June 30th.

During the past week or more I have had a number of Juvenile Goldfinches on the feeders in the garden.

This morning a Little Egret flew south over Abbey Mead and (1) Pochard was present with (20) Tufted Duck on the Streamside lake.

June 29th (New Hythe)

I was up early this morning (04:30) to go ringing at New Hythe.I had two nets up by 05:15 and was finished by 08:30 just before the first of the many dog walkers appeared.

Birds ringed Nightingale (1 juv) Blue Tit (1 juv) Lesser Whitethroat (1 juv) Chiffchaff (2 juv) Common Whitethroat (2 adult) (4 juv) Reed Warbler (1 adult) Dunnock (3 Juv) Robin (1 juv) Great Tit (1 juv) and Cetti`s Warbler (1 juv).

Many birds were seen to avoid the nets due to the very sunny conditions.

Other birds I noted were (2) Green Woodpeckers (1) Kestral (1) Willow Warbler (singing) L T Tits and (1) Reed Bunting (singing,west scrub).

I was surprised when I caught the above juvenile Cetti`s Warbler in the east scrub,I usually find the species in the nets in the west scrub.

This above juvenile Lesser Whitethroat was the only one of its species seen this morning.

Several adult Nightingales were seen in the area.

I photographed the Pyramidal orchid on the edge of the west scrub area.

June 27th (Garden)

There was up to six adult Goldfinch and (2) juveniles in the garden today and a nice Comma butterfly.

PAST TIMES (JUNE 1982)

WADERS Lapwing (returning birds) 50 Burham marsh 21st,L R Plover 2 still about Abbey Mead.COMMON TERN 2 seen at New Hythe 15th,16th and 26th.CUCKOO 4 New Hythe 21st.NIGHTINGALE (new site) 1 pair in the Brook House area.YELLOW WAGTAIL 3 pairs feeding young Abbey Mead 12th.

The Sunken marsh has been good with 2 pairs of Lapwing,1 pair of Redshank and 1 pair of Yellow Wagtails.

June 23rd (New Hythe)

During my walk this morning I came across four families of Nightingales,the pair in the photo`s were feeding young in the nest.

June 21st (Dungeness)

I went to Dungeness this morning with Bob Bland.Although it was the longest day,it was more like the first day of autumn,overcast and windy.

We were both hoping the Squacco Heron would still be around but apparently it was last seen on the 19th.A short sea watch produced a few Gannets passing west and over the patch (outflow) we saw just 4 Common Terns,2 Common Gulls,B H Gulls,G B B Gulls and Herring Gulls.There was no sign of the summering Glaucous Gull,although we didn`t go round to the fishing boats where it spends a lot of its time.We did however see the Great White Egret which is back on the Dengemarsh pits.

The pits are looking good at the moment with lots of exposed islands,which bodes well for next months returning waders.

Other birds that we saw in the area included 1 Goosander ( a very unusual June record),2 Marsh Harries,5 L R Plovers,4 Ringed Plovers,4 Lapwing,5 Dunlin,2 Redshank,8 Oystercatchers including 2 pairs with young,Pochard,Tufted Duck,Shoveler,Mallard,Gadwall,1 booming Bittern, 4 Little Egrets,3 Sandwich Terns,1 Hobby,2 Kestrals,1 calling Cuckoo,1 Black Redstart,Linnet,Cetti`s Warbler,Common Swifts,Sand Martin,House Martin and numerous Common Whitethroats.

June 20th (New Hythe)

This morning I looked at the Sunken marsh and river.Birds that I saw included 4 Shelduck,2 Mute Swans,6 Canada Geese,1 G B B Gull,2 L B B Gulls,10 B H Gulls,8 Mallard (including 1 brood) and 6 juvenile Grey Herons along the river.A calling Cuckoo and 1 Turtle Dove in the Sunken marsh and 1 Common Tern over Abbey Mead,about 40+ Common Swifts were feeding high over the valley.

I heard song from Song Thrush,Lesser Whitethroat,Reed Warbler,Chiffchaff and Blackcap,2 family parties of Nightingale were heard.At this time of the year both Brookland lake and Abbey Mead are very quite usually with just a few pairs of Coot,Great Crested Grebes,Tufted Duck and Mute Swans being present.

June 16th (Halling Common)

I managed to get in a forty five minute walk on Halling Common this morning before the rain started,the river was low.Birds that I saw were 1 Little Egret,3 Mute Swans,3 Cormorants,2 Grey Herons,3 Carrion Crows,4 Magpies,8 Wood Pigeon,2 Collared Dove,2 Blackbirds,4 Greenfinch,3 Linnets,1 Skylark,1 Blue Tit,1 Great Tit,50+ B H Gulls,6 Herring Gulls,2 L B B Gulls,1 G B B Gull,3 Oystercatchers,6 House Sparrows,3 Mallard,25 Starlings and 1 Song Thrush.

Yesterday (15th) I had 1 Hobby and 1 Common Tern at Brookland lake.

June 15th.

Our resident male Blackbird had a narrow escape about two weeks ago.Jeanette and I had seen him being carried off by a cat into some bushes at the end the end of our garden,naturally we thought that was the end of him.However on Monday much to our delight he turned up,but the cat had left its mark.He has damaged right wing and his right leg is almost useless.

June 14th.

I spent the early morning ringing at Holborough and caught 4 Reed Warblers,1 Chiffchaff (juvenile) 1 Reed Bunting,1 Blue Tit,1 Garden Warbler and 1 Nightingale.

A Water Rail was heard calling from the main reed bed and a male and female Cuckoo seen.

A pair of House Sparrows which have a nest in one of our boxes in the garden are now on their second brood.The Blackbird pair though were again unsuccessful,the female built at least four nests and deserted them all,just like last year (cats!).

June 12th.

This morning as well as the Sunken marsh Turtle Dove,I also heard a second bird in the NW corner of Abbey Mead.

June 11th (Holborough marsh)

This morning I walked around Holborough marsh and noted amongst others (8.30-9.45) 4 Nightingales ( one of which was collecting food) 2 Chiffchaffs,2 Song Thrush,1 Green Woodpecker,6 Mute Swans,1 Cuckoo,2 Common Whitethroaat,1 Cetti`s Warbler,10 Reed Warbler,4 Reed Buntings,4 Lesser Whitethroats,30 Common Swifts,1 Swallow,1 House Martin,1 Pheasant,2 Chaffinch,6 Greenfinch,2 Turtle Doves and 2 Little Egrets.

On the scrape (northern meadow) I saw a Moorhen and Coot family,1 Grey Heron,3 Mallard and 1 Lapwing.

June 10th (New Hythe)

This morning with light rain falling I walked out to the river and partway around the Sunken marsh 10.am-11.am birds I noted amongst others were 1 Turtle Dove,1 Hobby,1 Linnet,2 Reed Buntings,7 Canada Geese,6 Mallard,1 Nightingale,2 Cetti`s Warblers and 2 Oystercatchers.

The Common Tern was seen on Brookland lake again.

June 3rd (Garden)

The number of Goldfinches coming into our garden has now fallen to just two.

Its not often that we get to see a Hummingbird in the garden . . . . . oops! I mean Hummingbird hawk moth.

June 2nd (New Hythe)

I walked around the Sunken marsh again this morning and noted amongst others 1 ad 1 juv Linnet,1 ad 1 juv Pheasant,1 Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo.While I was there I saw the Oystercatcher fly over towards Eccles again,it may possibly be going either to the reservoir at Eccles or one of the sand-pits at Aylesford.

The Common Tern was seen again on Brookland lake.

June 1st.

I was ringing at Holborough this morning and caught,2 juv Blue Tits,1 juv Reed Bunting and 8 ad Reed Warblers,one of which was a control.

I saw or heard 1 Nightingale,1 Cuckoo,2 G B B Gulls,3 Herring Gulls,2 Grey Heron,26 B H Gulls and 2 Oystercatchers.

I then called in at New Hythe and walked around the Sunken marsh and saw 1 Common Tern on Brookland lake,1 Oystercatcher flying over the river towards Eccles and 1 Cuckoo and 1 Turtle Dove in the Sunken marsh.