Friday 26 April 2013

Expections


Saturday dawned clear and with a high expectation of the possibility of migration. The drive across the marsh was lovely but very quiet.

Tuesday. The drive down to dungeness was very pleasant but only saw 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Marsh Harrier. Not a lot of activity but news of a Pied Flycatcher up the top Long Pits had us stomping up through the trapping area, where we saw Peacock and Comma butterflies, a few Willow Warblers and Chiffs with singing Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat as we went. The flycatcher was Ian sheltered area half way up the top long pit and gave great views as it moved up and down the bushes, dropping onto the ground every now and then.



Friday 19 April 2013

Spring days

On Thursday a message came through that the Alpine Swift, found yesterday, had been re-found by PT over Lade. Sorting out my work and working through my lunch hour I managed to leave at about 3.30 and was watching it flying on the wind gusts over the caravan park. It was accompanied by 3 common swifts and a House Martin.  The drive home had several swallows hawking and a gang of about 8 sitting on a wire.
A walk round the garden this morning to check the flowers and plants really showed that spring was. truly here. The Daffs have been out for a while but some of the later ones are still to come, the violets have suddenly burst into life and the primrose clumps are stunning. Hopefully the herpatica  will flower but it's only got as far as some small buds and the asarabaca is trying hard. The best flowers this year so far are the widow iris, which were very poor last year but are lovely this year.
Still no chiff chaffs but a sparrow hawk circled over this morning.
The moth trap held a few more moths than lately with Early Grey, Common Quaker,
Hebrew Character and Early Thorn as well as Double-striped Pug.

Monday 15 April 2013

Spring Woods

The moth trap held 9 moths this morning, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Early Grey, Clouded Drab and a Brindled Pug.
It was a lovely walk this morning in Park Wood, hardly needing a coat and definately less layers. We heard at least 5, and saw a probable, nightingale. There were also a couple of chiffs calling and a great Spot gave a short chip. Also heard my first blackcaps singing. The nightingales were mostly in the centre bit with very little in the other parts of the wood although I did find a long-tailed tit by the carpark.
The entrance was dotted with primroses and the woodland floor was carpeted with wood anemones. There are also thousands of bluebells with one very early bluebell flower at the back of the wood.


 

Sunday 14 April 2013

Spring is REALLY here

A grey start to the day slowly gave way to some sun and the temperature began to climb - 68F at 3.00pm. In the garden the daffs are in full bloom, there are some violets beginning to show and we also have a couple of anemones.
2 small tortoishell butterflies tumbled above the heather and bumble bees and other, smaller ones visited the heather flowers, collecting nectar.
The fritillaries are nearly in bloom, most of them seem to have survived in the damp shade of the conifers, but the lemon-peel clematis seems to have succumbed to the cold, snowy winter. The other clematis and hop plants are all shooting and the camellia is on the brink.
Because of them rain and cold last night the moth trap didn't go out, following 2 nights of minimal catches with Hebrew character, Small and Common Quaker and a Clouded Drab the sum total. Hopefully better luck tonight.