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 14th July

White-tailed Lapwing

The White-tailed Lapwing was polite enough to linger at Dungeness for another day, and James wanted to see it having missed it a Rainham last week.  With the Purple Herons and Great White Egret all sighted this afternoon I couldn't turn his offer of a lift.  Leaving work I was sad to find a dead Greenfinch at the base of one of the windows on the main lab building of the Research Station.  Waiting for my lift I counted 13 species including Yellowhammers, Linnet, House Martin and Pied Wagtails. 

Arriving at the ARC pit we quickly connected with the White-tailed Plover, rather distant but constantly active and often giving excellent views in the early evening sun (where were the thunderstorms?) including a couple of short flights.  Up to three Green Sandpipers were also present, one sitting out very close to the ARC screen.  This was turning into a lovely evening!

Moving onto Denge Marsh Road for the Purple Heron we were greeted with that thunderstorm that we were expecting earlier - the car rocked and some poor sod who had been down at the bridge got caught in it (see below). 

After the rain came the sun accompanied by a fantastic rainbow topped by a Purple Heron seen in flight for 30 seconds or so before it dipped down back into the reeds. 

Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Linnets, Reed Buntings, Sand Martins and 1000+ Starlings were also on show, many coming down to visit the newly created puddles on the road. A male Sparrowhawk got everyhting into the air as it made a couple of low passes.  A dramatic, and successful evening.

The same view along Denge Marsh Road as the 'storm' pic above, but about 15 minutes later!

June review

Stupid hours at work precluded me from updating my blog for most of June.  Just for the record a brief resume of what I managed to see but not report over the last month. 

Sorting out strawberry plants in trays on 15th June, a couple of my casuals happened upon nests of both Robin and Blackbird.  They sensibly left that job and the following week all the robins had fledged and all but one of the Blackbirds had left the nest.

Harris Hawk

One of the Harris Hawks was seen regularly in the Tonbridge Road/Glebe Lane area of Barming this month, often favouring telegraph posts and lampposts as a vantage point.  Impressive in flight, swooping along Bull Orchard towards Matterdale Gardens and often mistaken for a Buzzard/Rough-legged Buzzard by passers-by.

Glow Worm light

The Nightjar in Barming Woods continued to churr throughout the month and good numbers of Glow Worms were seen on the freshly coppiced Sweet Chesnut stools.

Poppies covered the church field in Barming from mid-June onwards, making a spectacular sight to anyone passing on the A26.

Sainfoin

A couple of hours out on 20th June were spent at Queendown Warren hoping for a few Adonis Blue.  I managed a couple, but it was windy and there were few butterflies on the wing.  Consolation came in the form of Bee, Fragrant and Pyramidal Orchids, Sanfoin, any number of Grasshoppers, a Mediterranean Gull 'yar-yarring' over and another nine on a nearby paddock at Beaux Aires Farm.

The Little Owl near Kiln Barn Farm had produced at least one offspring, this juvenile seen on 23rd June.

Sand Martins visited the Research Station site in East Malling, joining the nesting House Martins and often sitting out on the tarmac on the main bypass road. 

Sand Martins

Their numbers peaked at 50+ 0n 30th June when they could be found sitting out on the overhead wires.

Sand Martins en masse

On the 26th June I went off patch again to East Blean Woods to see the Heath Fritillaries with Mike Easterbrook.  200+ were on the wing along with a single Ringlet! 

Heath Fritillaries

Before we left I noticed this fungus?  Like a yellow sponge - any ideas anyone?  Fuligo septica, a slime mould - thanks Greenie

Also nearby we saw 3x Scarce Chasers and 2x Painted Ladies at Westbere Lake.

Scarce Chaser

Back on patch I was glad to see my first White Admiral of the year in Barming Woods on 2nd July with a peak of nine on the 8th.  Further in the woods a couple of Weasels were also seen, and Common Twayblades discovered in the depths of the old quarry site.

White Admiral

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.

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.

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.