Monday 16th.March 2009

I know you've heard it before , but we were sitting having breakfast this morning , when I looked down the garden at the feeders , and immediately left the Weetabix , and shot up to the back bedroom window . Carol had seen them a few times recently , but I had always been out . There , waiting his turn was a male Siskin . As usual , the Goldfinches were in charge , and held him at bay . Eventually , he got his chance , and in he jumped . Whilst trying for a reasonable shot , I looked into the Laburnam tree in my next door neighbour's garden , and there looking very nervous was the wife . I had hoped for a shot of them both on the same feeder , but the Goldfinches , often squabbling amongst themselves seemed to keep her at a distance . Great I thought , and considered getting back to the Weetabix , when , with another influx of Chaffinches onto the path comes this bird . Not a very good shot I know , but definatley a different Brambling , being not so colourful as yesterday's bird . Then , I get a very quick view of a female Brambling , no chance of a picture . Two minutes later , what I think was yesterday's bird lands on the path . So , in the matter of 5 minutes , a pair of Siskins and three Bramblings , and as quickly as they arrived , they were gone with the arrival of the 'heavy mob' - half a dozen Jackdaws . At least I was able to get back to my breakfast .

After lunch , I went for a stroll on the Common . Once again , there were good numbers of Comma and Brimstone , and one Peacock . I headed over to the one of the Gorse areas , and once again heard and saw the Long Tailed Tits . I stood and watched them for a while as they collected feathers and flew back into the Gorse . I followed them , and eventually located the nestsite . It was right in the middle and right at the top of the Gorse patch . There was just one spot on the outside where the entrance to the nest could be seen , so I set the camera up on the monopod and waited . Eventually , after a few failed attempts , I managed to get a few shots of a new species - the Moustacheoed Tit . They showed no interest in me and just carried on with the job in hand . On the way back to the car , I had another attempt at a Goldcrest , but once again came up well short with the result .

Clearing glades for reptiles up on the Greensand Ridge tomorrow using chainsaws . Doesn't sound promising , but we will have breaks .

Sunday 15th.March 2009

Well , it certainly looked like Spring whilst having breakfast this morning , even though Carol said it was still chilly outside , which probably accounted for the fact that when I looked down the garden at the feeders , and orange ball in the Tamarisk caught my eye .

I dashed up to the back bedroom window and got this shot . After a while , he was happy to come down onto the path and start feeding on the seed there .

A male Brambling , almost in breeding plumage , most unexpected now that things are warming up . He didn't stay long , and it wasn't long before the usual Jackdaws appeared to finish up what was left on the path .

Whilst I was hedgelaying yesterday , Carol found the first frogspawn in the pond , so I went down to have a look . Well , the small amount from yesterday has turned into a large amount today , and with four pairs of frogs , with the males on the backs of the females , ready to fertilize her eggs . I think it is referred to as the pair in ' amplexus ' , anyway , it is the first spawn I have seen this year , having been looking whilst out .

Anticipating the temperature increase would awaken more reptiles , I headed off to Fackenden Down , near Shoreham , Kent . I was greeted almost immediately by two Brimstone males , each trying to drive off the other . They were the first of an estimated 10/15 , all males , that I saw whilst on the site . Difficult to get a true figure as they are non stop chasing from one end of the site to another , except for this one , who must have been catching his breath , because , shortly after taking this shot , he too was on his way . I also had a single Comma and a single Peacock , neither of which stoppped for a photo . Suprisingly , the anticipated emergence of reptiles did not extend to the Adders . I only found two individuals , warming up in the morning sun together , as you often find them early in the season , especially close to their hibernacular , as these two were . The earthy one I'm sure was the one I found last visit , and the cleaner a newer emergent . One head is about in the middle and the other , top of the screen , just left of centre . A few years ago , I photographed a jumble of eight Adders around this time of year . Slow Worms did much better with nine being found , including this trio . Whilst on site , I met a couple walking their dog , who told me they had disturbed a good sized Grass Snake at the far end of the site . I went and had a look , but could not find it . There was not much colour on the site , but every now and then , there were patches of Violets , I think they are Sweet Violets , but I am not sure . After lunch , with the sunshine becoming milky , I had a walk over the Common , and once again found Brimstones (5) and Commas (6) , both of which species overwinter as adults , on the wing .

On the heather/gorse area , were 2/3 pairs of Long Tailed Tits , probably looking for nesting sites amongst the tall gorse which they seem to use each year . I also had a Sparrowhawk driftinf effortlessly on the thermals .

Friday 13th.March 2009

Was it going to be an unlucky day ? Not being supersticious , I set off in very pleasant weather , not what was forcasted , to the Greensand Ridge , with the main aim of looking for a seasonal fungi that I have found there in previous years . Mind you , whilst there , I couldn't pass by tins/felts without havin a look . First site was the area across from our volunteers yard . Five pairs of refugia produced absolutely nothing , so I set off down the Ridge to another five pairs , which were more productive with two Slow Worms , both under felt , as the tins hadn't warmed up to any extent . Heading further down , I found my first Wood Anemone flower of the year . It looks as if it is going to be a bumper year for Bluebells , as the leaves are already carpeting the woodland floor , and in some areas , Wild Garlic/Ransoms leaves are well established as well . In an area managed for Dormice , an area coppiced last year to let in more light , provided another seldom found plant , Green Hellebore , a member of the Buttercup family . Not the most astonishing flower , but nice to find .Then , the Greensand Ridge caught up with Kingsdown , Pittswood and East Malling , when I found the first of only three Lesser Celandine flowers open . A little further on , I started to find the fungi that I had been looking for , Scarlet Elf Cup-Sarcocypha coccinea , and you can cettainly see where the 'coccinea' comes from , live on rotten wood , and although not rare , I only find in certain places , and only at this time of year . Some were found in groups amongst the moss on the dead wood , whilst elsewhere , larger individual specimens were found . Along the bank of a spring fed stream , Opposite -Leaved Golden Saxifrage is another early flowering plant , and once again , although not rare , needs damp , specific conditions to do well , especially with moss as in the photo .

By now , I was at the bottom of the Ridge , and my attention was drawn skyward to the mewing of Common Buzzard . Originally , I only saw one , but shortly after numbers two , three and four drifted into view , but really high . At no time could I get all four in the same frame , so had to settle for just two of them . Talking birds , I had a very respectable species count of 37 for the day , and when I got home , Carol said she had a pair of Siskins on the Sunflower hearts after lunch , and I had a Grey Heron from the back bedroom window when I came up to post this . Nothing fantastic in the list , but at another site on the Ridge , a group of Corvids were , to use the venacular of another Blogger ' showing a Sparrowhawk the boundary of the Parish ' . At this site , I lifted the tins/felts and surprisingly had a Grass Snake under one of the tins , it's forked tongue immediately collecting information on this intruder to it's world .They usually are found some weeks later than this .

Before heading home , I revisited the site we were working on this week , and where I found an Adder . On returning to the same spot , this light coloured male , which was perfectly calmouflaged in the dead Bracken , was in almost the same spot , even though today the clouds were building and the end of the sun was very close .

On the way home , I called in at Biggin Hill to see the Early Purple Orchids . I can only say that they haven't progressed at all since my last visit , and could well not flower untill late April , we shall see . The upside being that they haven't come to any harm .

To answer my own question at the beginning , no it wasn't an unlucky day , in fact it was a very good day , but a bit more sunshine would have made it even better .

Before ending , I post a shot from the top of the Greensand Ridge , across the valley , to the church at Ide Hill , which , I have been told is the highest church in Kent - in altitude .

Sad day tomorrow , last day of the Hedgelaying Season . What am I going to do on a Saturday now ?

Sunday 8th.March 2009

First thing , Down House bird survey . Although the sun was out , a bitter strong wind was blowing over the site , and probably because of that , only 14 species were recorded . The ones looking most at home in the conditions were 11 Fieldfare , hanging on for dear life in the top of an Oak . Others of interest were 3 Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground and a Sparrowhawk working the hedges around the cricket field . There were no signs of the Jacob's sheep lambs , but one of the adults is most definately still around .

On the way back , I made a quick stop at the farm lake , just to see if any unexpected visitors were about . Answer no , just a Grey Heron , a pair of Tufted Duck , a single Little Grebe , looking very dapper coming into breeding plumage , and the usual Coots and Moorhens . Another reason for calling in was to see if the Coltsfoot had come into flower . Steve-Kingsdowner found it in flower weeks ago now , but here it is just starting to flower . This was the most advanced plant I could find , but there was plenty just bursting bud , and should look a picture in a couple of weeks , given some decent weather .

As I was leaving , I noticed a pair of Mistle Thrush on the post and rail fencing around the sand school . One flew off , but the other stayed put , to pose first one way then another and then another before flying off to join it's mate .

On the bottom lane , near the horse fields , the rookery which has only supported 2 nests for the last couple of years , has doubled up to 4 this year .
This afternoon's meeting up on the Greensand Ridge with KRAG started just as the sun went in and was followed by squally showers , culminating in a very heavy hail shower with gale force winds . I don't have to say that absoloutely no reptiles were found , not surprising as the temperature halved in a matter of minutes .

Saturday 7th.March 2009

Too knackered to post last night after a long day , travelling and hedgelaying near Newbury , Berks .

The first sighting of the day was on the M4 , about jnct.10 , when a Red Kite appeared from the nearside verge , passed across the motorway in front of us at no more than 20 ft . , and carried on searching on the verge on the other side . If it hadn't been on the motorway , it would have made a great shot , but it wasn't to be .

We reached the farm where the hedgelaying was taking place earlier than expected , thanks to a really good run , so spent time having a look at the hedge before starting . I saw a movement in the field behind , which turned out to be a Brown Hare , moving slowly along a ridge . I rushed back to the car , grabbed the camera , ran to the top of the ridge , and , on getting there , saw the back end of the hare exiting the far end of the field , about 200 mtrs. away at a good rate of knots . I got a very , very distant shot , with the animal at full tilt , middle of scren , going right to left . I shall have to get some information from John - Go Wild In Kent , about how to approach the species , as my way definately doesn't work . I missed a close up of the hare , but was treated to a pair of Lapwing displaying in flight . Later in the day there were a pair of Skylark , which incidentally were singing all day , doing exactly the same .

No sooner had I put the camera back in the car , then I spotted a male Yellowhammer in a hedge that had been layed last year . Grabbed the camera again and headed towards him . He got twitchy as I approached , but manage a couple of shots before he got fed up anf lew further along the hedgeline . Just before leaving the farm , had distant views and hear calling , a Common Buzzard .

Visiting the Greensand Ridge this afternoon with the Sec. of KRAG . Reptiles ?

Friday 6th.March 2009

An extra day working up on the Greensand Ridge today , but , it wasn't all working .

On the way , I needed fuel , which sent me on a different route to the usual . As I approached the traffic lights in Sundridge , just outside Sevenoaks , and crossing the main A.25 , something caught my attention on the grass area behind the War Memorial . I pulled across the junction , then went back , camera in hand . There , standing within 15 mtrs. of the busy junction , was a Little Egret . I had been asked a couple of weeks ago , what looks like a Heron , but is white . I said at the time that it was probably a Little Egret , thinking that it was just a ' one off '

appearance , but it seems that it has taken up residence at this junction , and probably feeds in the River Darenth , which flows parallel to the A.25 . I can only think that it came from the same brood as the one Adam posted on Tuesday , walking in the gutter through East Malling .

On reaching the yard , there was a lot of bird activity around the recently replenished feeders . Great and Blue Tits , Chaffinches , the odd Jay , Magpie , Woodpigeon , Dunnock , Greated Spotted Woodpecker and Blackbird were all frequent visitors , along with a pair of Nuthatches , who didn't hang about at the feeder , but grabbed and ran .

On the farm we passed through to get to the fencing job in hand , the first of this year's calves was seen .

I couldn't leave the Ridge without a quick look for reptiles , and was lucky enough to find my first Adder of the year on the site , a very dapper looking male .

The only other thing of interest was a Buff Tailed Bumblebee , searching in the leaf litter , perhaps trying to find a nest site .

Last but one hedgelaying day tomorrow , wildlife ?

Monday 2nd. March 2009

I thought they were going to give us a miss this year , then , whilst having breakfast this morning , Carol spotted a male Siskin on the feeders .

I shot upstairs for the camera and by the time I got to the back bedroom window , it had flown down to the path . I managed a couple of long shots , then the next door neighbour opened the back door and it was off .

I waited for it to return to the feeders , but it wasn't to be .

Reports of more Adders today , also an early Grass Snake and a Great Crested Newt , but , given the cold temperatures forcasted , they will probably return underground again , and wait for the proper Spring .