Saturday 10 May 2008

It was warm again this morning - even at 05.20hrs, when I left for a 4 and a half hour trek round my patch. All the regular summer migrants were noted except Hobby, BLACKCAPS, COMMON WHITETHROATS and CHIFFCHAFF numbers are up on last year, GARDEN WARBLER, LESSER WHITETHROAT are the same. The lone WILLOW WARBLER continues to sing, around one of the lakes.TURTLE DOVES were not found at their traditional site, at the scrubby area adjacent the lakes, I hope they havn't left the area. I did find them at the small headland off migrant alley however, along with SWIFTS, SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS overhead, the latter have started nest building at one of the college buildings - I wonder if the new plastic soffatting will affect them? Two CUCKOO,S were heard and one seen well as it sat atop a douglas fir and the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER was joined by another, in the college grounds.

A Chiffchaff posed well, in an ash tree in the scrubby headland off migrant alley
A lone Moorhen chick was seen on the small pond in the college grounds

A Grey Heron glided over slowly, - made my heart quicken, just for a second


Here's a poor effort at a Lesser Whitethroat - they really are hard to photograph well!



5 comments:

Josh Jenkins Shaw said...

2 Hobby's here at Hawkwell Farm, Pembury...I've never seen a Spotted fly.. ever but the habitat here is perfect. I also saw a Grass snake a couple of Willow warbs, 6 Blackcap and at least 25 Speckled wood butterflies on the wing. You have a great patch.

Warren Baker said...

Keep looking josh - thats the only way!

Steve said...

You did it Warren!!! Lesser whitethroat pic - great stuff! I haven't got near one yet. In fact this morning only one was noted.

Simon said...

Welldone with the Lesser Whitethroat Warren!! You've got some great birds at Hadlow at the moment.

Warren Baker said...

Hello steve and simon,
A white throat pic of sorts! Not the best, I think when they start to feed their young, a better opportunity will arise.
Enjoy the your patches while the weathers good!