Cool and Bright

It was a nice start to the day as I looked out of the window this morning, I didn't realise quite how cold it was though! So with fleece and scarf on (I know I'm a wimp!) I set off. The song of a BLACKCAP greeted me as I got out of the car and a few CHAFFINCHES called, wandering up to the top of the car park a few BLUE TITS gave away the presence of a large female SPARROWHAWK, that drifted north, I could hear CANADA GEESE, BULLFINCH and at least 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS as I left the car park. I didn't add a lot as I made my way to the lake but at the lake the COOT was still present and the Canada Geese were there as well as the GREYLAG sitting on the nest.

Reed Bunting

Coot

Canada Goose

The REED BUNTING was still singing well from the island, I haven't noticed a female here yet whereas the other territories have certainly had females in the vicinity. Another lone WILLOW WARBLER sang from a Silver Birch by the lake. The wood had most of the usual suspects apart from Marsh Tit and I kept an ear out for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers as Stephen had possibly recorded 4 individuals over the weekend!

Mallard

Greenfinch

Chiffchaff

Once out in the open a MEADOW PIPIT flew north and I only heard 1 SKYLARK this morning but it did feel much windier out here. Despite the wind though, the NIGHTINGALE was actually singing a bit more than yesterday, and as I finished up I heard a SWALLOW go over again heading north.

8th-11th April

On Friday, there were 350 moths in the traps of 27 species probably the most so far this year, the best find was the first Great Prominent of the year. Because there were so many moths the walk was shorter than usual. Walking the fields several CHIFFCHAFFS and BLACKCAPS could be heard and 4 JAYS flew towards the newly planted orchard, SKYLARKS again filled the airwaves, the best bird of the morning was a COMMON WHITETHROAT (84). Other birds included LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, COMMON GULL, BULLFINCH as well as good numbers of GOLDFINCH, LINNET and HOUSE SPARROWS.

Saturday morning was the first of 3 guided walks this spring, 18 people came at 5.30am and we spent until around 11.30am walking the fields and the woods, with breakfast around 8.30am. We saw 43 species on a beautiful morning, I was hoping for a few new migrants maybe a Cuckoo (Pete the Warden had one Thursday evening) or a Nightingale, unfortunately we struggled to find many migrants but BLACKCAPS were absolutely everywhere and the years first COOT (85) was found. 2 MARSH TITS showed well and while we watched them 2 GOLDCRESTS landed almost directly above our heads. We had great views of a pair of BUZZARDS and great views of a nice male YELLOWHAMMER. We also had 4 butterfly species and several Bee Flies. Stephen saw the Peregrine again over the wood during morning.
After an early start Saturday, I had a lay in on Sunday, lazy I know! and arrived at the castle at around 8am, during the morning 3 male REED BUNTINGS sang and the COOT was still on the lake with 2 GREYLAGS, I watched a female CHAFFINCH gathering what looked like spiders webs, then disappearing into a holly hedge.

Chaffinch collecting Spiders webs

'Is that nest ready yet?'

2 KESTRELS flew together and briefly and tussled for a few seconds, I managed a few MARSH TITS later and the first COMMON SNIPE for sometime.
This morning we were back on moths it was a cool night and a little windy so it was fairly uneventful probably around 5 Lunar Marbled Browns were the highlight. So another shortened walk meant I stuck to the fields, I was joined briefly by an old friend Ian who I've known since primary school! We had a nice view of a CHIFFCHAFF and Ian had heard Nightingale and Garden Warbler. I had a WILLOW WARBLER, which sang from near the barn also 12 LINNETS flew over there. I continued round the fields and heard a short burst of song from the NIGHTINGALE (86) but couldn't locate the Garden Warbler. Another REED BUNTING sang from the hedge and the COMMON WHITETHROAT was singing from well within a blackthorn. Several WRENS sang from the top of hedges nicely out in the open mainly when the battery had gone on the camera!! I think the pictures on this post look a bit better if you click on them, I still need lots of practice!

The Kestrel was seen at work again

The morning after

After a long search yesterday, it was back to it this morning, although I forgot to mention a couple of things from yesterday, there were good numbers of butterflies of 6 species the most numerous being Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone with at least 5or 6 of each. Also there were 2 Little Owls just behind the veg garden.
Back to today, I decided against moths today and concentrate on birds, there were 5 new moths for this year though, which means I've lost track of the total so far! I'll check with Steve Broyd but it's over 40 species.
My first stop, next to the old orchard on the entrance lane, gave me great views of a male REED BUNTING and I could hear a BLACKCAP nearby, also here, the first of several MEADOW PIPITS flew north, needless to say there was no sign of the Hoopoe. My next stop was the car park and the field above it (sort of above!), a CORMORANT went high east and a SPARROWHAWK displayed over the wood, otherwise I could hear NUTHATCH, MISTLE THRUSH and several WRENS and a SKYLARK was high above me as I looked towards Hemsted Forest.

Heading into the woods via the lake, I added several LINNET, 2 JAYS, 3 MALLARD in the sheep field and a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Next to the lake a newly arrived WILLOW WARBLER was singing and the GREYLAGS were joined by 2 CANADA GEESE. I finished the walk by heading back to the entrance road then back across Park Field, a YELLOWHAMMER sang from a hedge by the lane a BULLFINCH called from the edge of the wood, finally 1 COMMON GULL drifted south, so still no Hoopoe, Stephen was out looking as well this morning but the phone didn't ring!!

One of yesterdays Wheatears

The Wood Anemones look great at the moment.

Evening of the 5th and Gripped again!!

Yesterday evening I dropped in for another short visit, it was pretty quiet, dark and dreary really. I did see several LINNETS and a few YELLOWHAMMERS. I managed to find 3 BUZZARDS almost directly over the castle but the highlight was my first SWALLOW  (82) of the year.

This morning was a completely different 'kettle of fish', what a nice start. I was meeting Alex (assistant warden) to walk with him and try to pick out a few migrants maybe, I was there early and went to see Steve recording the moths, he had just found a new site addition in the shape of a Blossom Underwing (might be a pic tomorrow). I heard TREECREEPER singing and a COMMON GULL was over the ploughed fields, I met up with Alex and we added LINNET, NUTHATCH, GOLDFINCH and a newly arrived WILLOW WARBLER, the first of 3 today. By the lake there was the singing REED BUNTING and a GREYLAG GOOSE was on the lake, the Greylag now with  the female on the nest, before we got much further the mobile went off and Stephen had just seen the HOOPOE again flying over a hedge towards the Park Field!! It took a few minutes to get to the spot where Stephen was looking but the bird had disappeared!! I now had a slight problem half an hour before I had to leave for work. I had a lieu day owing, so decision made, we searched, with the help of Steve Broyd, for an hour or so but to no avail, we added 2 SWALLOWS whilst looking then Stephen left around 11 ish in the end after adding TREE PIPIT, which flew over with the many MEADOW PIPITS that went over this morning, we also upto 7 BUZZARDS and a couple of SPARROWHAWKS and at least 1 KESTREL. I heard another CROSSBILL whilst with Steve Broyd and later a couple of SISKIN.
I stayed until around 2.30 joined by my Dad for the last couple of hours. We did a fairly long walk right round the estate, our undoubted highlight were 3 WHEATEAR (83), in an emerging wheat field, overall there was alot going on today, the Hoopoe stayed elusive, Stephen counted 115 STOCK DOVES late this afternoon, a site record and probably not great news for the farmer in his newly planted fields!! Looks like an early start tomorrow!!

Trying out the camera still.

April 5th

A really fleeting visit this morning, I arrived at 7.10am and left at 7.30am but still it was reasonably busy considering there was quite a cool wind and a little light drizzle. There were 2 BULLFINCHES in one of the middle hedges in the car park and as if to confirm the very slightly wintery feel 2 FIELDFARES flew south west. I could hear both CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP as I walked to have a look where the Hoopoe had been, with shoulders drooped!! I could hear MANDARINS calling, possibly from the Park Field or over the wood. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was in trees close to the veg garden and I added House Sparrow and Starling as I left the car park. A look across the valley produced STOCK DOVE, 2 GOLDFINCH, 2 HERRING GULLS again flying south west. A SONG THRUSH was in the bottom of a nearby hedge and the ploughed and planted fields held in excess of 150 Corvids. As I drove back to the main road a YELLOWHAMMER took off from a hedge bordering the Park Field.

Mothers Day miss!!

Yesterday morning, I headed out and got to the castle around 7 ish, I had missed the checking of the first moth trap but we looked through the second one and found 4 year ticks Lesser Swallow Prominent (my first Swallow of the year!), Red Green Carpet, Powdered Quaker and Lunar Marbled Brown, I missed Pale Pinion and Dark Chestnut on Saturday, so the list now stands at 35 for the year.

While recording the moths a LITTLE OWL called and 2 Canada Geese flew over. I was trying out my new (second hand) camera for the first time today, obviously not having read any instructions! the results were mixed so the photos on this post were taken with it, I don't think you'll tell the difference they're still a bit iffy! Although it does seems to be attracted to Blue Tits!
On the lakes there were the 3 Greylags looking more and more at home as time goes on, the male REED BUNTING was again singing on the top island and BLACKCAPS were everywhere, Stephen had 7 on Saturday plus a Swallow and there were still at least 6 around yesterday. In the woods I watched a COAL TIT collecting nesting material and found 3 TREECREEPERS, 5 MARSH TITS and NUTHATCHES were calling non-stop, I reached a recently cleared area just as a SPARROWHAWK drifted over, it started calling and landed in a tree just out of sight. Reaching a more established glade in the wood, Blue Tits were busy, as were a pair of Chaffinches and there was lots of noise, among the noise was a WILLOW WARBLER  (80) singing, fingers crossed that it stays and attracts a mate.



Blue Tit

 Out in the fields, I found another REED BUNTING singing well with a nearby YELLOWHAMMER sharing the hedge, 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS flew north and several GREY HERONS were commuting to and fro', I didn't see many BULLFINCHES but heard them fairly regularly throughout the walk. I left for home happy with my morning.

Pied Wagtail

A little later, as I drove for lunch with my Mother-in-Law, I got a phone call from Stephen around 12 o'clock, it transpired that he was looking for raptors coming in from the south and caught a movement in the corner of his eye as he turned a HOOPOE was flying about 15 ft above the ground passed him towards the newly planted orchard, he managed to catch up with the bird as it perched in an Oak tree for a few seconds before it disappeared towards Frittenden, so far, never to be seen again!! A fantastic bird and new for the site taking the total to 141, even if I wasn't having lunch (and it was a nice lunch), there wasn't much chance of me catching up with it but I love the fact you just never know!!

Another Blue Tit

APRIL 4th

Surprisingly I gave the moths a miss this morning! and checked out the places the Hoopoe had been and where it might be, but to no avail. There were a few things around though, a couple several BLACKCAPS still sung by the lake, with a female following the singing male around. 2 YELLOWHAMMERS flew over Park Field as did 2 REDPOLL and another year tick 3 CROSSBILLS (81), I think I've only had Crossbills landed at the Castle twice but it's nice to hear them call and they weren't very high as they flew over.
In the freshly turned fields there were 9 STOCK DOVES and many Corvids, I also took some time watching Blue Tits displaying, doing their parachute type flights between the branches.

Blue Tit!!

Moths and Birds, No Fooling!!

It was back to the moth traps again for Steve, Pete and myself this morning and another 2 new species for the year! Streamer and Double Striped Pug, when I said no fooling, I actually was fooled by the Streamer, initially mis-identifying it, my only defence is that I am trying to identify things without a book at the moment to see what I learnt from last year!! ( the book will be out again soon!) Numbers weren't huge but 12 species were found this morning. Once again while the moths were being recorded, I had a flyover Redpoll.

Streamer

Diurnea Fagella (a common micro moth, March to May)

 It was pretty grey this morning and the wind was a bit gusty. My visit consisted only of going to the lakes and back, there was a nice charm of 7 Goldfinches at the back of the shop and once again Chiffchaff numbers were high, I heard at least 6 from just round the lakes, I think they will thin out a bit as the month goes on.

 Two Stock Doves flew out of their favourite oak and 3 Grey Herons flew across the fields and over the lake. There was a Blackcap back at the lake and both Nuthatch and Treecreeper were heard. A single Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over and 2 Jays came up from the over grown island on the top lake, where there was also a singing Reed Bunting for the first time this year, as before they have all been in the hedgerows. A Goldcrest and Long Tailed Tit shared the shelter of a Honeysuckle. Once again it was a nice walk and 33 species in around 45 minutes was pleasing.