March 31st (East scrub) New Hythe

EAST SCRUB  Cloudy,cool,easterly

A Willow Warbler first seen in the scrub yesterday was still present this morning.Two Swallows and ten Sand Martin flew overhead.

The first  Willow Warbler of the spring was seen at Abbey Meads on the 25th,   

March 23rd (New Hythe)

Single Swallow over Tesco lake (first this spring) 8 Med Gulls on Abbey Meads (adults) and 2 Red Kites over W at 09:00.

16th 2 Red Kites over W and a single Marsh Harrier high over Abbey Meads.

17th 3 L R Plover seen from Bucket wood (first this spring). 

March 15th (New Hythe)

Bucket wood (river) 14 Teal,4 Mallard, 2 Shelduck 2 Oystercatcher,1 Little Egret,2 Grey Heron.

Four WAXWING flew over Brookland Lake at 09:30.

I have not seen the SCAUP since the 11th.

RED KITES One flew NW over my garden at 13:30 on the 13th.Glenn had two over Brookland lake on the 14th (11:00) with a single from Bucket wood (11:55).

   

March 8th (New Hythe)

March 8th Abbey Meads 9 Wigeon.Scaup still present on Streamside lake. 

7th Brookland  7 Pochard (migrants).

March 7th,Road island lake 2 Gadwall,1 Shoveler,2 singing Blackcaps.

Another male Blackcap was caught in my garden with a low w.t of 16.9g (just arrived ?).The other two caught had good weights (February 31st (19.5) and 28th of February (19.8).A female was seen but not caught on February 27th. 

March 4th,Glenn had 8 Common Buzzards in the air together from Bucket wood.

Lesser Black backed Gulls are much in evidence now March 8th,just 1-2 present a week or so ago. 

   

March 4th (New Hythe)

Few more photos of the drake Scaup,before he departs.

 

March 3rd (New Hytyhe)

Singles of Sand Martin and House Martin feeding together over Brookland lake.

The House Martin beats the pervious early record (2008) by thirteen days.

As for the Sand Martin the earliest record I have is March 2nd 1998,so today`s bird looses out by one day.

The drake Scaup remains on the Streamside lake.