Saturday 22nd May

A late evening circular walk from Barming Bridge via Teston Country Park and Barmin Woods turned up a mixed bag of birds including a Turtle Dove (West Farleigh bank), Swifts and a Reed Bunting singing (Teston Lock) but none of the target species; Kingfisher, Spotted Flycatcher, Barn Owl or Nightjar - may be I'm being too impatient!

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.

Sunday 9th May

Just east of my patch this afternoon during a brief respite from the rain - walking the bluebell woods just N of Wateringbury.  A Cuckoo called from the area of Heath Farm, East Malling.  I visted the Kiln Barn Farm Barn's with a friend's little lad who was desperate to see an owl - needless to say the Little Owl wasn't there.  A Swallow sat up on one of the nearby wires and two Swifts, my first this year for the patch, scythed overhead.

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.

Monday 18th May

Another blustery day, more akin to April rather than May. Swifts were in good numbers over East Malling Research Station, screaming calls to each other across the wind.

Also a Barn Owl near Teston Bridge this evening just after 8pm.

Monday 11th May

An extremley windy day with a cold NE wind blowing across the orchards. Not much to report except a couple of Swifts sliding through the wind over the strawberry plot on the Research Station land.

After work I was press ganged into collecting an Ebay purchase from Sittingbourne. Trying to make the most of a loathsome journey I picked up Mike Easterbrook to check out an orchid site on the way. I'm glad I did as we saw 25+ Lady Orchids, 6 Fly Orchids, 1 Birds Nest Orchid and a Lesser Butterfly Orchid.

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!