RAPE OF THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

I know when rape is in the air,I get a thick head and a running nasal organ ,this week has been no exception.

THE RAPE OF CHILLENDEN MILL

THE RAPE OF WINGHAM CHURCH
Away from the rape fields dingy skippers and green hairstreak have been seen this week on the cliffs at Dover.

DINGY SKIPPER

GREEN HAIRSTREAK

Had an early morning trip to Stodmarsh yesterday where we had good views of a nightingale near the reed bed hide,hundreds of swifts were on view with a few swallows and house martins.warblers were very vocal with blackcap, chiff chaff, garden warbler, whitethroat, a single willow warbler,sedge, reed and cettis warblers in good numbers.The hobbies did not show untl 1045 when we had nearly finished.When I got home a little later got a text from Steve Ray...RED FOOT at Marsh hide,decided not to bother going back but at half past three could not resist and went back,no sign of the RED FOOTED FALCON needless to say but did see cuckoo and lesser whitethroat and a broad bodied chaser freshly emerged and drying out in the sun.

BROAD BODIED CHASER

                                                                       B B C

HUNDREDS OF SWIFTS WERE HAWKING FOR INSECTS AT STODMARSH

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER in typical pose, much diminished as a breeding species in the south east.