An afternoon walk at an overcast and windy Sharstad Wood, Doddington. The Wood Anemones are now in full flower. Most of the 9 bird species recorded were heard. The Merlin app noted Treecreeper & Firecrest that I will check. #kentbirding #kentnature
#kentnature, #kentbirding
Attended the 1st wildlife survey of the year @ Milton Creek CP, Sittingbourne. A LBBG was a yt, good to hear at least 2 Greenfinch. Garden Bumblebee, Tawny & Early Mining Bee year ticks. An interesting Carder to be ID’d. 10-spot & Kidney Ladybirds also year-ticks along with Mottled Shield bug.
“Once well-fed, most retreat to astroturf behind double fencing. Clever gulls- artificial grass, real peace, feathers and poo.”. Which is fine, apart from hockey pitches!
#kentbirding #kentnature
A warm but windy visit to a still damp @kentwildlife.bsky.social Ashford Warren & Hoades Wood. Plenty of birds in song. A Coal Tit flitting through a Silver Birch was a year tick. One possibility 2 Stock Doves in the wood. Possible Treecreeper & Firecrest heard. Merlin app picked up a Siskin flock.
#kentnature #kentbirding
A sunny but windy visit to @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood this lunchtime. A pair of Mallard on the pond, Brimstone (yt), Peacock, at least 3 & a Comma on the wing. First Bluebells flowering & a new moss I believe for me. Most bird activity by the pump house with Blue Tit, Chaffinch & Robin
#kentbirding #kentnature
Back to the heathland plot again today under overcast conditions. Again a Greenfinch was one of the first birds heard, Merlin picked up contact calls which I’m not completely confident with. Few insects about today but year tick with an Early Colletes & found a Vestal bumblebee tucked up in Gorse.
Sad news.
#kentbirding #kentnature
An afternoon walk between Teston & Wateringbury. A Yellowhammer calling in a paddock at Wateringbury, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Marsh Marigold at Wargraves Wood, which was carpeted with Ransom, & Cuckooflower were year ticks. Plenty of birdsong, particularly Great Tit, Robin & Wren.
#kentbirding #kentnature
Another warm sunny day, so headed back to the heathland plot @ Eureka Park, Ashford. Greenfinch again heard whezzying, Blue, Great & LT Tits recorded, along with Magpie, Dunnock, Robin & Blackbird, most only heard. Sparrowhawk over was a year and probably patch tick. A probable lifer hoverfly.
#kentbirding #kentnature
A lunchtime wander around a sunny & drying @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers. 4 male Chaffinches around the pump house, 4 Robins & 2 Chiffchaff seen or heard. A Buzzard circled overhead. Disturbed around 10 Bumblebees, the only Tree Bumblebee allowed a photo. Clarke’s Mining Bee is also a yeartick
To top off the day, I also photographed a Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee & the fungi seems to be A Mountain Brownie, a member of the Psilocybe family aka Magic Mushrooms. #kentnature
#kentnature #kentbirding
As the sun was out, I headed to the heathland plot at Eureka Park. The first bird I heard was a Greenfinch. Soon after at least one Linnet called as it flew over. Every patch of Gorse had a couple of 7-spot Ladybirds . Also added Pine Ladybird, Common Carder & Gorse Shield-bug to the year list.
A day of year ticks. The Med Gull I posted about this morning. Then on the way to work a Red-legged Partridge at Wichling, Doddington. As I was setting off for my lunchtime wander, a Chiffchaff was calling from the site boundary.
First Med Gull of the year heard calling over the house. #kentbirding #kentnature
#kentnature #kentbirding
As we were in the area, we briefly stopped at Godmersham. In the murk and drizzle we heard & saw Blue & Great Tit, Wren, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon & Wren. On the river were Mallard, Coot & a Little Egret on the riverbank. 3 Red Kite flying through were a year tick.
Thank you. When would be the best months to check for adults please? It would give the Country Park Warden more information.
Thank you for the reply. I will add it to Irecord
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The undoubted highlight of a cold and damp wander around Mintching & Kingsdown Woods, Sittingbourne were a pair of Bullfinches (yt) spotted near the start of the walk. Other than that Wren x3, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Skylark & Buzzard heard with 5 Jackdaw flying over were noted.
Looking back the photo’s might have another lifer. A Black-lace Weaver or so the apps say.
#kentnature #kentbirding
