Booming Bittern!

Lade - Lockdown Day 34 - warm, dry, sunny, ne 2 - We were up and about early on for our regular exercise walk around the local patch on what was a stunning morning weather wise with blue skies, a few high wispy clouds and light airs off the sea. As a result, once across the shingle and onto the old railway line track, whilst watching several Wheatears, the distant `booming` of a Bittern (105) wafted across the desert from the direction of the water tower and onto the lockdown list. I`ve heard `booming` in past years when they`ve nested on Tower Pits, and always in the stillness of early morning or evening. Otherwise it was the usual fare around the lakes, but with the addition of a singing Willow Warbler in the willow swamp and 12 Shoveler briefly on south lake.

                               Marsh Frog

                                Whitethroat by the ponds

                                3rd brood of Greylags, south lake

                                Greenland Wheatears on the desert


  Completing our walk at the top of Taylor Road, by the electricity kiosk, we were confronted with a pile of rubbish that had been fly-tipped during the night. With the council tips closed fly-tipping has become a problem everywhere, but this is the first time I`ve noticed it in a residential area hereabouts; more rubbish had also been dumped during the hours of darkness in the car park along coast road.

  However, there is an impressive footnote to this tale as myself and at least one other local resident promptly reported the misdemeanour on the Folkestone and Hythe District Council website, and low  and behold by midday today (Sunday) a lorry turned up and cleared it away! Ten out of ten to F&HDC. 
  If I had my way, punishment for fly-tippers caught red-handed, would be mandatory impounding and crushing of their vehicles; I`d allow the occupants to be removed first, as that might impair the recycling process!