MARCH 2021

 Very little to report , a few signs of Spring, and a slight easing of the lockdown restrictions at the end of the month means a few trips out to the far flung corners of East Kent beckon in April.

Here are a few pics from my local walks for March....mainly Samphire Hoe and Langdon Cliffs.

COLTSFOOT  an early bloomer

BRENT GEESE a flock of 25 birds spent a few days around the Hoe.

BRENT GEESE

YELLOW LEGGED GULL

DOVER LIFEBOAT

WHY DID THE LAPWING CROSS THE ROAD?

PEREGRINE FALCON

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KESTREL

WHEATEAR my first of the year at Samphire Hoe

Another male Wheatear posing in the early morning light.

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WHITE WAGTAIL

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THE NAVY LARK

BABY QUEEN making a music video at Samphire Hoe.

MAGPIE

GOLDCREST

SKYLARKS - 3 PAIRS ARE HOLDING TERRITORY IN THE GRASS AT THE HOE SO PLEASE STAY ON THE PATHS AND KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD. 

 MEADOW PIPITS ALSO NEST IN THE GRASS,THEY CAN BE SEEN RISING UP TWEETING AS THEY GO  THEN PARACHUTING BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND OR SONG POST

MOTH OF THE MONTH THE OAK BEAUTY.

EARLY MORNING AT SAMPHIRE HOE.

FEBRUARY 2021- LET IT SNOW

 The shortest month of the year brought some snow to the south east albeit quite briefly,but not before I had seen my first butterfly of the year on the 5th.A snowy period is usually good for birdwatchers if not for the birds themselves,half a dozen Fieldfares arrived in my garden with the snow to feast on the berries and crab apples, finch and tit numbers also increased dramatically.A drake pintail and a pair of teal turned up at Samphire Hoe along with a few snipe and woodcock.The snow didn`t linger long and the birds soon dispersed back to the wider countryside.

CORN BUNTING jangling the keys on the cliffs,the weedy fields have been great for them and skylarks.

PEACOCK out of hibernation on the 5th hope it found shelter again before the snow arrived.

DOVER HARBOUR somewhere down there an Iceland Gull has spent the winter.

LITTLE GREBE at Bushy Ruff now in breeding plumage

DRAKE PINTAIL found on the main pond at Samphire Hoe.

With the snow came a small flock,about 6 or 7 Fieldfares,I took hundreds of pics through the bathroom window of them feasting on my crab apples.Here is a small selection.

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GREENFINCH

GREENFINCH

CHAFFINCH

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ONE OF THE DRAKE TEALS on the main pond at the Hoe.

GUILLEMOT in summer plumage Folkestone Harbour.

RAZORBILL FOLKESTONE HARBOUR

TREECREEPER at Aldergate Bridge area a Nuthatch was also seen here.

AMERICAN BISON at Port Lympne

LYMPNE CASTLE with the remains of Stutfall Catle in the foreground.

LAPLAND BUNTINGS at Langdon Cliffs these two were chasing around as in courtship display.

LAPLAND BUNTING

LAPLAND BUNTING.

PEACOCK AT SAMPHIRE HOE

Distant shot of the ICELAND GULL sleeping on the hard standing Dover Eastern Docks.

FULMAR PETREL

SNOW MOON

Hopefully we may be able to move about a bit more freely next month so a few Reserves may get a visit soon.