Buzzard with missing primaries

This common Buzzard wandered over Shadoxhurst around mid-day, missing a few primaries it should be easy to pick-up again. You'd have to hope that it hasn't been shot.

Walking from the house to Blind grooms Lane, there were 3 Lesser whitethroats, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Nightingale in scrubby field edges. There are still little parties of Meadow Pipits passing through. Swallows seem abundant around Shadoxhurst this year, but we're still waiting to hear our first Cuckoo. Not a true migrant and notable by absence are Bullfinches, they seem to be getting even scarcer. As the month ends I note that Siskins, Redpolls all seem to have moved northwards now.

Insect wise, with plenty of sunshine now, we have seen the odd Brimestone and Orange tipped butterflies in the garden.

Meadow Pipit, Shadoxhurst playing field

Partial eclipse of the moon over Romney Marsh

April 25th 8.30pm. The moon low in the sky, appears distorted through the atmosphere. the shadow on
the left is the the subtle partial eclipse.

The eclipse in the picture manifests itself in the subtle darker shading on the left hand side of the moon. The dark areas bottom right are cloud.

The most obvious thing about the Moon last night, was the red hues at its rise. Returning back from Romney Marsh, I couldn't help but notice the moon slip up above the horizon and take on a 'Mars' like appearance. That was what led me to taking the picture and it was only later in the evening that I realised this was the time of an uncommon very shallow partial eclipse. 

Nightingale scrub cleared in Orlestone forest

Cleared scrub, Birchett Wood April 22nd

This time last year, I was thrilled to find a new area of scrub in Birchett Wood that had been colonised by Nightingales. Knowing Orlestone Forest well, to my ears this small area held the highest density of Nightingales present summer 2012. The area isn't particularly large just a few acres divided by wide woodland rides. So returning tonight, I'm very disappointed to find half of the scrub has been cleared and no Nightingales present.

On the plus side, tonight the area not coppiced had five Nightingales singing, and close-by in this western end of Birchett wood, 10 birds were singing in total.  More birds will arrive in the coming weeks, so despite last years terrible breeding season, there are still plenty of birds around.

I fully understand the need for coppicing, I know how quickly Nightingales can move on when scrub doesn't suit them, but I wonder how well managed this clearance has been? It could be argued that the cleared area will benefit Woodcock, Nightjar and Tree Pipit, perhaps someone really has thought this through?

Just passing; Brambling, Buzzards and Kestrel

Female Brambling, around for a week now..

..and plenty of Siskins not in a rush to move either.

Two of 10 common Buzzards over the garden during Saturday. The pale bird was very striking.

Female Kestrel, circled over the garden and then drifted on.

Hungry Blackcaps

Most Springs, migrant Blackcaps are busy foraging for insects in and amongst the Blackthorn Blossom at the back of the garden. They can be hard to see as they dissappear into clouds of white blossom, their presence revealed more by the males singing. But this year, it's different. For a start, there's no singing and the Blackthorn trees, the earliest of our common Hedgerow trees to blossom, has yet to flower.

As our cold 2013 spring commences, there must be many hungry migrants arriving, so as a test I decided to put some Apples in the hedge. Within an hour the first Blackcap had arrived. Two males and at least one female were present on the Apples till dusk, often squabbling with Blue Tits who are, equally, finding it hard to find enough insects to eat.

 

Shadoxhurst Nightingales singing tonight

I was just about to go to bed when I thought I'd take a quick walk down the garden for a late night listen, and it's clear that the strong southerly wind that has prevailed for the last day has ushered in many new spring migrants. 2 Nightingales can clearly be heard singing in the hedgerows towards the village church. Fingers crossed that all the newly arriving migrants can find food to eat.

Tawney Owl and Little Owl could also be heard calling.

First Swallows return

Blue skies, southerly winds 20 degrees and 6 Swallows gracing the garden sky all day long. Our prayers answered! Around Shadoxhurst many more Swallows in the air and resting in groups on telegraph wires.

Down at Dungeness tonight (for 2 hours) a Cuckoo flew over the car park as I arrived. Many Chiffchaffs, Willow warblers, a handful of House Martins and Sand Martins. Also singles of Yellow Wagtail, Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret.  All the regulars by the fishing boats inc one Red throated Diver and  6 Porpoises.

 Little Egret and below Great White Egret both on the Arc Pit at Dungeness

In the late afternoon sunshine, France appeared to be closer today!