April 29th

Remember the post on April 16th (Garden Sparrowhawk)

A different bird posed on the same perch on the 27th.

April 26th / 27th New Hythe (IT GETS WORSE)

Yesterday (26th) I walked up to the Brook House Nightingale area and found a territory that has been used for at least twenty years or more trashed (for a carp swim).

I then walked along the Streamside Lake and found S W S (with conservation) blazoned) over their van (fishing Cub) using chain saws to remove scrub.Since this new fishing club in the Country Park has taken over there has been a lot of scrub removed to make way for large carp swims.

This morning 27th,I walked around Brookland lake (on the eastern side of the railway) and saw that large areas of vegetation had been cut down (apparently yesterday) to ground level and another Nightingale territory trashed (I have since found out it was the EA).Apparently being short on staff they have got behind,hence work being carried out at the wrong time of the year (but why trash a Nightingale site on the lake edge,its beyond me.

The Water Board usually mow the bank and some years get the timing wrong.However it is never as bad as this..,    

All this and in the breeding season too.((IT MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL).

Photos 1 - 4 trashed Nightingale territory (Brookland)

5 - 6 Bramble vegetation cut Brookland)

7 Nightingale territory on 25th,before being trashed (Brookland).

8 - Trashed Nightingale territory (Brook House,Country Park)

9 - S W S  

       

April 25th (Ashdown Forest)

Since my last visit a few years ago,all the parking areas are now charged per hour.So if you visit several sites in can get expensive.One good thing though if the masses are put off from visiting the area,it will hopefully benefit the wildlife (photos Willow Warbler and Dartford).  

April 19th (Eccles,old factory/former Reed island site)

 06:30 - 10:00 

I walked into the area from the Burham water treatment end.Making my way eventually through to Aylesford sewage works and then back again.

Large areas of scrub,mature trees,marshy areas,Eccles island,with its Heronry and the reservoir makes the area very attractive to wild life.

My aim was to count singing Nightingales of which I had (17).I also saw a good number of Linnets and heard a Tawny Owl.  . 

April 16th (New Hythe)

Over the past week with generally favourable winds,more Nightingales have been arriving.There are now eight possibly nine in the Park.So far two have been ringed,both being adult males.Whitethroats are now also in the Park but so far only in small numbers.Along the river on the  7th,from the Bucket wood 6 Oystercatchers,singles of Redshank and Common Sandpiper,2 Gadwall and 20 Teal were seen.On the 15th,a Marsh Harrier was also seen from this vantage po[nt and a Raven flew east over the east scrub.

Away from New Hythe on the 7th,at Burham marsh,2 Egyptian Geese,30 Canada,20 Greylag,9 Shelduck and 1 Little Egret were present.

On the 15th,a nice male Sparrowhawk posed in the garden for five minutes before flying off. 

April 3rd /4th/5th New Hythe (ITS ALL HAPPENING)

April 3rd- Bright,though rather cold,NW  08:00 - 10:00

Bucket wood - 1 Green Sandpiper  10 Teal.

Brookland lake  1 drake GOLDENEYE,possibly the same bird that was seen mid month.

Abbey Meads  a singing FIRECREST was present on the west bank.

A REED WARBLER was heard at the Streamside lake and 2 Med Gulls were seen over Tesco lake (ad).

On March 30th,2 early WILLOW WARBLERS were present.One at Brookland lake and the other at Abbey Meads.

April 4th - clear,light E,warm during the afternoon (09:00 - 11:00

Bucket wood  15 Teal  8 Mallard  2 Oytercatcher  2 Shelduck and 3 Little Egrets.The Goldeneye was still present on Brookland.A COMMON REDSTART was seen in the East scrub.A pair of Pochard were on Abbey Meads and late afternoon,3 RED KITES drifted over west.The first NIGHTINGALE was present in the East scrub,

April 5th- light overcast,light southerly.

A Common Sandpiper was seen on the river,A nice drake GARGANEY was on Brookland,along with a pair of Shoveler and the Goldeneye.A Mistle Thrush was seen in the East scrub and a Red Kite was heard calling over the West scrub.Late afternoon a BLACK REDSTART was seen on the Mill (Brookland).