Wednesday 26th May

A late visit to Barming Woods this evening turned up a churring Nightjar.  Glad he's back!

Tuesday 25th May

The Harris Hawk was seen again this morning from my garden in South Street, Barming.  It's become an almost daily sighting, either gliding above the A26 Tonbridge Road or soaring around The Bull and Matterdale Gardens/North Street area.  An impressive bird!

Monday 24th May

The best place to be today was in the woods, in the dappled shade of Barming Woods, away from the 27.C heat!  Good numbers of butterfles were on the wing, including Orange-tip, Peacock, Large White and Speckled Wood.  I cycled round to where I'd heard the Tree Pipit on Friday, but with coppicing continuing close-by I couldn't pick out its song, only a close by Willow Warbler.  Cycling back to work a Common Buzzard lifted off from one of the older coppice plantations and soared on the thermals, before drifting west. 

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!

Friday 21st May

All the usual suspects on the cycle into work - but Linnets and Yellowhammers more noticeable than of late.  A sortie up to the felled areas in Barming Woods turned up a distant Tree Pipit, heard not seen, and good numbers of Willow Warblers.  It was good to see House Marting, 8 in total, prospecting sites around the East Malling Research main laboratory buildings - they've been around since Tuesday.  Pleasing to see a few more than last year.

Thursday 13th May

A couple of Whitethroats singing along Gallagher's Gallop this morning, including one in the hedgerow near Kiln Barn Farm - it seems to have been a good year so far for these birds on my patch.  I paid a long overdue visit to Ditton Quarry at lunchtime, a few Blackcaps and Whitethroats but really quite quiet. 

A toad and a Holly Blue were the only other sightings of note.

Wednesday 12th May

I can see why the Swallows and Swifts were swarming around Bradbourne Lake yesterday - flies, everywhere.  A Jay hassled a pair of Blackbirds, and a pair of Greylags paraded their young (not sure why the Coot joined in!). 

Then a real East Malling rarity - a Jackdaw, in amongst the Crows.

The less said about my evening trip to see the Red-necked Phalarope the better!