APRIL2021

A few trips out following the lockdown restrictions being eased but tempered by the cold north east winds which plagued us all month.Here are a few photos of this months highlights.

EARLY MORNING SUNDOG AT SAMPHIRE HOE

YELLOW LEGGED GULLS ON THE SEA WALL.

BLACK TAILED GODWITS AT OARE

-

BTG IN BREEDING PLUMAGE

RUFF AT OARE.

BUZZARD SOARING OVER BLERIOT`S MEMORIAL.

WHIMBREL AT SEASALTER

RING OUZELS AT THE HOE.

-

FEMALE WHEATEAR SAMPHIRE HOE.

DRAKE EIDER AT CASTLE COOTE SOUTH SWALE

EATING A CRAB AFTER SHAKING THE LEGS OFF

-

-

-

-

-

REDSHANK AT SEASALTER.

SEDGE WARBLERS ARE BACK 

BAR TAILED GODWIT IN BREEDING PLUMAGE DUNGENESS RSPB

EARLY SPIDER ORCHIDS ARE OUT AT SAMPHIRE HOE

-

KEARSNEY SUNSET

SO CALLED PINK MOON 

CLOUDED YELLOW AT SAMPHIRE HOE

AND A SECOND- SPOT THE DIFFERENCES.

-

DINGY SKIPPER

SMALL COPPER

RECORD SHOT OF MY FIRST CUCKOO OF THE SEASON.

REED WARBLER WARBLING IN THE REEDS

THIS BIRD HAS A METAL RING ON THE RIGHT LEG

CLOSE UP OF RING ANY CLUES THERE?

SEDGE WARBLERS TEND TO SING MORE IN THE OPEN AND HAVE A DISTINCTIVE SONG FLIGHT'

NEWS OF A HOOPOE AT STELLING MINNIS WAS A PERFECT WAY TO END THE MONTH ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

ALTHOUGH MORE COMMON IN SOUTHERN EUROPE A FEW WANDER NORTH EACH YEAR

MY FRIENDS IN THE VERY NORTH OF SCOTLAND HAVE EVEN HAD ONE IN THEIR VILLAGE

THE STRIKING PLUMAGE IS UNMISTAKEABLE

ESPECIALLY IN FLIGHT.

MOTH OF THE MONTH

THE BRINDLED BEAUTY.

 

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

-

-

-

-

KESTREL

WHEATEAR my first of the year at Samphire Hoe

Another male Wheatear posing in the early morning light.

-

-

WHITE WAGTAIL

 -

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.