Thursday 30th September 2010

Twenty minutes at lunchtime gave me the brief opportunity to check out what was about on the East Malling Research station site.  I was hoping to nail a Redwing in one of the orchards, but only managed 2x Mistle Thrushes sitting out on the mobile phone mast.  A Pied Wagtail perched on the tractor shed, with nesting material in it's beak, and a Chiffchaff singing from the nearby Alder windbreak could have had me thinking it was Spring!  A flock of tits, predominantly Blue Tits, worked its way through the same windbreak and another bird called amongst them - a monotonous, bold, but high-pitched call, repeated as the bird moved, hidden by the  dense foliage.  I never showed, but I was left wondering if it wasn't a Firecrest - it would have made a nice addition to the patch list!

Back in Barming this evening it was nice to see a parcel of 15 or so Linnets feeding and flying around the pasture south of Church Lane.

Tuesday 31st August 2010

With so much dropping in across the county I was expecting to find something on the paddocks in Ditton/East Malling as I cycled into work. Nothing - apart from 17 Swallows on the wires by over the Sweets Lane Paddocks, 9x House Martins over the Paris Farm Paddocks and 6x Pied Wags on the Kiln Barn Farm fields. I cycled back to Oaken Woods at lunchtime to see if any butterflies were on the 'snake track' just east of Oaken Wood that was bordered by Buddeleias in full flower. Only a single Red Admiral, not sure where everything else was? Cycling back past Gallagher's Gallop and Kiln Barn Farm I was pleased to see my first Wheatear of the autumn perched on one of the fence posts - must have dropped in mid-morning, It certainly wasn't there first thing! It was still feeding happily as I cycled home at 18:00.

Sunday 25th July 2010

A Hedgehog returned to the garden last night and 5+ Silver Y moths were caught feeding in the security light that beamed on to the Verbena bonarensis.  I seem to be seeing these everywhere, along with Red Admirals, definetly a recent influx.

I visited Wouldham briefly this morning to see if I couldn't catch up with one or more of the seals that have been hauling themselves out on to the mud at low tide.  There was evidence they'd be there (I later learnt 2 had slipped into the water at 08:00, an hour before I arrived), but I was content with 2x Turtle Dove, 3x Common Sandpiper, 1x Little Egret, 10+ Lapwing.

Back at home in Barming I was suprised to find a Whitethroat in my lean-to!  A first for both my house list and after I had eventually captured it, for my garden list!

Later in the afternoon I visited Igtham Mote with my parents - a Lancaster Bomber overhead, a very worn White Admiral and a Pied Wagtail visiting a nest high up in the main building. 

The lanes back to my parents cottage near Chart Sutton were alive with House Sparrows, Linnets and Yellowhammers and returning along the same lane near Church Hill, Boughton Monchelsea at dusk I was pleased to have a Barn Owl flying ahead of me.

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.

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.

Thursday 29th April

Appointments with a couple of visitors today and doing the school run curtailed my usual cycle into work.  After dropping my lad off to school I stopped by take a peek at some paddocks that lie south of Sweets Lane/Easterfields, East Malling.  The habitat looked perfect for migrants, but all I picked out was a Pied Wagtail and a couple of Linnets.  The scratchy song of a Whitehroat carried from the nearby hedgerow. 

Three Orange Tips and a possible Small Tortioseshell flitted by. Taking a final scan around the hedgerows and trees surronding the paddock I picked out a Wheatear sitting a top one of the smaller trees.  It nervously from one tree to the next but never touched down on the ground. 

Not sure if it's 'Greenlander' - didn't seem as big or orange as the bird I had on Tuesday, but still my 3rd Wheatear for the Spring so I'm not complaining!

I managed a quick trip out at lunchtime, no Wheatear but for you train buffs a King Arthur class steam loco through East Malling station as I waited to cross the line - 30777 Sir Lamiel on it's way to Canterbury

Monday 1st March

What a difference a day makes - lovely blue skies and crisp frost, with some reminants of yesterday, frozen raindrops.  The River Medway had well and truly burst it's banks at the bottom of South Street.  Not a Coot, Moorhen or Kinfisher to be seen and no chnace of checking out for Snipes - the path was totally submerged.

Drawn out by the sunshine, I visited Bradbourne Lake, East Malling again at lunchtime, all the usual suspects, including Black-headed Gulls, no Meds yet although I see some have turned up in Mote Park (http://motepark.blogspot.com/ ).  A couple of Pied Wagtails picked around the side of the lake and the Gadwall pair were skulking at the far end of the lake. 

I found another 'plastic bag' (Little Egret) feeding around the western edge of the lake - posed very well in the sun in it's nuptial plummage, occasionally tossing it's delicate plumes in the air as it groomed itself.

 

Thursday 18th February

'Snipe marsh' by the River Medway, but only 1 bird today.

Another frosty trip down to the River Medway first thing. I was hoping to get a pic of one of the Snipe that have been frequenting the small marshy area just west of Barming Bridge. I took my time scanning the relatively the stream and vegetation, no sign of any Snipe, well until I walked off to go and predictably, 'SQUELCH', up flew a Snipe! So bloody well-camouflaged! Nearby a couple of Cormorants dived in and out of the misty river.

No sign of any Harris Hawks this morning as I cycled to work, but lots of Crows round by Kiln Barn including 2 in the cattle shed (the usual haunt of the Little Owl).

Just for Greenie - a scramble of Coots - notice the bird centre left - he tripped up, like only a silly Coot could!

The weather deteriorated during the morning, and by lunchtime it had become a steady downpour - things might be more lively down the lake at Bradbourne in this weather I thought. Armed with the camera (for return of the Shoveler) I made my way down to Bradbourne, picking out 4x Green Woodpeckers feeding on the grassed area just east the Hatton Garden. A Jay flew across my path a little further down the track. The lake was disappointing, the usual Moorhens, no Little Grebes, 12 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls. 32 Coots scrambled towards the lake and 112 Canada Geese kept 6 Greylags company on the west lawn. A flight of 6 Pied Wagtails busied themselves around the feet of the geese.

Keeping a low profile, tucked in tight to the left bank.

Surprise of the day was yet to come - a GREEN SANDPIPER - another site tick for me. I caught I glimpse of a white rump fly up a ditch in front of the house - and then as I walked on an elegant wader suddenly towered up, nice white belly, no upper wing markings and prominent white block on the rump (like the Bullfinches and Jays I'm seeing everyday). It flew high, zig-zagging and dropped down into the stream. Creeping towards it I managed a few crappy record shots of it's head (always the most diagnostic of features!!!) before it took flight again - high again and then lost to view, for all I know probably further down the stream, through the grille in the wall and into that garden on St Peters Road (please respect residents' privacy) ! It did throw me slightly as its upper parts were so light - more Common Sandpiper in colour, and not really dark at all. There wasn't any obvious mottling and I couldn't discern the bars on the tip of the tail - in flight it looked like a single block of brown. It certainly wasn't Common, there's nothing else it could have been but Green.

Not as dark as Greens I've seen before and no sign of mottling but Common it ain't!

Please note that unfortunately Bradbourne House and estate is a PRIVATE site with NO PUBLIC ACCESS.

There will be a public Open Day in April - details to follow.

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 18th January

Quick sortie for Woodcock in Barming Woods at lunchtime. Only enough time to check out northern perimeter, but all very quiet in misty conditions. Three GS Woodpeckers drummed out their territories, all very close and at one point I had two birds in view at the same time. I n fact it was so quiet I could hear the birds' wingbeats as they flitted from tree to tree. On the paddock near Kilon Barn Farm over 200 Fieldfares were hopping around, interspersed with a few Redwings. A Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit picked around the perimeter of a muddy patch on the adjacent field.

Friday 15th January

The big thaw has set in and much of the snow from Wednesday and before was thawing quickly. The Redpolls in South Street didn't show this morning - the thaw probably opening up other feeding opportunities. However a Pied Wagtail flew from the roof of The Bull pub, the first I'd seen in Barming since November! A dead Blue Tit was found by the water tower off North Street, it was still warm, not sure if it had finally succumbed to the cold? Some snow remained along the path by Gallagher's gallop and I was uprised to see Badger tracks - they're often evident on the research land but I never seen any signs of Badger on this part of the patch. Nice find, nothing else out of the ordinary on the way in. Later my boss told me he'd had 20+ Lapwing in a field near Bradbourne House and a couple of Yellowhammers (which ahve been noticeable by their abscence this winter).

Friday 4th December

A long-awaited walk into work this morning, with no rain or wind to contend with. Peering over the wall to the orchards, opposite the pedestrian crossing on the A26 East Barming I quickly racked up 10 species, including 10+ Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk...not bad sightings just off a main road! The rest of the route was alive with birds again; Bullfinches (by Pea Field), GS Woodpecker (opposite Heath Road) and a noticeable increase in Redwing numbers, with birds being seen in two new locations for the winter, and five individuals being picked out feeding in a single tree halfway up North Street. Seven Stock Doves were an unexpected addition, sitting out with the Crows by Gallagher's Gallop. The Little Owl was the last tick of the morning, huddled in it's usual spot in Kiln Barn Farm Cattle shed. Twenty-four species in total, but lacking regulars such as Jay, Pied Wagtail and both Goldfinches and Greenfinches.

Checking the plots mid-morning I was glad to see a Kestrel hunting over the west side of the site, and nine Skylarks and a Pied Wagtail took to the air as I walked down one of the strawed alleyways. The sun was still shining at lunchtime so I did a quick sortie over to Ditton Court Quarry. More Redwings, accompanied by too many Blackbirds to keep tabs on, were feeding on the ground, but were extremley shy and flighty. Eight Lesser Redpolls were still feeding on the Alder trees with the charm of Goldfinches.

Thursday 29th October

A foggy start to the morning, with only 3x Pied Wagtails sitting out on the fencing around Gallagher's Gallop nr Kiln Barn Farm. The Little Owl was also still present in the barn. The day inproved and at lunchtime I went out in search of winter thrushes, but despite kicking through the orchards on the research site I failed to find either a Redwing or Fieldfare, amazing when numbers have been reasonably high around the county. I decided to check the area south of the research station and did a circular walk through The Rocks back to Kiln Barn Road. A Kestrel aborted landing on a post after catching sight of me nearby (!), 30+ House Sparrows washed in a newly-created puddle and another couple of Pied Wagtails sat out on a barn roof. There is a large area of horse paddocks in this area, lying slightly elevated and directly south of the Medway gap and full of posts, fences and short turf that ought to make it ideal for migrants, but have I ever seen any here?! Of course not. I was hoping a Ring Ouzel might be loitering as quite a few have been dropping in and around London today - no chance!

The picture above is looking north towards the Downs (Upper Halling by exposed chalk face and Snodland/Holborough by chimneys). The large shed-like buildings are Aylesford Newsprint (adjacent to M20). The railway line is the Maidstone west - London mainline, between East Malling and Barming mainline. The area immediately north (just the other side) of the railway is research station land. The tower of St Peter's Church, Ditton can be see just above the first train carriage on the right. From where I took this picture I could just make out the M2 Medway bridge near Rochester. I can't understand why this area isn't more productive for migrants - it's right opposite the Medway gap which must surely funnel birds between the downs in a strong N-NE. Oh well, I'll keep watching!

Tuesday 24th March

Nought to see on the way into work (East Malling Research), but once there I was pleased to see a pair of Pied Wagtails picking through the guttering and roof voids, prospecting nesting opportunities I'm sure. Over to Ditton Quarry at lunchtime, and too be honest I was in one of those moods where I didn't expect to see anything - fatal! As soon as I entered the quarry I recognised the song of a Linnet, often heard on the nearby research station, but never in the Quarry - and there he was on top of an Elderberry - great tick for the Quarry. Still I had expectations of Hawfinch or Mealy, I'm getting greedy of late! I scanned the alders and concluded there were no Redpolls - I struck forward and disturbed a whole flock of the things! 12+ took the air, noisly bounding up and away. I latched onto the flock and saw a couple rop down on to a nearby tree, while the rest of the flock disappeared out of sight. These were Lesser Redpolls, very buffish, brown with a deep red cap - what were the other 10?! I lingered a while, hearing the first Chiffchaff of the year for the Quarry, and Ross joined me, but even he couldn't entice them back. We eventually managed 4x Lessers and few lisps from a Bullfinch.


Cycling home at dusk I had a Sparrowhawk float over and a Bullfinch restlessly bounding ahead of me as I laboured up the bridleway hill to the Water Tower, Barming.