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.

DUKES,LADIES &LITTLE GREEN MEN.

Bonsai Bank is a little jewel in the KWT portfolio of nature reserves,at this time of year it provides one of the high points of the wildlife calendar,with the scarce Duke of Burgundy Fritillary on the wing  and Lady orchids in bloom.I understand there is a guided walk there tomorrow  (Saturday),check out the KWT web site.

THE DUKE

COWSLIP the foodplant of the DoB caterpillar.

THE LADY

THE LADY ORCHID

On the opposite side of our orchids is the common twayblade named for its pair of leaves at ground level,it is a green non descript plant........

....but take a closer look

its full of little green men.                            TWAYBLADE
On the way back to the car I came upon this Orangetip basking in the afternoon sunshine.

                                                                ORANGETIP
From the edge of the woodland came the unmistakeable song of a nightingale and for once he actually came out from cover

the wonderful rich chestnut back and tail showed well

a complete contrast to the rather plain front view

NIGHTINGALE

SHEPPEY LONG LEGS

Wheatears continue to arrive at the Hoe ,the house martins are back at their cliff face nest sites,the kestrels are in residence and the fox cubs were making their first outing on tuesday morning.

WHEATEAR

WALL BROWN female top left male below,smaller and darker.

LINNET

When the rain relented on Thursday made an instant decicion to leave the chores and try for the Black Winged Stilts at Elmley.

The weather stayed fair long enough to get to theSouthfleet hide and back,just,and the two Stilts were seen at a distance of about 250m,in a gully behind a bank,they did eventually show a leg or four,but came no closer.

BLACK WINGED STILT

TWO TOGETHER SIR

NOT LIKELY MATE.

AVOCET very noisy and very feisty.

REED WARBLER

SWALLOW ,Male.

"Between you me and the gate post you`re a cock bird"..This pair are building a nest in the ladies loo.Des Res indeed.

LAPWINGS and their newly hatched offspring are all along the track.

LITTLE LAPWING.

BROWN HARE,Presumably thought he was well hidden from view because he took no notice of me the car or the camera.

GOING NUTS IN MAY

The dam finally burst and the migrants flooded in on two days last week when for various reasons I was out of action birding wise,just typical,I am a very bad bird watcher,badder even than Simon Barnes.
Nevertheless I have seen a few bits and pieces in between domestic duties.

DISPLAYING POCHARDS

WHIMBREL

COMMON TERN

COOT CHICKS

SWIFT

SANDWICH TERN Having a ball on Princes Parade Hythe

REED WARBLER Singing at Seabrook.

8 SWANS A SWIMMING

SONG THRUSH

LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT at St Saviours Hospital Hythe, doesn`t look ill though it must have private health insurance.

GREEN WINGED ORCHID the consolation prize in the Little Bunting lottery.

ORANGE TIP female

ORANGE TIP male-spot the difference.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER

REELING

REED WARBLER at OARE

GREEN VEINED WHITES are on the wing

WHIMBREL in the mud at OARE

GREENSHANK

BANK HOLIDAY HOBBY`S

SHOULD`VE GONE TO SPEC SAVERS Would have been good in focus.