Twitching a Thrush

Late news on Friday night about a Dusky Thrush inMargate cemetery meant an early morning start. A drive down to Dungeness to pick up DW, TG and MC and we were off. Just as we were driving along towards Hammond's Corner and a phone call from SC meant a short diversion into New Romney.
Arriving at the cemetery, we parked on the side of the road and walked the short distance in. The thrush had been seen well during the early morning but was now hiding in some trees, which is more or less where it stayed for most of the morning giving occasional views as it hopped about or sat preening. It did fly around the tree tops for short while but there were so many people about it was unlikely to come down. It was very frustrating to nearly always be in the wrong place and photographs were almost impossible so it was doubly disappointing to see some if the excellent pictures on the web.




As the bird disappeared around lunch time it was decided to leave as there was a female red-backed shrike on the RSPB reserve.
We stopped off at Samphire Ho to look at the Early Spider or hides before going back to the obs for a cup of tea. We then drove round to find the shrike which was showing well in the brambles along the trail between Christmas Dell and Denge Marsh hides. A Hobby was on one of the posts across the fields and 5 whimbrel flew over, calling.








Early Spider orchids, Samphire Ho!




White throat gathering nest material








Red-backed shrike, Dungeness
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Bluethroat

A call around lunchtime had me reaching for the car keys, a coat, socks and shoes and camera. Patrick had found a bluethroat on the concrete road out by the boats. A slightly stressed drive behind slow cars, tractor and I was driving down the road towards the group standing on the shingle. The bird was out of sight grubbing around in the bottom of a clump of valerian so I walked round to the otherside where it was more visible. It then worked it's way along the concrete road back towards the group giving great views but a little distant for photographs.
After flying towards the fishing boats, it was re- located near the red and cream house where it fed around the garden for about half an hour before flying on towards the fishing boats. It spent the next two or three hours hopping back and forth around the containers and boats giving great views.
News of its possible demise from a sparrow hawk is very sad but hopefully erroneous.



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Nightingales

ABWC visited Park Wood for the annual nightingale walk. The wood was lovely if a bit quiet but at least 6 nightingales were heard, with blackcap, garden warbler, nuthatch and treecreeper. A lovely walk.


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Wayland Wood

With the wind still gusting and the sun playing peek-a-boo with the clouds we decided to walk round Wayland Wood, a small Kent reserve not far from here. The parking space is a bit tight and the ground was quite squishy but improved as we walked into the field along the footpath.
The trees and shrubs are really bursting their leaves and the bluebells were everywhere, scenting the air. A few milkmaids and primroses were scattered about but not much else. A few blue tits, chaffinch and a chiff chaff were singing but very little else.
On the return to the road we found some cyclamen, probably garden escapes, just before stepping through the kissing gate.








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Spring. At last.

We went for a walk along the old railway line and into Turner's Field. The weather was warm but a slightly sneaky wind kept it cool. The early spring flowers a really bursting forth. We found Early Purple Orchid, Stitchwort, primroses, bluebells, including some white ones, Hedge Garlic, dandelions and opposite-leaved saxifrage. Several Orange-tip butterflies were about and we watched 2 Blackcaps holding a singing contest.

















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May Weekend

The bank holiday weekend is traditionally a good time for migrants of all kinds. An early start for Dungeness on a lovely morning with the sun shining and blue skies promised a nice day. The road across the marsh was quiet except for 2 yellow wagtails. At the obs the boys were out and about and the nets were up. Through the morning only a few birds were caught! It was so quiet that we decided to go go and buy some plants for the pots from Hamstreet Garden Centre.
Sunday morning was warm and sunny and a couple of orange tip butterflies flittered through the garden. After lunch we went to Park Wood via Moor lane. We saw 3 buzzards, more Orange-tips but no Red Kites. 5/6 nightingales singing and about 3 Chiff chaffs with a Song Thrush in the distance. 2 Peacocks sunned themselves and the bluebells are turning the woodland floor blue. With the Wood-anemones and celandines,  a very colourful walk.

Monday was very misty all the way down to Dungenss and this persisted until about 11.30. Saw very little and only 2 birds in the nets.
Another early start and I was down the Seawatch hide but missed all the Poms and only saw a distant Arctic skua.
 

End of April

This last week of April maintains the cold, windy spell. The school Bluetits have built a nest but don't seem to be in much of a hurry to lay any eggs. Saturday was again quiet, with little on the sea and not a lot on land. The early purple orchids are beginning to show some colour and early forget-me-not covers the moat.
In the moth trap has only held 12 species fit the month, mostly Hebrew Characters, Small & Common Quakers and a few Early Thorns and Early Greys.
A drive out to Park Wood on Sunday, via Moor lane found only 2 Nightingales, at the far end of the wood and 1 singing chiff chaff. Walking back along a different path gave a real surprise with a Tawny Owl sitting out next to a squirrel drey. The flowers are really coming on with wood anemones and primroses throughout and bluebells beginning to paint the ground blue.