SPRING FEVER

 Waiting for the first migrants can be a frustrating affair,Chiffchaff ,Garganey,Sand Martin,Wheatear,Sandwich Tern can all arrive this month and the first butterflies begin to appear.Peacock,Comma ,Small Tortoishell and Red Admiral will have hibernated over the winter and can show up as soon as its warm enough,Small White, Holly Blue Brimstone are also March regulars.

Of the former I have only seen the first two species, especially disappointing was the failure of the Wheatears to show up at Samphire Hoe at their usual time..All of the butterflies mentioned have been spotted however.

RED BREASTED MERGANSER MILTON CREEK

-a murky day unfortunately.

GREENSHANK MILTON CREEK

GREEN WINGED TEAL WITH COMMON TEAL RYE HARBOUR another murky day.

GREEN WINGED TEAL  an American vagrant.

RAVEN at Samphire Hoe

RAVEN

RAVEN

SKYLARKs are plentiful up on the White Cliffs

SKYLARK

CORMORANT fishing in the Wellington Dock

LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL Wellington Dock.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

GCG

GCG

GCG probably a young bird.

COLTS FOOT  one of the first spring flowers to bloom.

PHOENIX passing Fan Bay

MEADOW PIPIT DISPLAY FLIGHT AND SONG.

-MEADOW PIPIT parachuting down.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE -STODMARSH

MSC EMDEN with 12 BRENT GEESE.

MARSH HARRIER Stodmarsh.

MARSH HARRIER 

BELTED GALLOWAY with attendant CATTLE EGRET

SHOVELLER Stodmarsh.

MARSH HARRIER

GARGANEY male and female hugging the reeds.

FLYING SCOTSMAN - SAMPHIRE HOE

CORN BUNTING the song is likened to a bunch of keys being jangled.

CORN BUNTING.

SMALL TORTOISHELL.

PEACOCK

4 CRANES DOVER HARBOUR

SOUTH FORELAND LIGHTHOUSE-the ugly black hoist has been removed.

WHITE EAGLE CLOUD at Samphire Hoe.

HOLLY BLUE on the Ivy in my garden.

OAK BEAUTY the first moth of the year.

After two years of avoiding the dreaded Lurgy I finally got it on the first day of Spring so have been confined to barracks for the last 10 days.

Good News have just tested negative for Covid ,cant wait to get out ,if it stops snowing!