Nightingales

Lade - cool, cloudy, nw 2 - 0630hrs - By heck it was cold first thing trudging across the shingle to Mockmill where a few more Sedge Warblers had dropped in overnight. Yesterdays Wheatears had moved on, but this mornings surprise was a Nightingale singing intermittently from scrub behind the 200` wall `mirror`, not a species I get here every year. A scattering of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs sang from the swamp, but still no Whitethroats yet in the dry scrub.

                                Bluebells and Stitchwort, Park Wood

Appledore - Welcome sunshine and warmth greeted us on the hills for a family wander around Park Wood, although access was difficult due a push bike race terminating in the car park entrance. The main purpose of the visit was to view the Bluebell vista in the Oak wood, which did not disappoint, in the dappled shade amongst carpets of Primrose, Stitchwort and Wood Anemone. All the usual woodland species were seen or heard including two Nightingales, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Buzzard. We also bumped into Dave E who informed us of a third singing Nightingale.
  On the way home we paused at Kenardington where Yellowhammer and our first Lesser Whitethroat were heard, before repairing to the Bell at Ivychurch to sample their fine selection of ales.