A sunny but cold visit to @kentwildlife.bsky.social Ashford Warren & Hoades Wood, Ashford. Constant bird song with Blue Tit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Wren all heard. A female Mallard in the little stream beside the golf course. Few insects, even in the sheltered sunny spots. #kentbirding #kentbirding
This afternoon headed to Samphire Hoe, Dover. Early Spider Orchid were a lifer. A Small Copper was a year tick. The seaward side was very quiet. We walked back along the railway. Linnet & Stonechat were the most numerous birds seen. Some caterpillars to ID. #kentbirding #kentnature
A fantastic wildlife survey at Milton Creek today, 3 Nightingales heard along with 5+Whitethroat & Blackcap. Calling Lesser Whitethroat & Garden Warbler year ticks. A Green Hairstreak & Grey-patched Mining Bee also year ticks. Probably Willow Warbler also heard. Few Bumblebee’s seen though
Thank you very much. I’ll add to Irecord.
It seems the two spiders are a Fencepost Jumping Spider, Marpissa muscosa & Heliophanus cupreus. Hopefully correct ID’s @britishspiders.bsky.social
A 5m walk around Newington & Lower Halstow in warm sunshine. Constant bird song as we walked. Swallow, Whitethroat at Lower Halstow brickworks & a Reed Warbler at the old Newington water cress beds were new for the year. A Vernal Shieldbug is a lifer. Holly Blues at Upchurch & Lower Halstow as yt’s
A first visit of the year to the marshy area at Eureka Park. A lot of bird calls, particularly loud Wrens which probably drowned out a Goldcrest. A Blackcap & Nuthatch also heard. A Birch Shieldbug & a long-horn moth are new for year. A Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee seen investigating any cavities.
Highsted Wood at its best this lunchtime under grey skies with a small shower but warm. The thousands of Bluebells are at their peak also the the Ramsons. Constant bird song with 13 species record. Only 2 Early Purple Orchid spikes seen in the usual area. A few insects about but no butterflies.
A warm day but with a coldish edge to the wind. Back to the heathland plot where Linnet & Greenfinch called constantly. A couple of male Blackbirds seemingly contested territorial boundaries. A few buff & red- tailed Bumblebees seen along with Pine & 7-Spot Ladybirds. 2 beetles across the path.
A lunchtime wander around @kentwildlife.bsky.social Ashford Warren & Hoades Wood under a cold, grey sky with rain later. Plenty of mobile Blue & Great Tit’s calling along with Robin, Wren & Chiffchaff. A Mistle Thursh was calling from
close to the golf course. Given the weather, no insects seen.
View from Conyer sea wall towards Oare
View from Conyer sea wall towards Sittingbourne.-
An afternoon walk from Teynham to Conyer & back in warm sunshine but strong breeze. Plenty of corvids & passerines between the 2 villages.. The highlight at Conyer Creek, where the tide was out, was a singing Nightingale (yt) next to the path, 1 of 2 heard. 3 Avocet around the creek were also yt.
An afternoon walk at Eastling, Faversham following the Shepherd Neame pub walk. A calling Coal Tit in the church yard was the highlight. 18 sp recorded. Few butterflies & bee’s about although plenty of mining bee evidence. At least 30 Early Purple Orchids in flower. #kentbirding #kentnature
Completely agree that anecdotal thoughts/ musings should not replace formal data, but can they can be the trigger to investigate or collect data.
Anecdotally, there seem to be more Greenfinches at Milton Creek and at the heathland plot at Eureka Park, Ashford this year vs prior.
Another lunchtime trip to the heathland plot to see if I could find yesterday’s spider. Nope. However, in warm sunny conditions Chiffchaff ,Blackcap & Linnet were heard amongst the 8 bird species recorded. A male Orange-tip was a year tick. A new grass, Sweep’s-brushes & a lichen (to ID) were new.
The warmest day of the year, so headed to the heathland plot at Eureka Park, Ashford. 8 sp. of bird recorded, I probably missed a few as I was focused more on what was on the Gorse. A spider to ID, a potential Gorse Seed Weevil, 7-spit Ladybird & a Yellow-legged Mining Bee. Wall Speedwell is a lifer
Today’s lunchtime walk was at Stone Farm CP, Sittingbourne. In sunshine but a strong cold breeze blowing I headed to the chalk stream. A pair of Mallard & 2 Coot were seen & a hidden Moorhen heard. Linnet, Wren & Cetti’s in the hedge. Blackcap & Chiffchaff heard. 2 & 7 spot Ladybird & a new sawfly
A late afternoon walk @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood.The wood at its best with Bluebell’s, Wood Amenone’s, Lesser Celadine, Violets, Primrose & now Ground Ivy in flower. 2 Blackcap were new, 5 Chiffchaff calling, the pair of Mallard still on the pond. Could only find 1 Early Purple Orchid
In the afternoon, as my wife had a Chiropractor appointment, I spent some time along the River Stour, around the St Radigunds car park area. 12 species noted with a possible Blackcap only making a brief call.
A late morning circular walk from Tyler Hill to Broad Oak. Canterbury. 23 bird species noted with 2 pairs of Mandarin Ducks a surprise. 4 Green-veined Whites & Lesser Periwinkle were new for the year. Good to revisit Sarre Penn and a section I’ve not been to before.