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

Monday 23rd March

Nothing more to report between Barming and Ditton this morning - a couple of Jays on eastern sie of Oaken Wood and Goldfinches seemed to be prominient. At lunchtime I visited Ditton Quarry briefly but not much showing apart from a Common Lizard, a couple of pairs of Bullfinches and 50+ Goldfinches (more than usual). The nest that the Long-tailed Tits had been working on for the last week or so looked more or less complete - a perfect little dome of Lichen! Heavy rain and strong winds late afternoon blew a couple of Grey Herons around as they flew south over the Research Station, East Malling.

Making my way back home amongst the blown down twigs I was suprised to hear the familiar 'chack-chack' of Fieldfares and sure enough I counted 18 in one of the large Sweet Chestnuts by Gallagher's Gallop - I shoul be expecting the first Swallows on my patch now not Fieldfares. And the last birds of the day - 12 Goldfinches over my house in Barming - they really seem to have been out in goo numbers today.

GEOFF. Could you contact me at adam.whitehouse@emr.ac.uk, cheers Adam