Derek Smith

a Black Redstart was an unexpected visitor to the Sellindge garden late afternoon today, new for the garden list.

11.07.2025 19:38 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I saw at least 30 Marc, but there will have been many many more as I only walked along a short stretch of the stream where they were flying up to the alders from the vegetation. I can make a better effort to count them next time I’m there probably at the weekend.

25.06.2025 16:44 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Some dragonflies and damselflies from around the Sellindge area in the warm sun this week with large numbers of recently emerged willow emeralds today @marcheath.bsky.social

25.06.2025 16:23 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1

A few lovely orchids seen in east Kent this morning. A small area of beech trees with many beautiful white helleborines was quite something to see in the dull light.

30.05.2025 17:58 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The amazing fly orchid in Kent today always brings a smile; also lady orchids, twayblades and so many orchid wonderful spring flowers.

24.04.2025 16:09 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

It was a beautiful morning around Shuart with the sound of sedge warblers and whitethroats singing all over the marsh, and my first cuckoo this year was lovely to hear.

17.04.2025 16:04 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Some recent additions to the Sellindge local ‘patch’ year list, all seen at Cock Ash Lake

14.03.2025 11:36 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A lovely walk at Minnis Bay this morning with the usual winter waders, 40+ g c grebes on the sea, hundreds of Brent geese and an obliging rock pipit.

10.01.2025 13:40 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A grey heron on a grey morning from a local walk around the Sellindge area. Also c35 siskins, 18 redwings, a grey wagtail, nuthatch and treecreeper at Horton Priory

08.01.2025 11:52 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A short walk from Shuart this morning (still shaking off a rotten cold) a couple of brambling and a white-fronted goose with the local greylags were the best bits.

04.01.2025 13:52 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Good luck Marc I hope you have a good year at the Downs, it will be interesting to see what you find there.

03.01.2025 14:00 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

A lovely Christmas Eve walk around the Shuart area and the 4 snow buntings landed right beside me on the beach at Plumpudding which was a real treat.

24.12.2024 14:51 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A local walk around Sellindge this morning over 40 species seen/heard, best bits were a red kite, 4 buzzards, a sparrowhawk, c30 siskins, 6+ yellowhammers, c60 fieldfares, c80 redwings, a little grebe and 6 tufted duck on cock ash lake.

15.12.2024 11:18 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

This kestrel dropped into the garden and enjoyed a bit of a splash in the pond then took a rest in the Kilmarnock Willow

19.11.2024 21:30 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0