April 3rd (New Hythe)

Common Buzzards

Clear and warm,light SW.

I had a quick walk around New Hythe this morning.Seeing or hearing amongst others - 6 Blackcaps,7 Chiffchaffs,4 Cetti`s Warblers,1 Grey Wagtail,1Water Rail and 2Common Buzzards.

The best bird however was a very elusive Sedge Warbler at Brooklands.This is a nice early record of this increasingly uncommon bird at New Hythe.

Yesterday (2nd) Glenn Honey saw from the Bucket Wood a Short-eared Owl flying over Burham marsh .This is as far as I know the first record for New Hythe for over twenty five years.

During the afternoon I saw four more Common Buzzards in the area of Snodland and Paddlesworth.

I saw my first Clouded Yellows of the year along Sandy lane,Snodland on the 2nd.

April 1st (Dungeness)

Clear and bright.

Seeing as I have never managed to photograph a firecrest in the field.Today I thought would  be a great time to try my luck.

Dungeness has witnessed a big movement of these birds,Which started towards the end of last month.As I drove down I was a bit apprehensive as to whether any would still be around.As many had moved out with the clear skies over the past few days.However my luck was in and I found at least six in the bushes near the observatory.One bird in particular being very obliging.

These birds which arrived on southerly winds had most likely wintered in Iberia and are now on their way to breeding grounds further north in Europe..

I had my lunch on the reserve.Where I saw these two Egyptian Geese on Burrowes Pit.

As I drove past the New Diggings in the afternoon.One of the Slavonian Grebes was quite close to the road.Unfortunately at that time of day the light was all wrong.