Monday 22nd September 2014

Revitalised by the migrant birds that have been dropping down in Barming over the last week I ventured out at sunrise to Hall Place Farm.  With the mist hanging low in the valley a distant honking announced the arrival of the first of 110 Canada Geese to the stubble fields, west of the farm, where they have been feeding for the last couple of weeks.  Meadow Pipits were still very much in evidence, a few lifting from the field, giving their soft 'seep-seep' call which acted as encouragement for their skulking companions to join them.  Soon their was a sizeable flock of 120+ in the air, but no sooner had they appeared, than they were falling back into the stubble, invisible once again.  A small dole of eleven Stock Dove fed with a large flock of Wood Pigeons, with crows and rooks scattered across the fields. 

Back out to the same patch after work, this time the sun going down.  I was pleased to see a small bird boldly perched on a hedgerow next to a couple of Yellowhammers.  Silhouetted against the dying sun I presumed it was another Whinchat, but getting closer I could see it lacked the sharp smartness of a Whinchat, but revealed by it's 'dullness' to be a Stonechat.  A cracking bird to have on patch.  I managed a record shot, but it was fidgety. 

Further along the track one of the Oaken Wood Buzzards surveyed the valley in the vestiges of the Sun.

Sunday 21st September

An interesting couple of days on patch:

Thursday 18th September
Redstart (briefly) working it's way south through the 'pylon' hedgerow west of Hall Place Farm, with a few chiffies around, including a small flock of three showy birds in the elms by St Margaret's churchyard

Sunday 21 September
Another Whinchat from the bridleway west of Hall Place farm this evening, with three Swallows north, a Buzzard on one of the pylons and Kestrel over by BarnJet

Sunday 14th September 2014

An interesting walk from Barming to Teston and back via Oaken Wood and the River Medway this morning.  Two Whinchat were a bonus, flitting along the hedgerow, with a couple of Yellowhammers, just west of Hall Place Farm (almost scopeable from the house!).  

Fourteen House Martins flew north, and 120+ Meadow Pipits flew up as a Kestrel flew over one of the stubble field.  Three Buzzards mewed incessantly over the southern edge of Oaken Wood.  The only other birds of note were a Sparrowhawk low over the old Hockey Ball factory in Teston and a Kingfisher between Teston & Barming Bridges.

The Whinchats were still present at dusk, and a Wheatear was flushed from the field between St Margaret's church and the A26.

4th July 2014

Two Hobbies were hawking after a large swarm of Swifts (50+) that fed over the rape field north of Church Lane, Barming at 13:00 today.  One of the Hobbies attempted to take a Yellowhammer that was perched on a telegraph pole along the lane...but failed!

Winfrith Heath, Dorset. 28th May 2014

Tuesday 1st April 2014

First Wheatear of the year (female) on Sweets Lane  paddocks, East Malling.  Little Owl and a few Mipits still around.  Cracking day for butterflies with Peacock, Small Tort and an Orange Tip all on the wing.

Christmas 2013

It's all be fairly quiet on patch since October, but Christmas Day morning turned up a bonus in the form of a Kingfisher.  It was sitting on the washing line in my back garden, a new one for the garden list.  I knew it wouldn't linger, so instead of rushing for the camera, I simply enjoyed watching this rare visitor to my garden.  Sure enough, within seconds, it darted off, a flash of electric blue into the field maples that in previous winters have harbored Hawfinches.  Now to get a Kingfisher at the top end of South Street, Barming is a sure sign that all was not well down on the River Medway where it would normally choose to feed.  So with presents opened and a hearty breakfast consumed I strolled off towards East Farleigh.  The 'Road Closed' sign on Farleigh Lane didn't bode well, and on reaching the level crossing at East Farleigh station I realised that this was major flooding, the worst I'd seen in the 16 years I'd lived near the river.

One of the first sights that greeted me was a tumbling mass of debris, being tossed and turned in the turbulent current, and amongst it all was a life belt which had proved to be a life-saving aid to a Field Vole!  The rest of the scene was a complete mess, with cars submerged, boats cast against the medieval bridge and number of poor souls being plucked from the park homes and barges by the Fire Brigade and Coastguard.  A check on Teston and Barming Bridges later in the day presented an equally desperate scene.  I think the pictures tell the story:

 Boats and debris rammed against East Farleigh Bridge (26/12)

 South end of East Farleigh Bridge (taken from the bridge) - village cut in half

 Stranded cars (26/12), these were totally submerged on 25/12

 Boats pushed against East Farleigh Bridge (26/12)

South Street Railway Bridge, Barming Bridge submerged (26/12)

 Submerged car, Teston Bridge (25/12)

North end of East Farleigh Bridge (25/12). Lock in background totally submerged.