PATCH WATCH - 1st May 2004

This is the twelfth year in succession that a competitive Patch Watch has been completed. The weather forecast for this one was not very promising – a northerly wind and heavy showers. It was still, under an overcast sky as I arrived at 3.20am, with just a glow from the lights of Maidstone across the northern skyline. A Tawny Owl hooted at 3.45am, as I walked up towards the barn, and it continued to call for several minutes from little more than 100 metres away. Soon after, a distant Little Owl also called but there was no sign of the Barn Owl in the barn. As I walked up onto the Greensand Ridge, a Woodpigeon flapped noisily from a hawthorn and quacking of Mallard could also be heard. Wishful thinking had me dreaming of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling and a migrant Nightingale singing, as the habitat for both is suitable and the former was seen there the previous autumn, but just a distant Moorhen called – number five at 4.10am.

It was only 4.15 when the first fisherman arrived – unfortunately, the season opened again on the 1st. I sat patiently by the barn, waiting for one or other of the Barn Owls to either call or fly. A Carrion Crow cawed, as dawn began to break and the first phrase of Blackbird song was heard at 4.42. The first Robin sang at 4.45 and two minutes later I was happy to see a Barn Owl flying from its nest box. It is always pleasing to record the three owl species early on. As I walked back down the slope, another Tawny Owl called from the direction of Wierton Grange and a Song Thrush – number 10 at 4.52am – joined the dawn chorus, as the first breath of northerly wind was apparent. A Reed Bunting sang from the Figwort patch and a third Tawny Owl hooted from the direction of the Old Vicarage. A Pheasant called and four Canada Geese could be seen on the reservoir. A Wren sang, as did a nearby Chiffchaff , followed by a Chaffinch , as I returned to my car to deposit a heavy torch. A Great Tit called while I looked expectantly towards the poplar woods for the sight of an early-rising Sparrowhawk.

Before 5.25am I started the first circuit of the reservoir. A Mistle Thrush sang, a Blackcap joined in the increasing chorus of song and a Blue Tit called – number 20 at 5.30am. The lone Coot swam into view, a Yellowhammer sang and a Green Woodpecker yaffled. From a known territory, a Lesser Whitethroat added its rattle-like song, a distant Stock Dove cooed and a flock of Rooks was already feeding on the recently planted oat field. A Garden Warbler burst into song and a Dunnock followed suit. A pale, tawny coloured Ferret was a most unwelcome sight, as it ran over the reservoir bank, but my mind was soon distracted as I heard snatches of Acrocephalus song just before 6am. It was from a most unexpected Sedge Warbler – just the fifth spring record on the patch and a real bonus. A few Jackdaws – number 30 at 6.02am – called and a GS Woodpecker drummed. A Common Whitethroat sang, as I walked north alongside the flooded Figwort patch and the adult male Kestrel flew onto its usual power-line pole perch. A lone Swallow flew N at 6.10 as two more fishermen arrived – it turned out that there was a five-hour fishing competition and a good number turned out for it. Obviously, I would have preferred this to have been postponed a day!

I could hear a Turtle Dove ‘purring' but it was just off the patch to the east! The first Magpie called, a Starling flew over and a Nuthatch called from close to its nest, as another GS Woodpecker drummed. As I reached Spindlewood, next to the barn, a Collared Dove was perched on a telephone wire and another Common Whitethroat sang. A Grey Heron called as it flew NW, a few House Sparrows – number 40 at 6.35am – were present in their usual spot and a Pied Wagtail flew from the new orchard. As I walked around the orchard, a Goldfinch sang and a Swift sped S, low over the Greensand Ridge. Next, a Bullfinch called and I heaved a sigh of relief, as this species has in the past proved extremely elusive. Two cock Blackcaps disputed territory, uttering some strange phrases of song, while a hen bird looked on, and another Common Whitethroat sang from just south of the Braeburn apple orchard. It was misty across the Weald and in the dull conditions and as dark cloud approached, it felt ominously like rain. I wondered whether I could complete a circuit before it fell. There was no sound of the Willow Warbler from the area it had been frequenting and as I moved into the deer park at 7.20am the skies opened and there was no shelter nearby. I was drenched by the time I reached the shelter of my car some twenty minutes later, when it was time for breakfast.

Meanwhile, Bob had worked the Boughton Park area of the patch from 5.30am, while I had concentrated on Wierton Hill Farm. He joined me at 8am, by which time the rain had eased and it looked brighter to the north. He'd managed to list six additional species – Mandarin – another first for this date – Herring Gull , Turtle Dove , Willow Warbler , Goldcrest and Greenfinch , making the combined total by this time 50. While I completed my breakfast it was obvious that a dry spell after the heavy rain encouraged numbers of birds to move. Bob picked up a flock of at least 30 House Martins that rapidly disappeared into the low-lying cloud, as they flew SW and a few more followed later. Several more Swifts and Swallows appeared, three Turtle Doves flew NW and a Yellow Wagtail flew N – another welcome bonus species, that had only been seen on one previous Patch Watch – and then a Sand Martin flew W low over the reservoir. As I prepared to join Bob in a search for Treecreeper, a lone Cormorant flew NW and a Linnet called as it flew over. We had no luck with a Treecreeper in a known territory but did add LT Tit . As we walked around the reservoir two LBB Gulls flew S and just after 9am the adult male Sparrowhawk flew into a small oak by the new barn. At 9.07am a bubbling call was heard and four Whimbrel flew NE – another extremely welcome bonus and the first sighting for two years. Although we'd heard one calling from further east, a Cuckoo – number 60 at 9.12 – now called from on the patch.

Another Turtle Dove purred from on the patch and three more Herring Gulls flew NW at 9.30am. Bob had family commitments and departed shortly after 10am, when I headed towards the northwest corner of the patch. Little song was now evident but another Chiffchaff sang a few phrases, two more Swifts circled overhead and the Willow Warbler deigned to sing for me at 10.24am. The obvious absentee residents at that stage were Jay and Treecreeper and both were known to be in the chestnut coppice, with oak standards, in the northwest corner, where the Early Purple Orchids made an attractive display. A little after 11am, as I reached Boughton Place, heading for the churchyard, a Greenfinch flew by and another Blackcap sang. A cypress tree in the churchyard produced a Goldcrest at 11.15am and a Chiffchaff sang from the large yew. I checked the spruce coppice, where Bob had heard a Goldcrest singing, but only managed to glimpse it briefly, while I had hoped to establish that a pair was nesting there. No sign of a Treecreeper either, in another known territory in the southwest corner.

When I reached the lake, the drake Mandarin circled overhead – my 60th species at 12.05pm – and as I searched another stand of oaks, I suddenly felt an adrenaline surge as a Treecreeper flew onto a nearby trunk at 12.15pm. This species has been proving to be exceptionally elusive and had been missed for the first time on the 2003 Patch Watch, so it was particularly pleasing to see one. Another cock Reed Bunting was present in an alder by the marsh and when I returned to the reservoir the Sedge Warbler was still in song at 12.35pm.

I was back to my car for lunch by 12.45pm after a remarkably successful morning, with 61 species on the list. At 1pm two BH Gulls visited the reservoir – number 62. In retrospect, I could have stopped at this stage, but while enjoying my lunch I pondered over what might yet be possible. Could I reach the third highest total of 65 or even the second highest of 66? I certainly ought to be able to find a Jay, although in 2003 it was 7.15pm before I did! Occasional visitors like Greylag Goose or Coal Tit might appear and a Hobby could well be seen, while any one of several migrants like Common Tern, Wheatear, Whinchat, Redstart or an early Spotted Flycatcher might just be possible. Three more Herring Gulls flew N at 1.30pm, as I considered what best to do next, other than scan the sky, and all the visible hedgerows and woodland edges for a Jay. I decided to complete another circuit of the reservoir, looking skyward for much of the time, then walk around the southern boundary.

Another House Martin flew N. A LBB Gull flew back NE and another circled high over the reservoir before heading SW. I then witnessed an unusual sight, which I still can't find any reference to in the literature. A pair of Moorhens, on their newly completed nest, were lying side-by-side, head to toe, one with a wing over the other's back – all very cosy and loving! A pair of Pied Wagtails fed on the arable by the reservoir and three more BH Gulls visited the reservoir briefly, before continuing north. I approached Gravitt's Cottage at 2.45pm, walking alongside the arable hedgerow, where a flock of at least 20 House Sparrows was present, occasionally dropping down onto the arable, where there were also at least eight Yellowhammers – but no sign of any migrants. Another Common Whitethroat sang from within its territory and the first – and only – butterfly of the day, a Green-veined White was seen. By 3pm I was back at the lake, where the drake Mandarin was at rest on the bank – no sign of a duck as yet. Might she be incubating eggs in a tree hole somewhere? It would be a first breeding record for the area.

Another six House Martins flew W at 3.40pm, as I reached the graveyard and decided to take advantage of the excellent viewpoint it provides. A distant Swift could be seen but a larger bird was gliding SW. Could it be a much wanted Hobby? It completed a momentary turn, appeared to show the silhouette shape of a Hobby and I continued to watch it, hoping for better views. As it dropped lower against the wealden background it passed behind a tree. Presumably it was the same bird that reappeared the other side showing contrasting brown and black upperparts – a Kestrel! What a disappointment, as I'd been almost convinced that it was a Hobby.

By 4pm I was back in the northwest corner again, anxiously searching for a Jay but without any success. As I walked parallel to the Greensand Way, just above the deer park, the weather began to change with a now light-moderate southwest wind and a brightening sky in that direction. Within fifteen minutes patches of blue appeared and the sun broke through. Another raptor high in the sky again posed problems, as it held its wings and seemingly long tail in unusual juxtapositions. When four Swifts flew close by its size was established – another Kestrel! In the northeast corner of the orchard at 4.45pm I'd still not found a Jay, but two more LT Tits were present there.

Shortly after 5pm I joined David and Laura Page at their house for a pleasant interlude and welcome refreshments, while scanning the now blue sky for that missing Hobby. From 5.40pm, I walked along the Wierton Hill hedgerow back to my car but still no Jay or Hobby. In fact it was particularly quiet in the pleasant, warm conditions. Another circuit of the reservoir, the poplar wood, the Peens Lane arable and the alder coppice failed to produce anything new, though I was surprised to find a flock of now 19 Yellowhammers present. Just before 7pm the female Sparrowhawk performed a deep, looping swoop, before dropping into the poplar wood and the female Kestrel was perched close to the new barn – time for a third raptor species surely, but it wasn't to be.

With 60 species before 9.15am, just two more by 1pm and not one since, I felt it was time to call it a day at 7.15pm, after nearly sixteen hours in the field. Although it was frustrating not to find all the resident species, inevitably one or two elude you on such a day and a total of 62 species was extremely respectable and higher than had been anticipated.