Birding and other distractions

A welcome change today with some warm sunshine after yesterday's rain. After finding no reptiles at BW things got better at CL with five Slow-worms, including a tiny juvenile. A picture taken there of two adults also revealed a juvenile Adder, though I didn't notice it until after downloading the image. Surprisingly no adult Adders were seen at CL, though disappointing that no habitat management has been carried out. At RD a large female Adder was lying right beside the path, not at all concealed. A couple of males were also seen, though only the tail of one as it rapidly disappeared in the vegetation. I think someone had already lifted the refugia at RD as there were no Slow-worms to be found. Arriving back at BW revealed another female Adder, though more concealed in this case. So a total of five Adders for the day. In addition to the reptiles I heard five Chiffchaff in song, and saw about five Peacock butterflies. However, I have yet to see a Brimstone this Spring. Two Slow-...

The day started in Thanet at Foreness Point, which proved fairly quiet, an immature drake Eider offshore being the only bird of note. From there we went to Northdown Park which felt more spring-like in the sunshine, also with much more shelter from the strong wind. Birds included Green Woodpeckers and a Mistle Thrush though not the hoped for Firecrest. The next destination was Elmstone, hoping that the overwintering Hume's Warbler was still present, there having been no news on it for a week. Parking near the substation there was no sign of the bird for nearly an hour, then it was heard to call from the opposite side of the building. Very good views were later obtained from that spot, the warbler calling on many more occasions. What at first seemed to be heavy moult on the head was more likely nectar contamination as a result of probing in blossom. Several Chiffchaff were also seen plus a male Blackcap. To finish the day we stopped near Preston to view a large ploughed field contai...

Another blustery day though with a fair amount of sunshine during my afternoon visit. Four Adders were found in TF, two of these being delightful juveniles. The other two individuals were males, one a confiding snake which initially moved slowly away though within a couple of minutes had returned to the same spot to bask in the sunshine. Hopefully he sensed I posed no threat! A male Slow-worm was also found in TF, the first for the year. The final Adder of the day, a female in PV, was another first of the year for me. However, she was somewhat strange looking, with evidence of an incomplete slough. Skin remained on a section of the dorsal surface, and the lower flanks had a weird spiky appearance from atypical scales. Whether the latter is related to sloughing is not clear. Juvenile Adder in TF Male Adder in TF Same individual as above Same as above Female Adder

An unsettled day, mainly dry in the morning with glimpses of sunshine though odd showers also occurring. An Alpine Swift had been reported at Leybourne Lakes the previous afternoon and was thought to have roosted in the area. News that it was still present came through at 7:46 this morning so I was on the road soon after. We parked near Brook House and fortunately managed to see the bird within ten minutes of arrival. It then disappeared but was refound nearby within 20 minutes. The bird gave reasonably good views, sometimes overhead albeit on the high side much of the time. It remained in the area all morning though periodically went missing. Also seen were two Sand Martin. Alpine Swift

Arriving mid-morning due to a holdup on the motorway I initially scanned the treetops before walking into the wood. Weather was reasonably good, mild with hazy sunshine, though not especially warm.  Good activity from Buzzards with five in the air at one point. Small numbers of Fieldfare were seen on the outskirts of the wood. In the wood I came across an area with holly in the understory, and lo and behold Firecrest were present. Around four birds in total including singing males. In the same area there was a plantation of conifers, where I could hear Siskins in the treetops, plus two Raven flew over. Also in the conifers was bird of the day, a singing Crossbill, though heard only.  Firecrest 

Wet weather this morning changed to sunshine in the afternoon. This was mainly a visit to Motney Saltings for a WeBs count, though also taking in Bloors Wharf and Otterham Creek. Tide was already high at Bloors when I started and only small numbers of Wigeon, Pintail and Teal were present. Moving on to Motney Saltings there was a good assemblage of at least 100 Black-tailed Godwit, plus 33 Curlew. At Otterham Creek two Spotted Redshank were amongst the flock of Common Redshank. Seashore on route to Motney Saltings Drake Pintail Drake Teal Brent Geese and Wigeon near Motney Saltings

A sunny afternoon though a brisk and cold NE wind. Three Adders seen today, two of them very likely individuals seen on the previous visit as they were in same locations at DV and PV. The new individual was a fine male in TF. Coal Tits were very noticeable today, with three males located in song. Adder in TF. Adder in DV. Adder in PV. Coal Tit