Apr08NWKent

If you live, or for that matter visit, any site in North or West Kent then I would be delighted to hear from you! Sightings would be appreciated from Sheppey in the North to Dartford & Tunbridge Wells to the West and then back to Maidstone in the East.

Cliffe © Paul Larkin

Click here for a key to the map

There was a total of at least 9 Common Sandpipers present this morning, plus a flock of c20 Swallows feeding over the river until a Hobby came in fast and low over the water, and spooked the lot!

2 Willow Warblers singing in Station Road and a Lesser Whitethroat singing behind Sainsbury's this morning perhaps as a result of the early morning rain.

Swift and Garden Warbler were new for the year this evening. Three Common Terns were also at Haysden Lake together with loads of Swallows and House Martins; a Reed Warbler sang from the small row of reeds and a Lesser Whitethroat was in bushes by the car park.

I enjoyed good views of a male goshawk moving north over my garden (a new garden bird), as well as 3 sparrowhawk; 2 kestrel, housemartin and swallow (but no swifts!). Also, I'm pleased to say I saw the white billed diver on saturday pass Dungeness - so I've had a pretty good weekend for birds!

Had a brief birdwatch down from Greenhithe along Thames to Littlebrook this morning. Apart from Cuckoo flying aong Thames plus common sandpiper over the water, star bird was a firecrest showing extremely well in bushes approaching power station (from Greenhithe), and singing.

26 Redshank and a summer plumaged Greenshank in the 2nd flooded field. An obvious arrival of two species today: Swift and Reed Warbler. 40 of the former passed over and 20 of the latter were in the reeds around Littlebrook Pools. A Green Sandpiper over the pools also.

A few swallows were noted at all sites visited and a Common Tern flew upriver at Greenhithe whilst two more distant terns over the outflow at Swanscombe could have been Arctic.

My first Common Tern was at Haysden this morning where there were also about 10 Whitethroat, two elusive Reed Warblers (in the Shallows) and my first Cuckoo of the year. Also a pair of Mandarin, Grey Wagtail, a presumed Willow Warbler (some Chiffchaff in its song), mobile Cetti’s Warbler and a Marsh Tit recorded by 8am.

After retuning from a successful trip to Scotland, I returned to my local patch where my success continued with a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Also seen of note, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Reed, Sedge, Willow Warblers Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, a couple of Swallows and my first Cuckoo on the marsh this year. With the diverse habitat on the marsh I'm sure it would make a better reserve than Rainham, all it lacks is a scrape but there again I wouldn't be able to visit all of the areas on the marsh like I do now.

Spent the day at Sevenoaks Reserve the following birds were of note:
2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 Kingfisher all from the Tyler Hide........
1 Common Sandpiper from the Tower Hide........
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 G.S.W from fisherman's car park............
3 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap from Long Lake........
2 Barnacle Geese first seen on the Spit walked round they had gone then refound with Canada's on farmers field grassing....
(Mick Southcott)

As I passed southfleet pond this morning, the long staying drake Falcated duck was still there, happily paddling about with the mallards. I wonder if he will breed with them, or something else? It could be interesting!

Two Common Sandpiper, Hawden and a Stock Dove was in Tonbridge Park this evening (20 April). Two Lesser Whitethroats were in the car park at Haysden the following day and a Sparrowhawk was, unusually, on fence posts along the lane. The Cetti’s Warbler could be heard from the other side of the lake on 22 April and a Lesser Whitethroat was also heard. At last my first Whitethroat was along the road the following day.

Thorough walk around the Cliffe RSPB reserve on St Georges day, in the murk & drizzle, produced the following totals:-
Nightingale 16 (personal best)
Com Whitethroat 17
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 12
Willow Warbler 3
Sedge Wblr 5
Reed Wblr 6
Also 4 Swifts and a flock of 40 H/Martins over quarries; 6 Com Terns, 4 Whimbrel and several Swallows.
On the pools inc BB pools were 87 Avocets, 4 Greenshanks and c300 Bl/T Godwits. Perhaps the highlight, apart from the almost continual sound of Nightingales, was a party of 6 pristine ad Little Gulls which flew in and landed on the Radar pool as the sun broke through at 14.40. They had a quick rest and drink, then took off again at 14.50 and headed off high E. There was a separate 1st yr bird also present nearby.
(Murray Orchard)

I've just been walking around the woods at Hawkwell Farm and there were loads of singing CHIFFCHAFF and WILLOW WARBLER. In some brambles near the fishing lake there was a pair of BLACKCAP, but the highlight was my first CUCKOO of spring, singing. Also of note around the farm were 4 SWALLOWS and 6 HOUSE MARTINS. (Josh Jenkins Shaw)

After the report last week I went down to Shorne Crossing (Hoo Junction) at lunchtime. The Nightingale was in full flow, and even allowed 30 seconds viewing. Cetti's, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat all in evidence, and on the marsh nearby a Whimbrel and some Swallows.
(David Payne)

An afternoon stroll in the warm sunshine this afternoon made a change to hiding under the seawall yesterday in a freezing gale.
A Peregrine flew over Ifield (nr Gravesend) this afternoon settling on a couple of pylons before heading westward.
(David Payne)

Over 100 Turnstone were still present between Leysdown & Shellness. Among them were a couple of Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, a single Sanderling. The Purple Sandpiper was still hanging around on the beach near the Coastal Park. The Shellness roosts produced good numbers of Knot, Dunlin, Grey plover & Oystercatcher. There was a scattering of Turnstone and Ringed Plover, another single Sanderling and 6 Bar-tailed Godwit. 217 Herring Gulls were sheltering around the end of the spit in the bay to the south of the beach.

The Swale reserve still held a few Wigeon but all the winter geese seem to have finally departed. There were also 17 black-tailed Godwit and 8 Avocet. As it began to rain I began to wonder if it was April at all as I hadn't seen a single summer migrant all day - but thank goodness this was about to change. At the south end of the reserve (while checking a damp pool for possible Snipe) I heard a Cetti's Warbler calling behind me. As I moved closer to the source of the sound I saw a thrush zip up the line of the fence and over the brow of the hill. I gave up on the warbler and rushed after the thrush. As I peered over the hill top I was rewarded with a fantastic male Ring Ouzel bounding around on the grass! A first for me. Moving onto the view point at Harty I got great views of a pair of Marsh Harrier. At one point the male dropped some prey which the female caught on the wing. I also had my first Yellow Wagtail of the year fly over and heard a couple of Bearded Tits. At the foot of Capel Hill was a male Wheatear and a late pair of Fieldfare.
A mixed day but a good day!
(Gavin Coultrip)

I was up early this morning with the intention of doing one of my Breeding Bird Survey squares before breakfast. However, one look at the grey murk hanging over the downs and I decided to change plans and spend the morning on my home patch instead. There were a few more migrants about today than there have been for the past few days, starting with a Whimbrel and a single Common Sandpiper on the river shore, followed by a total of 5 Common Terns heading north along the river. Throughout the morning there was a steady trickle of Swallows and some Sand Martins also moving north through the valley, whilst on the marshes north of the village there were several singing Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat and 2-3 Lesser Whitethroat. Disappointingly though, still no Nightingales

Arrived late morning accompanied by the better half and my 3 year-old, Alex, and we immediately witnessed a pair of Treecreepers being rung at the main centre.

We walked to Tyler hide where Martin Coath kindly pointed out a splendid Arctic Tern over the water alongside an immature-ish Common Tern. Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail were out on the islands and a White-fronted Goose flew in whilst a Brambling called from the woods and a Kingfisher zipped back and forth in front of the hide.

A 50+ mixed hirundine flock fed over the eastern end of the reserve and as we walked back to the centre, Ralph & Brenda Todd informed us that a Whimbrel was now in front of Tyler hide. Alas, by the time I got there it must have already gone despite the best efforts of mine and Andy Appleton's to relocate it. Fortunately Alex had found a big stick and puddle, heaven for a small boy, so I enjoyed the Arctic Tern for a bit before we all headed home.

A wintery feeling morning produced 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 singing Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap and brief burst of song from a Nightingale.
(Jamie Medford)

I was up at 5.15am this morning and I picked up David Payne en route to Cliffe for a dawn start. A Cetti's Warbler sang from the pond in Lower Higham.

We checked out the Quarries and found very little on them except for numerous Little Grebes, male Ruddy Duck and a Swallow over. A few immature GBBs were also present. I scanned the Black Headed Gulls behind the South Quarry and spotted the tell-tale black underwing of a Little Gull. We drove round to the Brett complex and quickly located this stunning summer plumaged bird feeding in the horse paddocks and sheep fields. Good stuff!

We drove down to the RSPB reserve and, after carefully manoeuvring the car around three semi-naked lads caught up in the middle of what looked like a very bad trip, we drove to Coastguards. It was blinkin' cold. We sheltered under the seawall and scanned the Thames and the foreshore. Six Whimbrel fed and called below us on the rocky shore and a Common Tern headed up river as a Yellow Wagtail and 8 Swallows headed the other way. 300+ Dunlin and 100+ Redshank fed on the Essex side and 3 Avocets fed on the Kent side. 6+ more Whimbrel fed around Coastguards pool.

Back at the 1st viewing mound, there were 6 Avocets on BB1 and 8 more on BB2. 2 Sedge Warblers sang and a pair of Shoveler and a few teal were on the pools. I started scanning behind BB4 when a head appeared and protruded up out of the long grass; "odd place for a Canada Goose" I thought dumbly for a nano-second after which reality smacked me hard in the face: A Common Crane!

Eventually it showed fairly well before disappearing back into the long grass only to reappear as Gary Howard & Paul Larkin turned up. I believe this was Paul's 250th species of bird for Cliffe. The bird then gave much better views. Eight Greenshank dropped in onto BB3 for 10 minutes before they headed North-east and a Green Sandpiper flew over.

Paul had been given the heads up from Essex saying that 1 of the (3+?) Pomarine Skuas was still present on the Thames so myself, David and Gary headed down for a look. I spotted a Harbour Porpoise heading upriver and as I did this, an immature Pom came racing into view from the direction of Gravesend. Fortunately it came towards us and gave good views as it flew just above the surface of the water. Boredom and Skuas are two words that should never be used in the same sentence and I could never see too many of these wonderful birds. This bird is one of last year's Juveniles and different to the 1 or 2 other Poms that I've seen on the Thames this winter. This bird was pretty much still in its juvenile plumage except for a slight paler area on the back of the head. The other birds are 2nd/3rd winters.

The phrase 'quit whilst your ahead' now seemed particularly apt and at this point we headed back and were in Gravesend by 11am.

Spent a couple of hours at Bough Beech from the Orchard area (heard only) Cuckoo, 2 G.S.W, trio of Mallard at the feeders!! accompanied by a Trio of Pheasant, 7 Brambling and the usual Blue & Great Tit, Green & Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow, Dunnock, 1 Collard Dove, 2 Jay, 2 Magpie, Robin, 1 Reed Bunting, Blackbird 2m & 1f....
In the field adjacent to the Orchard 2 Jackdaw and 4 Shelduck with a Pair of Pintail, 3 pr Gadwall, 1 pr Teal on Roy Coles Flood
From the five-bar gate quickly pick-up the Nightingale which show very well also 1 Heron, Pr Bullfinch, 5 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 3 L.L.T and a pr of Chaffinch.
From the Causeway 2 Common Tern, 40+ Swallow with Sand and House Martin, Green Sandpiper flew over. The Usual Tufted, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard and Canada Goose were all pairing off and having territorial disputes. G.C.Grebes, Cormorant, Greylag 1pr
(Mick Southcott)

3 Green Sandpipers in the 2nd flooded field, 2 Common Sandpipers on the New Diggings and a Little Owl on the old Joyce Green Hospital site.

There were 17 Shoveller on Longfield Lake, one Grey Wagtail and a couple of Reed Bunting, the Cetti’s Warbler and all three species of hirundines were at Haysden. Two White Wagtails were also seen this afternoon but had departed by the time I arrived.

1 SCAUP (Female), 3 COMMON TERN, 2 PINTAIL and 2 NIGHTINGALE which showed well for most of the day. Other birders said that they had heard and seen a Cuckoo although I couldn't seem to find it. See my website for photos.
(Josh Jenkins Shaw)
www.josh-birdbrain.blogspot.com

Whilst walking along the public footpath that runs through a cow field next to Otham Lane a Little Egret was seen standing in the river that runs through the field.

1-Swift and 2-Common Terns over Brookland Lake along with many Swallow, Sand and House Martin today. Swift is my earliest by 1 day for here and Common Tern earliest by 7 days.

A Green Sandpiper was still at Hawden and the Egyptian Goose was visiting Barden Lake again where there were also 34 Mute Swans. A Mandarin flew over Ensfield Bridge.

A female Red-breasted Merganser, seven cracking adult Little Gulls and at least four Common Terns were at Bough Beech this afternoon. At least two Nightingales were also present but not seen by me.

Took a drive out to the Harty ferry road yesterday evening after a fish supper on the green car park at Leysdown. Plenty of corn buntings on the wires to our left after we crossed the fleet. Two Marsh harriers took off from the rape field to our right,very close so had a superb view. Carried on and parked at the viewing point where I heard Bearded tit in the reed beds. My wife saw two flit across but I missed them. I have never seen Bearded tits on Sheppey so Cheryl has got one up on me!

We saw a Hobby flying over very fast and direct towards Muswell and The Marsh harriers were quartering the fields and reed bed around us. A lovely evening but still very very cold.
(John Janman)

Nightingale singing and showing, by level crossing Hoo Junction, Also Blackcap and Chiffchaffs.

Highlights today, 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Ad.) and 1 WHITE WAGTAIL. Also of note on the reserve were 2 GREY WAGTAIL, C30 HOUSE MARTIN, C30 SAND MARTIN, C15 SWALLOW,1 LR PLOVER.
(JoshJenkinsShaw)
www.josh-birdbrain.blogspot.com

This lunchtime Church Lane Ifield (near Gravesend) noticed flocks of about 20 Corn Buntings and about 10 Linnets, as well as the usual skylarks.
(David Payne)

Many Lapwings on the 2nd Flooded field with one crazy pair nesting by the gate next to the layby just 3 metres from the dual carriageway. No sign of any Little Ringed Plovers for a while now and just 1 White Wagtail for my efforts.

On the Swale NNR today there Peregrine, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, S.E. Owl and Barn Owl and still the RB Geese and White fronted Geese. (Also) 55 Brent Geese on the saltings below Harty Church and 3 Red-breasted Merganser on the Swale.
(Derek Faulkner)

Still 6+ Brambling in the orchard 2 Nightingales singing, Willow warbler. 6+ Blackcaps. Buzzards every day, a count of 22 Shellduck.
(Alan Ford)

It was my Wednesday morning at Sevenoaks, where coffee has gone up to 80p, another savage blow to the pensioner class. 51 species included 2 broods totalling 3 GC Grebelets, 5 Greylag goslings, my first of the season, 9 Gadwall, a drake Sheld - hopefully the female is sitting somewhere - , Sparrowhawk, probably one of the resident displaying pair, no waders. 4 LBBGs and 61 Herrings, 6 Green Woodpeckers, a few hirundines of the usual 3 species, 36 Wrens, 13 Blackcaps, 5 Willow Warblers and 16 Chiffchaffs and a basking Common Lizard.
Perhaps the coming easterlies will produce the goods for us all, if they materialise.
(Martin Coath)

No sign of the Redstart reported yesterday in the eastern scrub when Flossie and I were there this morning but we did see a Cuckoo. Also on our walk round Leybourne lakes; 1 Whitethroat, 3 Nightingale, 10 Blackcap and 7 Willow Warbler.

Had a strange thing happen in my back garden at Eastchurch today. A cock pheasant appeared to be picking up and dropping what I thought was a bumble bee on the path as if to stun/kill it. I then realised the bee had a tail and was in fact a Shrew. The Pheasant kept biting it and dropping it on the ground and eventually threw back it's head and swallowed it whole. I doubt I will ever see a sight like that again and we can now add shrews to a pheasant’s diet!!

Plenty of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaffs around the lakes this morning, however, by far the best bird of the day was a superb male Redstart which showed clearly but briefly, to myself and Alan Roman as we walked across the east scrub area of the lakes.

2 Nightingale, 1 Whitethroat, 11 Willow Warbler, 16 Blackcap this morning beween 6.20 and 9.30. Also 1 Grass Snake, 1 Slow Worm and 3 Water Vole.
Also Reed Warbler and Buzzard reported by other observers.
(Steve Nunn)
www.newhythe.blogspot.com

Just spent a couple of hours on the reserve before the rain! Of note were, 1 L.R. PLOVER, 6 BLACKCAP, 3 K.FISHER, 3 STOCK DOVE, 2 TREECREEPER, 4 SONG THRUSH, 3 SWALLOW. Coots and G.S Grebes both had chicks and the highlight in the woods was a female BRAMBLING.
(Josh Jenkins Shaw)

I went for one of my regular bike rides up the Warden road yesterday and was suprised at how little was about ! I had one Song thrush singing..which was nice, but no Swallows at all at the farms or stables that are scattered around.

I have a Blackcap singing regularly at the bottom of our garden ,a blue tit building strongly in a box and a Blackbird on four eggs in the hedge. A Sparrowhawk is seen on quite a regular basis wheeling round, and also darting along the trees out front on the hunt, a lovely sight for sure. What I find most spectacular at present is the dawn chorus...Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens etc all singing in a harmony which you could not compose. It all finishes around 6am so up with the Lark for this feast for the ears.
(John Janman)

Spent a couple of hours on the reserve. Highlight was definitely a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker which showed very well at times. Also in the woods 2 Blackcaps were singing and there were also at least 10 Chiffchaff singing. On the islands 4 Little ringed plovers were seen and a lone Snipe was also there.

On the reserve this afternoon were :-
2 Red-breasted Geese, 2 White-fronted Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 28 Canadian Geese, 80 Greylag Geese, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Cettis Warbler.
(Derek Faulkner)

Practically the first birds I saw when I looked out of the bedroom window this morning were 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the riverbank opposite, 1 adult and 1 2nd-summer bird, the latter looking equally smart with a full black hood and neat black bars on the outer primaries.

After breakfast a walk out along the marshes north of the village produced the usual Little Owl, Cetti's Warbler etc, plus a single Common Buzzard up over the downs and 1 Peregrine, but the highlight was a very confiding Water Rail which spent some time feeding right out in the open, seemingly totally unconcerned by my presence just a few metres away.

Back home again, the main interest around lunchtime was a Common Seal which had hauled out on the mud opposite the village, and which was last seen heading up-river on the incoming tide. Later in the afternoon I decided to go for another walk south to Peters Pit reserve. I failed to re-locate the Green Sandpiper which had been present there yesterday, but along the nearby riverbank there was a trip of 5 Common Sandpipers, plus a single Little Ringed Plover.

Finally, back home once more, a pair of Swallows hawking insects over the river in the evening sunlight nicely rounded off what had been a pleasantly warm, summery day. Difficult to believe that only 3 days ago we were in the grip of a mini-winter!

Spent a few hours at Bough beech and spring was in full swing, Willow warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Linnets amongst all the usuals were singing and seen. Overhead there was 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 3 Swallows and 10+ House martins. Highlight out on the water was a female Goosander. No sign of the Bramblings, I suppose they must have left.

A single Whitethroat and a Green Sandpiper this morning at New Hythe as well as 15 Willow Warbler, 12 Blackcap and a lone Swallow (later I saw a large flock of mixed hirundines on Alders Lake of Lundsford Lane as I passed by in the car)
(Steve Nunn)
www.newhythe.blogspot.com
www.newhythewildlife.com

Whilst taking part in the WEBS count on the reserve today I found 120 Whitefronted Geese and an Egyptian Goose.
(Derek Faulkner)

On Saturday 5th. in the afternoon, Cliffe Pools produced 1 hunting Short Eared Owl between the two viewing ramps. On the 3rd Black Barn Pools 100 plus Black Tailed Godwits and 30 plus Avocets.

Long Tailed Duck still present plus a Kingfisher and good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins with a couple of House Martins thrown in.

On Sunday a long walk only produced 2 Common Terns of interest near the Boat Club or dump or what ever it is.

A few large gulls in the 1st flooded field held no surprises although it's a shame this field wasn't flooded back in December as a few more Casps may have dropped in. Bob Dunn Way's 2nd flooded field looks superb at the moment and still has about 30+ Teal dotted about amongst the breeding Lapwing & Redshank. 2 Little Ringed Plover also present.

Littlebrook had a Swallow feeding low over the water and whilst I scanned up high for further hirundine activity, I spotted 120 Golden Plover speeding north.

Of note were 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, 1 GREEN SANDPIPIER and C15 SAND MARTIN. There was also a pair of G.C Grebes with 2 chicks out on the water.
(Josh Jenkins Shaw)
www.josh-birdbrain.blogspot.com

Redwing, several Fieldfare and two Stock Doves at Ensfield Farm, two Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, four House Martins and seven Swallow at Hawden - and an all too brief view of what looked suspiciously like a Merlin. At Haysden there were 30 Swallow, a pair of Mandarin, eight Meadow Pipits, a pair of Mistle Thrush and a Kestrel. A Little Egret flew over Barden Lake where there were a further six Swallow (43 in total). The addition of another few species this afternoon I managed 60 species again this week-end.

A 6.30 visit to the reserve this morning to keep ahead of forecast wet weather found little of note except a depressing need to return to thermal clothing after last week's lightweight summer stuff. The large flock of Whitefronts remains, feeding on the neighbouring winter corn and seeming more in sinc with the current weather - don't you just feel sorry for those early Swallows,etc.
I did however find the first Coot's nest with eggs and there are only around a dozen pairs of Lapwings sitting at the moment.

Willow Warbler 2 singing, Blackcap 4 singing, Chiffchaff (many birds singing), House Martin 2, Sand Martin 50 aprox, Swallow 5, Siskin 2, Little Ringed Plover 2, White Wagtail 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Snipe 1, Kingfisher 2, Egyptian Goose 1, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1 female and a Red Kite seen at aprox 14:30 heading west over reserve.

I started at Hawden this morning where there were two not very wild looking Barnacle Geese, one Green Sandpiper and my first of about six Blackcap; just one Reed Bunting in Tonbridge Park so on to Barden where there was no sign of the Egyptian Goose, or much else. The Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly at Haysden where I also had my first three Swallows of the year, one Sand Martin, several Chiffchaff and my first Willow Warbler, number 87 for the year. Other bits at Haysden included two Mandarin, Sparrowhawk, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch and Treecreeper – more than 50 species noted by about 9.15am.

The week started well with sightings of LRP and male Wheatear on Sunday. News from Monday included a sighting of Egyptian Goose on Hawden and a single Golden Plover on the flooded playing fields. Neither birds could be located the next day however - but a couple of Willow Warblers and three or four Blackcap were some recompense. A Buzzard was near the road as I drove to work on Wednesday and a Meadow Pipit was on overhead wires in the evening. A Sparrowhawk drifted slowly over Haysden the next morning and three Linnets were noted. Finally on Friday the Egyptian Goose was successfully twitched and showed to five feet at the Barden Lake feeding area!

I had 2 Swallows fly over, first ones of the year for my local patch, also 1 Kestrel.
(Josh Jenkins Shaw)

I went to the Swale NNR this afternoon. The Whitefront flock were there as usual. I also had a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Cettis Warbler and my 1st Swallow.
Driving home I also had 8 Sand Martins over the Raptor Mound and another Swallow over Minster.
(Derek Faulkner)

Common buzzard over ashenbank woods being mobbed by local crows, flying towards new Jeskyns country park. Also male blackcap singing in the woods with many chiffchaff, nuthatch &great spotted woodpecker

Had 2 YELLOW WAGS this afternoon in horse paddocks adj fishing lakes at HOO. Also nine LITTLE EGRETS around lakes and on adj marshes plus one SWALLOW north and a CHIFFCHAFF.

Hello spent a couple of hours and Bough Beech this morning, of note were: c20 BRAMBLING, 3 BUZZARD, 3 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL(M), C50 GREY HERON, 20 CORMORANT, 3 SHOVELER, C10 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 LINNET, 2 MANDARIN DUCK, C30 SHELDUCK, C15 G.C. GREBE, 1 LITTLE GREBE. When I got home at Hawkwell Farm, Pembury, I was pleases to see a lone House Martin fly over.

180 White-fronted Geese were on the reserve today. Also 2 Med. Gulls and a Cettis Warbler.
(Derek Faulkner)

I was in the front garden looking at and listening to a Male Blackcap singing when I noticed a large bird being mobbed by crows over towards the cliffs at Eastchurch. I put the bins on it and could not believe my eyes..a Kite ? The things that really stood out were forked tail, reddish brown colour and light marks on wings. I have never seen a kite before so am pretty sure it is the red kite rather than black.

Today had my third bedroom window (house) life tick this year in the form of a female black redstart flitting around in the recently planted orchard in Macey's Meadow, off Norman Road West Malling. Unfortunately it moved on just after 9.00am.

Had two hours around New Hythe lakes today, notable sightings were 4 Shelduck and 6 Teal on the river, a single Swallow over the diver's bridge (three water voles here also) and a few Sand Martins. Chiffchaffs and Cettis very vocal, the former also showing well. No sign of Blackcaps, however I did see one in my garden today, also had a Brambling in the garden on monday which is a first ever for me.