NO APRIL SHOWERS THIS YEAR

 April was almost a dry month here in Kent,rain that is ,the beer kept flowing thankfully.

The Spring migrants continued to trickle in when the weather permitted,the strong NE breeze which was present for long periods made it very hit and miss.

WHEATEAR AT SAMPHIRE HOE.

SEDGE WARBLER AT WORTH

SEDGE WARBLER

WHITETHROAT AT SAMPHIRE HOE

WHITETHROAT

WILLOW WARBLER -LANGDON HOLE

WILLOW WARBLER

4 CHOUGHS HIGH OVER DOVER CASTLE,Encouraging that two are carrying nest material.

SKYLARK - SAMPHIRE HOE

DUNLIN -M OULTING INTO BREEDING PLUMAGE

DUNLIN -CATLE COOTE

CATTLE EGRET -STODMARSH

HELLO BIG BOY.

ROCK PIPIT-SAMPHIRE HOE.

AVOCET-DUNGENESS.

SHELDUCK DUNGENESS

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER-WORTH MARSHES

A COOT CHICK -STODMARSH

THE SECRETIVE REED WARBLER

MORE OFTEN HEARD THAN SEEN

COMMON SANDPIPER- SBBO.

LONG TAILED TIT - LANGDON HOLE

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GREENFINCH- WORTH VILLAGE.

COCK LINNET -OARE

MALE WHEATEAR IN THE GORSE AT DUNGENESS.

Thats all the birds for now ,will post the Butterflies soon.

SLOW MARCH TO SPRING

 Out and about to all the usual places in a mixed bag of weather conditions from balmy warm sunny days to cold  north easterly winds, heres a pictorial record of the highlights.

BITTERN AT STODMARSH

BITTERN DISAPPEARING INTO THE REED BED.

GREY HERON -STODMARSH

SHOVELLER -STODMARSH

POCHARD -STODMARSH

SPARROWHAWK

FANTASTIC MR FOX ENJOYING THE SUNNY MORNING- WORTH

SONG THRUSH

SMALL TORTOISHELL -WORTH

LITTLE OWL -LYDD

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GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

LARGE TORTOISHELL-ORLESTONE FOREST

VERNAL EQUINOX SUNSET- MINNIS BAY.

LINNET AT SAMPHIRE HOE

CHAFFINCH AT WORTH

LONG YAILED TIT NEST BUILDING -BONSAI BANK

DUNNOCK SINGING AT SAMPHIRE HOE

ROCK PIPIT SAMPHIRE HOE

GREAT CRESTED GREBE ON THE SEA -SAMPHIRE HOE

KEEP YOUR PECKER UP

 The grey days continued through most of the month with just the odd day of respite,but a Spring like day on the 25 th saw temperatures soar to 20 c and the start of the Butterfly year, more of that later.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - BOSSENDEN WOODS.

SNOW BUNTINGS ON THE BEACH AT COLDHARBOUR RECULVER.

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MALLARD -RUSSELL GARDENS DOVER

AMERICAN WIGEON ARC PIT DUNGENESS A rare vagrant from North America

-A first for me.

BLACK REDSTART SAMPHIRE HOE.A first winter male.

SNIPE -STODMARSH.One of 15 from the Reed Bed hide.

RINGED PLOVER On the shingle at Swalecliffe

SANDERLINGS AT SWALECLIFFE

TURNSTONE AT BROADSTAIRS

PURPLE SANDPIPER AT BROADSTAIRS

These birds used to winter around Dover Harbour,The Warren and Hythe but seem to have deserted these places now.

GUILLEMOT IN THE MARINA AT DOVER Probably sick judging by its lack of movement.

MALE KESTREL DRYING ITS WINGS IN THE SUN LANGDON HOLE

CORN BUNTING DOVER CLIFFS.

DRAKE TUFTED DUCK -KEARSNEY ABBEY

SEVERAL PAIRS HAVE WINTERED AROUND KEARSNEY PARKS.

WREN KEARSNEY ABBEY

STOCK DOVE -KEARSNEY ABBEY

Wednesday the 25 th the warmest day of the year so far, I went to Lyminge Forest hoping for Goshawk

but those hopes were dashed however the warmth  marked the opening of the Butterfly year with lots of Brimstones emerging and several Comma and Peacock also on show.

COMMA 

BRIMSTONE

PEACOCK.

Back to wet grey and windy for the months end .....just for a change.