5th June 2010

A new species for the patch in the form of a singing Sedge Warbler for one day only! A nice record nonetheless. This brings the total for the patch to 87.

I have not seen any migrating raptors this year, but most unusually had an enormous swarm of bees over the school fields on the 6th.

Garden moths are increasing in numbers and I had 58 moths of 28 species last night. Quite a few NFM's and lots of NFY's.

18th May 2010

I got up early today and went to Reculver; the highlights being at least three Cuckoos, lots of Sedge and Reed Warbler and a singing Corn Bunting.

Then on to Grove Ferry. By 0930 I hadf four Hobbys up above the main lake. A Kingfisher sat up on the new pond dipping platform for a while and a Turtle Dove was purring in the woods.

Then back up to Oare. Two Little Terns flew up the Swale, 200+ Blackwits on the East flood, two Hobbys over the West flood and superb views of three Bearded Tits behind the seawall hide.

Over the fields this evening back at home, Swallow, House Martin and Swift. This brings the patch list to 65 for the year.

1st May 2010

I heard the first Lesser Whitethroat singing today, in the usual spot from previous years along the hedgeline/trees at the back of the school field.

This takes the year list for the area to 63.

3rd April 2010

I haven't posted for a while, but here are the recent updates:

3rd April 2010:

Egyptian Goose - 2 on trout lake.
Canada Goose - 5 on trout lake.
Tufted Duck - 3 on trout lake (2m 1f).
Greylag Goose - 10 on trout lake.
Coot - 9 on trout lake.

Willow Warbler - 1 in the woods to the front of the tout lake (1st of the year heard yesterday).
Chiffchaff - A few calling in the woods.
Blackcap - 1st of the year in the copse of trees near the rail ditch 100m in from the end of George Lane.

I've only picked up two birds for my UK life list this year. 235 - Caspian Gull at Rainham and 236 - Penduline Tit at Dungeness RSPB, where I also saw a cuckoo come in off the sea (possibly the first for Kent this year).

Total Patch List - 86
Patch List 2010 - 59

9th January 2010

I've haven't updated this for ages, but have been out a couple of times in the new year. Firstly, I will summarise 2009:

Total Year list for the local patch in 2009 - 73.
Total species over all years until the end of 2009 - 84.

Today I went for a walk in the snow and it was bitterly cold. Species of note:

Water Rail - 1 in the algae ditch 100m east of the end of George Lane. A first for the patch!
Grey Wagtail - 1 flew from the area of the algae ditch towards the primary school. Another first!
Canada Goose - 25 in the corner of the field around the pheasant feeders.
BH Gull - Lots around the small amount of water on the otherwise frozen trout lake. Also Common Gull there and two little grebes.

Total Patch list: 86
Total for 2010: 36
Total for today: 32

15th October 2009

I went over to Staines today and caught up with the BROWN SHRIKE - a real mega.

Today round the patch from 1600 - 1700:

Egyptian Goose - 1 back on the trout lake
Cormorant - 1 on the side of the trout lake
Nuthatch - 1 down in the trees by the farm

Total Patch list: 84
Year Patch List: 73
Today: 22
Total year list: 172 (last bird was today's Shrike)

4th July 2009

A morning walk in the heat from 0950 - 1050:

Lesser Whitethroat - 2 singing. One along warbler headge, the other towards the horse paddocks.
Whitethroat - 2 singing along warbler hedge.
Blackcap - 4.
Chiffchaff - 1.
Greylag Goose - 10.
Canada Goose - 4.
No sign of the Mandarin with young.
Herring Gull - 1 high over.

Total species today - 29.
Total species for 2009 - 73.
Patch list 84.

Butterflies:
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Marbled White
Small Copper
Large White