Butterflies

Lade - 0800hrs - cool, sunny, sw4 - A brisk wind made for difficult viewing with most small passerines keeping to cover. Around the willows 2 Cuckoos, a male Marsh Harrier and 3 Hobbies hawking flying insects. In sheltered spots where the suns rays made an impact a few butterflies were on the wing, including several Small Coppers, Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell. Around the garden a couple of Holly Blues and a Red Admiral noted.
The rain returned by mid-afternoon on what was a quietish, post migration sort of a day.

                                           Small Tortoiseshell, Lade

City 3 - R`s 2

Lade - 0800hrs - cool, sunny, sw2 - As it was Sunday decided to check the northern end of Kerton Road pit where several large islands have attracted a number of breeding birds. In amongst the trash geese and gulls was a small colony of 10 Black-headed Gulls, 2 prs of Oystercathers and one of Ringed Plover. Small groups of migrant Swallows continue to pass north over the storm beaches along with a Yellow Wagtail and a Turtle Dove.
On the moth front very few individuals coming to light locally, although a Poplar Hawkmoth was trapped at the cafe last night.
RSPB - 1200hrs - Little of note around the bird reserve apart from a couple of small flocks of Hobbies over Cook`s Pool and Tower Pits.
The only other bird news concerned the 2 highly mobile White Storks that were seen in the Woodchurch area this morning.

Man City v QPR - With myself being a life-long R`s fan and Pat in the City camp it was a roller coaster afternoon as the situation to decide champions and survivalists continued until the final whistle. Footie fans will know what I mean, it really was pure drama, and the only time I was pleased to see QPR lose a game...

Sea Kale

Lade - 0700hrs & 1500hrs - cool, sunny, n1 then e2 - Actually bumped into a visiting birder over the pits this morning, who`d had an Osprey over heading north (that would probably account for the Herring Gulls going mental whilst i was still in the garden). Singles of Wheatear and Willow Warbler, plus several parties of Swallows were the only new migrants of note.
Along the beach the Sea Kale is about a fortnight behind due to the poor weather in April; this time last year it was a foot taller and already topped with broccoli-type, snowy florets. Dungeness foreland is of course notable for its prolific showing of this rareish coastal plant that is typically associated with shingle beaches close to the splash zone; i always reckon the most spectacular, and accessible, display is around the new lighthouse, so give it another week and take a stroll down the boardwalk and you`re in Sea Kale heaven.
Sea Kale is quite unique, as along with Samphire and Water Cress it is one of the few truly native vegetables found in these islands. In the old days it was regularly eaten; the shoots were covered over in early spring and `forced` like Rhubarb, the blanched stems were then cooked in similar fashion to Asparagus.
Another way of utilising kale for the kitchen is to pick the florets when young and steam `em as for broccoli. I tried this after advice from the late R.A.Turley (Ray was never one to turn down a foraged meal!) and found the taste nutty, salty and pretty awful really, a good job as i think its probably illegal to harvest wild kale now; and anyway once the flowers bloom the display is far more impressive than the taste...

                                         Sea Kale, Lade

Dengemarsh

Lade - 0900hrs - mild, sunny,w4 - At last sunshine and no rain, although a stiff westerly blowing across the lake kept the temperature down. Virtually nothing on the water apart from a few Coots and Great Crested Grebes. Around the willows 2 Cuckoos, a Spotted Flycatcher and plenty of singing Reed Warblers and Whitethroats.
Dengemarsh - 1330hrs - Spent the afternoon doing the circular walk around Dengemarsh. Few waders due to the high water levels, apart from 2 Whimbrels on the flood, an Oystercatcher and several Lapwings and a Redshank on the hay field. On the lake 10 Pochards, Shoveler, Dabchick and Gadwall plus at least 30 Common Terns on and over the rafts. Over the reedbed 2 Hobbies and 50 Swifts. From the ramp the Bittern `boomed` twice and a perched Hobby showed well, as did at least 4 Marsh Harriers. The back track across the farmland delivered 2 pairs of Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear and a singing Corn Bunting.

                                         Whimbrel, Dengemarsh flood

                                          Common Tern, Dengemarsh

ps: Late news concerned a pair of White Storks that were reported from fields near Appledore Heath, where an Osprey was also noted (OL).

Hobbies

Dungeness - 0815hrs - mild, dull, drizzle, sw4 - Following heavy overnight rain the manky weather continued throughout the day with further pulses of the wet stuff. A brief seawatch from the hide delivered the obligatory Gannets, terns, a few scoters, a single Bonxie (once again I just missed 2 Poms) and a handful of inbound Swifts and Swallows. On the land Willow Warbler and Sparrowhawk in and around the lighthouse garden.
ARC - 1300hrs - Plenty of hirundines and Swifts over the water plus a flock of 6 Hobbies hawking insects over the far bank. One of our smartest birds are Hobbies and their agility always amazes me as they pluck small flying insects (probably St Mark`s Flies) off the water while transferring them from talon to beak in one smooth move. They must have to catch loads to make it worthwhile, but it obviously works as they completely ignore the nearby hirundines.
With the increasing water levels the only island remaining above water is the main Cormorant/Herring Gull island and some of the gulls look as though they could be in trouble if the levels continue to rise. Plenty of warbler activity on the walk to Hanson hide and 8 Whimbrel overhead was about all I could muster up.

                                         Unidentified fungi, Dungeness

                                         Shrinking island, ARC

Striped Hawkmoth

Dungeness - 0745hrs - mild, drizzle, sw2 - Poor viz for a seawatch but an hour in the hide delivered a steady flow of Gannets and Common Terns, 30 scoters, 5 Arctic Skuas, 3 Fulmars and an auk. Several Swifts and Swallows in off the sea (either side of my hour a Great Northern Diver and 2 Poms were seen).
Lade - 0900hrs - Pretty quiet here with just 100 odd hirundines and Swifts over the water to sift through. Cuckoo and Cetti`s Warbler vocalising in the willows and a couple of parties of Whimbrels overhead whistling.
Pigwell - 1300hrs - Checked out the wash out pit at Lydd where last Friday had a nice clutch of waders. Not today though as the water level had risen since, eliminating any wader habitat.
Moths - Or lack of them as far as my traps are concerned. However, just down the road at the Kerton Road Cafe, despite the rain, moths flocked in. Pick of the bunch was a stunning Striped Hawkmoth a rare immigrant from the south, which would have been better off staying in its native range of the Mediterranean Basin and north Africa judging from the weather forecast over the next 24 hours.

                                           Striped Hawkmoth, Kerton Road Cafe
ps: - The Red-rumped Swallow was again seen at New Romney Sewage Works early on, but had moved by mid-morning.

Red-rumped Swallow

New Romney Sewage Works  - 0745hrs - mild, cloudy, rain clearing, light airs - Yesterdays Red-rumper was still present at the sewage works site along with a couple of hundred hirundines and Swifts. Initially picked it up in flight and then on overhead wires, although looking into the light so not great views. Also in the general area Cuckoo, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail and Whitethroat.
Dungeness - 0900hrs - The seawatchers reported nothing much happening so had a quick look on the land which was similarly quiet with just the usual breeders in place.
Lade - 1700hrs - Following reports of a Stone Curlew this morning on the Desert thought I`d better check over the back. No sign of the said Thick Knee but a steady movement of Swallows north, 2 Med Gulls and 10 Whimbrels over and a Wheatear on the shingle ridges.
Another blank night in the Plovers moth trap.