipping and streaming across the grassed area at the back of main lab buildings.  More were seen as I past Gallagher's Gallop with a few House and Sand Martins mixed amongst them.  A large flock of Goldfinches came into roost in one of the mature Sweet Chesnuts next to the underpass.  Heavy cloud hung high in the sky as I reached home in Barming, making for a spectacular sunset.

Wednesday 9th June

Busy at home and work hence lack of posts of late.  I snatched 30 minutes at lunchtime to watch the House Martins that seem to be swarming around the East Malling Research site and discovered upto 16 birds collecting mud in the main car park.  Most of the derelict nests have been renovated with up to 20 birds skimming through the skies I think we're in for a bumper crop this year! 

Further on a Pied Wagtail was defending territory on one of the cold stores, I hear his calls most mornings when I arrive at work.  With Skylark, Linnet and Blackcap all heard and seen as I headed back to my office, and a clump of Bee Orchids lost amongst the high grasses . 

Opening the window I noticed a small mammal scurry across the path that leads between the Conference Centre and the main lab building - I managed a quick snap and put it down to a rat - then I saw it again, a Weasel!  I've done well with this species on site in recent years, not suprising with the amount of rabbits and voles that live on site.  I went back out and with the aid of a piece of raw bacon (don't ask!) I managed to tempt him briefly back out for a record shot!

Other notable sightings over the last few days were 10+ Sand Martins on Monday just E of Gallagher's Gallop - nesting in the Quarry?  Nightjar in Barming Woods on Friday/Saturday night.

Friday 21st May

All the usual suspects on the cycle into work - but Linnets and Yellowhammers more noticeable than of late.  A sortie up to the felled areas in Barming Woods turned up a distant Tree Pipit, heard not seen, and good numbers of Willow Warblers.  It was good to see House Marting, 8 in total, prospecting sites around the East Malling Research main laboratory buildings - they've been around since Tuesday.  Pleasing to see a few more than last year.

Monday 10th May

The weather slowly improved throughout the day and by lunchtime the sky was filled with scutting, fluffy clouds against a brilliant blue sky.  A GS Woodpecker peered curiously out of it's nest hole in a tree near the footpath crossing by East Malling railway station. 

A scan of the Paris Farm Paddocks turned up my first House Martins of the year, a couple of birds periodically dropping to the ground before zipping back amongst the Swallows.  Whitethroats scratched out tehir sone from the hedgerow along Easterfields, the Little Owl sat out in it's usuial spot near Kiln Barn Farm and a Grey Heron lifted from the cereal field near the entrance to the research station.

Thursday 3rd September

Ninety-two Rooks sitting in a parliament on the cattle field of Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton this morning, along with the Little Owl in the barn. Only a single House Martin today, flying into the Italian Alder windbreak along the entrance track to the main Research station buildings in East Malling, and an unfortunate (dead) Badger on the verge by the railway bridge, Kiln Barn Road.

Thursday 27th August

All white-arses today-Wheatear, House Martins and Bullfinches! The (or another) Wheatear was still in the field behind Kiln Barn Farm cattle shed, Ditton this morning. In the opposite field Swallows, House and Sand Martins swept low over the turf and finally, a female Bullfinch shot across by path just before I reached work.

Wednesday 26th August

The 'muck' field at the top of Gallagher's Gallop, Barming was deserted as I cycled into work...not even a Wood Pigeon. I was pushed for time to free-wheeled down the bridleway intent on getting into work on time - if a migrant wouldn't be attracted to all the flies in that field then there wouldn't be one anywhere else on my journey - WRONG! A Wheatear at the bottom of the hill brought me to a screeching halt. There it was, pumping it's tail, all brimming with confidence and in the exact spot I got them last year.

10+ Swallows and 20+ House Martins swept low across the cattle field and the Little Owl was kept tucked up against the wind in the barn at Kiln Barn Farm.

Back out at lunchtime to the same spot and the Wheatear was bounding around the cattle field by Kiln Barn Farm, the Swallows and House Martins had been joined by 15+ Sand Martins.

The Wheater had moved on by the time I left work at just after 6, as had the House Martins, but the Sand Martin tally was now nearer 60+. They were hugging the tree tops at the eastern perimeter of Oaken Wood.

Friday 21st August

Another bright morning, and as I made my way to the top of North Street, Barming I got the gentle whiff of fresh manure - maybe it's the horticulturist in me, or maybe it's because muck means migrants! I found the source of the stench at the top of Gallagher's Gallop. The field, atop the hill and facing north towards the Medway gap had been freshly 'mucked' - something had to have dropped in here, I could see the flies, but where were the birds? Nothing - despite scanning the ground, fence posts, bushes and brushwood jumps - if this had been Pittswood I'd been knee deep in Wheatears, Whinchats and Wagtails!

Undeterred I cycled down the bridleway to the source of all the muck, the cattle field near Kiln Barn Farm - cows, more muck, water, fence posts galore, hedgerows - all perfect habitat for a migrant but again nothing. Then from no where I heard the high-pitched calls of hirundines overhead.

In the adjacent field there were 50+ Swallows, interspersed with 10 or so House Martins. They were sweeping high then low, through the feet of the cattle and even alighting onto cow pats and the ground - why here and not a few hundred yards up the road where there were more visible flies? And if the migrant Swallows and Martins were finding this site where were the passerines? Occasionally they landed on the fence posts but seemed intent to be on the move.

Tuesday 11th August

The 'Discovery' harvest in the Barming orchards is now complete, only the windfalls remain and what's not taken for juicing will provide winter fodder for the Fieldfares - not that I was considering winter in today's 26.C heat!

On my way back home from work early this evening a lone House Martin dipped over the hedgerow and accelareted ahead of me. As I followed it racing into the distance I picked out a large flight of Swallows congregating around a young Oak. Some were on the wing but the majority were sitting in the uppermost branches. I rarely see Swallows other than on the wing or sitting out on a telegraph wires on this patch, and with wires so close I wasn't sure why these birds chose an Oak tree? There were 30+ birds, quite vocal, but seeming intent to roost.

Monday 10th August

40+ House Martins feeding voraciously over a windbreak opposite Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton this evening.

Monday 27th July

I was eyeballed by this little fella as I did some photocopying at work today. The ruin of a nest he occupied has been left derelict for a couple of years now, it's last inhabitants, a pair of House Sparrows, moved on when the floor fell out! Perhaps this House Martin was sheltering from the persistent rain, or the pestering Collared Doves, but it was good to see one close-up again. For the last few weeks these aerial orcas have been dashing skilfully low over the car park and windbreaks of East Malling Research, flashing their neat plummage of navy and white.

A quick sortie of the badger set copse to check the Dormice boxes. No sign of these furballs, but one contained a nest of leaves (looks promising!) and another a Blue Tit nest, weaved together with badger bristles and infested with earwigs!

Swifts were scything high above South Street, Barming when I arrived home this evening. joined fleetingly by what I initially though was a Kestrel, but turned out to be a Hobby! This is my second garden tick for this species this year - I wonder where they're ranging from?

Thursday 9th July

The swarming hirundines I saw yesterday (strawberry fields, E of East Malling Research buildings) were joined by a migration of Sand Martins, my first ever on site. They formed quite a feeding frenzy above the mustard plants, with Swallows, Swifts, House and Sand Martins blending together, picking off any aphid that dared fly! A Skylark attempted an ascend into the middle of this melay but his song was no more than background music against the screams and cat -calls of the hirundines and Swifts.

On the way back to the office I glimpsed a Blackcap flycatch from an apple tree. I stopped and noticed two newly-fledged birds sitting tightly on an exposed branch, waiting for the next offering.

Wednesday 8th July

Well couldn't resist it any longer - back to blogging. More time on my hands this month so here we go:

A mixed swarm of Swallows, Swifts and House Martins, about a dozen of each, swept over a mustard field next to the strawberry fields (east side of East Malling Research). Often they wandered, speckling the strawberry with their fast-moving shadows but when the cloud rolled over then they disappeared as quickly as they'd come.

Into Barming Woods at lunchtime, White Admiral my quarry and I wasn't disappointed. Only a single this time, quite worn but very approachable. A couple of freshly emerged Gatekeepers, my first for this site this year, bounded along ahead of my bike.

Thursday 7th May

20+ House Martins over Kiln Barn Farm this evening as I cycled home. First of these sprightly little orcas over patch this year.