FLYCATCHER DAYS

Friday at the cliffs found a spotted flycatcher in the pony paddock and Saturday  pied flycatcher in the ash tree at the top of the" Hole ", two coveys of grey partridge too with at least 17 birds. Six
species of crow were found over the weekend with four jays and rook being quite unusual,raven is now almost a given on most days ,one day who knows  a chough might turn up.
Lots of chiff chaffs were in evidence and a hobby that zoomed in was a good bird here.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER in HAWTHORN

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

HMS KENT arring in port for a weekend visit.
PIED FLYCATCHER in dappled light

PIED FLYCATCHER

PIED FLYCATCHER in the shade of the Ash tree.

JAY was one of the birds I set out to get a decent photo of this year,obviously I am still trying.

This fresh COMMON BLUE was a surprise on Saturday at SOUTH FORELAND VALLEY.

This fresh SMALL COPPER was not so surprising.

BUZZARD over the garden at home.

ROSE COLOURED PECTORALS

Yesterday I finally made it to Backsand for the Pectoral Sandpipers

At first they were over the far side of the scrape feeding with a single dunlin

but after a while one of them came to the near side,although never close.

After a pass by a peregrine disturbed them a sparrowhawk was too much and they took flight towards Pegwell and I headed for home.

 

SMALL COPPER near REST HARROW

PRINS DER NEDERLANDER bringing shingle for deal beach.

LUNAR UNDERWING IN THE TRAP LAST NIGHT

Today was one of those days when an early call from Paul Holt meant a rarity had turned up a juvenile ROSE COLOURED STARLING had been found at the Hoe by Geoff Burton.
When I got there a few bods were already on site,the bird had joined up with the resident starling flock and showed clearly in the sunshine as a very pale bird compared to the normal starlings.

JUVENILE ROSE COLOURED STARLING.

 

A LOW FLY PASS BY A CHINOOK CHOPPER

 

DUNLIN on the west pond.
While sorting out the photos I came across this

I didn`t know at the time that the RCS had been there  focusing on the central bird.,shame about the missing wing tip.

FLOWERS FLIERS AND FLOATERS

Lydden is awash with flowers,Devils bit Scabious,Autumn Gentians and Autumn Ladies Tresses to name but a few.

DEVILS BIT SCABIOUS

AUTUMN GENTIANS

AUTUMN LADIES TRESSES

A.L.T.

ADONIS BLUE although faded it still retains the electric blue on the wings.
Moving on to the clifftop on Saturday , thought a dotterel had dropped in ,turned out to be a golden ploverthough.

More warblers are coming through

BLACKCAP and WILLOW WARBLER in the Fan Bay apple tree.

At the lighthouse swallows are gathering on the wires ready for the long journey to Africa,I think they are fairly local birds as they are still feeding the youngsters.

YOUNG SWALLOW,waiting to be fed

ADULT SWALLOW
The swallows were joined by sand and house martins at times in the air around the lighthouse.

On Sunday morning there were lesser whitethroats in Langdon Hole,hope the National Trust don`t clear any more bushes at the top of the Hole this winter or we won`t have any migrants there at all,perhaps they should consult the locals before ravaging the area so they can leave the hot spots alone!

LESSER WHITETHROAT

LESSER WHITETHROAT in the open for once---

even sitting out on the fence.
Several Wheatears were around the area including this handsome adult bird

At the Fan Bay apple tree it was Chiffs today

CHIFF CHAFF

Swallow numbers had increased at the lighthouse

US NAVY BIPLANE

There has been a large influx of Large Whites over the last few days coming over from the continent with the Silver Y moths and Red Admirals,not seen Clouded Yellows yet though.
In the afternoon went to find the Redstarts and Pied Flycatcher at Bockhill,saw the redstarts straight away in the paddock,no sign of pied fly though,also half a dozen wheatears and a whinchat and another aerial fly past of four fighter bombers F111S?

Wouldn`t want to be on the receiving end of that !

The Bockhill obelisk looked splendid in the afternoon sunshine

And now for the floater,an old thames barge called MIROSA was seen leaving the Swale on Friday morning,a splendid sight:-

MIROSA on her way.

To finish a few moths from the trap this weekend

FEATHERED GOTHIC

ANGLE SHADES

I think this may be a CENTRE BARRED SALLOW but it doesn`t tick all the boxes for any of the barred sallows so would welcome advice.