Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler

 With the weather very variable, this was an odd week. Several bees in the garden, especially on the cotoneaster, included Early Bumblebee, Orange-tailed and Grey-patched Mining bees and a Flower Spider lurking. There were also some Iris Weevil, Mononychus punctumalbum, on the irises.

Along the road into the ranges there were still lots of Yellow Vetch in flower, although the plants near the Obs had been over for a while. The highlight was an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler that James found on Sunday in the trapping area. It spent all day calling from the middle of the willows and only showed very poorly, mainly in flight.the perils of parking on shingle were illustrated by a coach that had managed to get stuck.

May 20th

 Very quiet in the garden and at the observatory. I spent a bit of time watching activity in the pond. There seem to be at least 8 Newts loafing around the waterlily stems and a pair of Large-red Damselflies spent time ovipositing. There was also a pair of Azure which seemed to prefer putting their eggs under the leaves. There are also lots of little black flies, maybe fungus gnats, zigging around the surface of the pond.

In the moth trap there have been a few nice moths, including Pebble Prominent, Light Brocade, Light Tussock and another Poplar Hawkmoth.

The nameplate for the hide has been purchased and installed on the Seawatch hide and we went out to the Kerton Road Pit to see if there were any waders about. It’s a nice, peaceful place to scan with a Mini train chugging by every now and then. There was a flock of Oystercatchers on the mud with a Ringed Plover, Godwits and a couple of Common terns.

Marden Meadow

 Following a check round the Obs and breakfast we decided to head over to Marden Meadow for an annual fix of Green-winged Orchids. There were several in the field near the car park but the main field was just covered by them, giving a purple haze although the grasses were quite high. There was also lots of Adder's Tongue Fern.

Walking along the hedge edge David caught a Mining Bee 

And later a bug

We admired what was left of the Wild service Tree by the pond, which is showing its age now. We also noticed a younger one around the other side. There was plenty of Adder’s Tongue Fern and the Dyer’s Greenweed was still in the far corner. 

Heading back we turned into Digdog Lane just after Frittenden and found a small pond full of Water Violets. 

We drove to the Kennardington Crossing looking for Turtle Doves. When we got there Dave (?) and his son were also parked up searching. We heard a Cuckoo and a White Stork flew up and circled, gaining height and drifting north-east. Shortly after a Red Kite circled through being mobbed by crows. 

A call from Dave Brown suggested we try Warehorne Bridge so we drove round there and were shown one on the wires. A cuckoo flew along the canal and briefly sat on the wires before heading away.

May 12th 2025

 Pottering round the garden I found an Azure Damselfly resting near the pond. The Large Red-banded Clearwing lure had brought in a very early Red-banded Clearwing, well as far as I could see, there was no red on the wings and the palps were white. The moth trap this week held a nice selection although the numbers aren't high, except for Treble Lines. I've had White Ermine, Lobster, Lunar Thorn, Poplar and Eyed Hawkmoths among the usual species. 

A walk along the Tenterden Lawns was very quiet but I did see a couple of Buff/White-tailed and Early Bumblebees and a Common Pug flew out of the grass and landed on a tree trunk.

News came through of a Whiskered Tern on the reserve so I headed down there and was lucky to be diverted to HAnson Hide, where it was sitting on a post. It sat there for a while before flying off backtowards the reserve, it was re-located later in the evening from Dengemarsh Hide.

More activity round the pond with a minium of 4 Large Red Damselflies as well as a pair on Azure. In the water there seem to be at least a dozen Newts floating around and hiding in the waterlily leaves.

 A visit to Wittersham Road Station recorded Soprano and Common Pipstrelles, Noctule and views of a Badger crossing the line in the thermal camera.

Breeding birds Pt 1

 Finally made it for the first BBS and started unreasonable sunshine. Blackcap, Whitethroat and Wren before hearing a Cuckoo and hearing, and seeing, a high flying Skylark. Started raining as I walked through the hop garden, using the trees as shelter.

Samphire Ho!

 Following breakfast and a chat with guests we decided to visit Samphire Ho! First stop Joy’s Pond. 

During a walk around the pond we found Pied Shieldbug, bee, Dock Bug, Green-veined White, an Amara beetle, Common Lizards and a caterpillar sunning itself on a board. There was lots of Ground Ivy, Green Alkanet and White Dead Nettle, but no forget-me-not Shieldbug.

We moved on to Samphire Ho! having to travel along the A20 at 40 mph for no apparent reason. It was quite busy but we managed to find a parking spot, payed the parking fee and walked down to the overflow car park where there were several Early Spider Orchids near the gateway to the footpath. 

A walk along the path gave several more, but nowhere near the numbers from a few years ago. We also found some Bright-eyes, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Wild Cabbage with Wall, Orange-tip and Small White butterflies along the edges. There are two goats installed on the Ho! which spent time grazing and lying around near the ponds.

On the return we called into the Lifeboat Station where we found Rock Soapwort, Rue-leaved saxifrage and Star of Bethlehem.

April 2025

 A nice few days with some good sightings. I saw my first Swallow during the week and then a few more over the weekend. Jacob found a Wryneck, which I managed to see the back end of as it flew over a bush. This was followed by a Blaxk-winged Stilt on the RSPB reserve, hayfield one and then a hoopoe on the Sunday, which I managed to see on the way to a short ‘do’ for Joey, Sean’s son. 

Iberian Chiffchaff

 A nice sunny day on Dungeness with the feel of spring in the air. The morning had started with an influx of Black Redstarts dotted around the area which we spent time looking at.

A radio call alerted us to the presence of an Iberian Chiffchaff in DB’s garden. We drove round and parked up, walked round the back of the house and there was a small group who showed us where to look. The bird was very active and spent most of it’s time flitting in and out off the trees and especially the euphorbia gleaning insects and giving some really good views.