April 9th (New Hythe)

This morning with the fine weather.I was expecting to hear an explosion of Nightingale song,but all I got was a few short burst.Perhaps there holding back until the females arrive,hopefully next week.There is now at least seven singing males present.

As for Blackcaps,they are again back in good numbers and on my walk this morning I heard (15).Chiffs I heard (4),Willow Warblers (2),both in the west scrub and Cetti`s (5).No Sand Martins as yet,but I know they have been seen by others.How Sand Martins numbers have fallen over the years and other Hirundines come to that.When I first started birding at New Hythe back in the 60s,hirundines swarmed over the lakes in their hundreds.

I was hoping that I might be lucky,as Phil was yesterday and a Red Kite or other raptor would pass over,but no such luck.Most of the time its a case of being in the right place at the right time.I could increase my chances I suppose and stand looking skywards on the Brookland lake mound for an hour or two,but most of the time I like to keep walking,1`m very restless.

Talking about being in the right place at the right time.Later on I was on my way to Maidstone in the car and just before I turned onto the M20,I saw a Common Buzzard circling low over over Castle lake Leybourne,my only raptor of the day.

My New Hythe 2014 list now stands at (60).Over the last few days I have added,Stock Dove,Nightingale and Willow Warbler.