Thursday 5 May 2011

May 5th

On the entrance lane this morning I glimpsed a BUZZARD lifting off the hedge, it drifted towards Bull and Birches, by the time I got out of the car it had disappeared, but a nice start to the morning. In the car park 2 GOLDFINCH  and a GREENFINCH fed together on the ground and a young BLACKBIRD was being fed whilst sitting up in a Hornbeam. The BULLFINCH is evident most mornings, it called today but didn't give itself away for a photo. I also heard a CUCKOO singing from somewhere in Park Field, the first for a few days, 4 SWALLOWS are still hanging around the veg garden but no sign of the House Martins today. I stopped at the back of the gift shop to look into the garden by the priests house and a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (97) was calling and investigating the garden, a favoured spot for quite a few years now and usually where the first one turns up. 3 MALLARD were on the moat with a MOORHEN and a CHIFFCHAFF sang from the overhanging Oaks.
Distant Spot. Fly.



In the fields I didn't really add a lot today the NIGHTINGALE gave a couple of murmurs as if it really just wanted a rest from all that singing, a KESTREL drifted over the trees along the stream, 1 HERRING GULL flew north-east and a COLLARED DOVE headed west, there may be 1 pair here but they are not an everyday sighting for me. A scan across the valley produced a couple of STOCK DOVES, 8 GREYLAGS and a PIED WAGTAIL.

Sorry same Chaffinch keeps posing (must know I need help!)

7 comments:

Greenie said...

Alan ,
Well done with the Sp.Fly , and for getting a shot . Your goal is within touching distance now .

Phil said...

Spot fly, fantastic. First one i've heard of so far this year.

ShySongbird said...

Well done on the Spotty Fly Alan and on managing to photograph it.

Nice photo of the Blue Tit!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Greenie, Thanks, I wonder how long it will be before the 100 comes to fruition, I don't mind when but it's nice to think you can see 100 different species close to where you live.

Hi Phil, Thanks, I'm not sure if I've heard of another one yet in Kent.

Hi ShySongbird, Thanks, I didn't think I was going to get any photos at one point in the walk, as the Spot Fly was so far away for my lens, I didn't know if it would even be recognisable :-)

Bob Bushell said...

Nice one Alan, Spotted Flycatcher takes all the praise.

Warren Baker said...

Spot. Fly's are arriving thick and fast now Alan. Just 3 more species now for the ton, but what will they be ? :-)

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Bob, Thanks, It's great to them return!

Hi Warren, I see you have them at Pittswood too that's nice to hear them coming back in numbers.
3 species each 'til the 100 for us both who knows what they'll be, at least we'll both get there :-)