Autumn delights

Late morning I got itchy feet and decided to walk round the paddock behind the monument.The bushes near the entrance from Salisbury Road were jumping with warblers. They were very active and seldom posed for a picture.

Several Common Whitethroats would pop to the top before disappearing back into the hawthorns.

Less inclined to come in to the open were Lesser Whitethroats also feeding in the area.

This Common Whitethroat did come right out in the open when I tries squeaking at it. They can be quite curious birds but soon dive back into cover.

On the grass round the Monument there are still a few spikes of the last Orchid of the year, Autumn Lady's Tresses. Fortunately the over enthusiastic mower that usually chops them up just when they are in their prime doesn't seem to have be round for a while so there are still a few remaining. This spike was one of the largest I've seen, it must have been around 10cm (4ins) tall.

The constant "hooweet" calls of Willow Warblers could be heard and they frequently chased each other and dashed from bush to bush. 

They often came of of the bush to feed in a patch of "umbels", I'm not sure which species they are, but they must be rich in insects judging by the number of Willow Warbler using the area.

While I was watching the warblers I noticed a largish raptor heading my way. I guess a few years ago a Common Buzzard in Kent was still unusual enough to be a bit of a surprise and I still do get a real delight in watching one circling overhead.

Even so I do have to admit to a slight disappointment as soon as I had eliminated the possibility that it was a Honey Buzzard on it's migration.

One or two Common Blues were still struggling on. This one was so battered that I was amazed that it was still managing to fly around quite strongly. It was only when it landed that it became obvious that it was totally worn out.

A leopard in the grass

During the School half-term Nina, Jack and Josh came down from Clitheroe for a few days. Pete was away taking a group round China, hard life isn't it, and we had a couple of days trying to see as many of the orchids that wereout in Kent as possible. We managed a creditable 14 species, which was pretty good going.

At one site there was an unusual Southern Marsh Orchid,  Var. junialis  known as "Leopard marsh Orchid". At the time the leaves were visibly very different but the flower was only just beginning to open. Today it was fully out and a very stunning orchid it is.

At one time this variety was thought to be a variation of a hybrid between Southern Marsh and Common Spotted  Orchids, but the fact that they were found in colonies with no Common Spotted suggested otherwise. The fact that it is a variety of Southern Marsh Orchid is supported by genetic evidence.

While I was photographing the Orchids a Common Whitethroat accompanied me with its scratchy song. Although they have never fully recovered their numbers from the great population crash of 1968/9 they are very much more numerous than for many years in the later part of last century.

It is always worth looking carefully from the Ancient Highway form Grey Partridges. The meadows here are the best I know for watching this beautiful native species feeding out in the open.

I hadn't seen the Little Owl perched on the old barn opposite the Chequers for a while, but it was sitting in the sunshine today.

While I was watching it had a good preen and got into various contorted positions while it had a scratch.

Has Spring sprung at last?

A walk along the cliffs today and then round Bockhill Farm was my first visit since my return from holiday. It was also the first time that I felt that spring was really here, especially as a Blackcap was singing as I left the garden. Even then the wind did pick up a little as the afternoon wore on and in all truth the number of birds around was a little disappointing.

Of course it is always good to see and hear Whitethroats back. Their song may be a bit scratchy but it's cheerful and after the massive crash in population between 1968 and 1970 it is a relief each year that they return. That crash was caused by climatic conditions in the Zahel region but the other "songster" that pleased me today has declined because of conditions in the UK.

 

Despite the lack of hedges and huge areas of Oil Seed Rape (beware if you suffer from Hay-fever!)  one or two Corn Buntings are still hanging on here. One was singing from somewhere in the Oil Seed Rape near the cliff top as I walked down the path, although I failed to locate it, and another or possible the same bird flushed from the other side of the field as walked the path by the Freedown. Also singing above the field were a couple of Skylarks and one or two Swallows passed overhead. Along the Droveway a Lesser Whitethroat gave its rattling song as I walked by. A quick look at the sea from the bay failed to find any passing groups of Pomarine Skuas but unexpectedly a Shag was fishing just out from the Bay. Was this a late winter visitor or something more interesting?