Kent - If You Go Down to the Woods Today....!

The weeks are rolling on and as birding enters into the doldrums in terms of migration it is time to look at other subjects. Traditionally I look at butterflies at this time of year and have also dabbled with moths and looking at wild flowers. To say I have found the latter tricky is an understatement with so much variety even in the common plants.

Today’s weekly venture took Pete and I to places located in the hidden depths of Kent. The adventurers had only a spell-book “Orchids of Kent” to ward off any monsters and demons that lived in the hills. I must have at least looked the part wearing my trusted sunhat as this dude negotiated the fields and hillsides in search of his quarry! The birds would also play a small part as the day unfolded.

Denge Wood

Had an interesting mix of passerines including Firecrest, Willow Warbler, Marsh Tit and Garden Warbler. The former was very obliging on the edge of the woodland.

Two new species of butterfly Small Heath and Duke of Burgandy.

Lady Orchid were seen in great numbers scattered alone the hillside.

White Helleborine was not as numerous with only a handful found on the hills.  

Common Spotted and Twayblade were also noted during the search.

Yockletts Bank


This woodland bordered farmland which held Turtle Dove and Yellowhammer. The purring of the doves was a nice relaxing accompaniment to the search in the woods.

Fly Orchid a cluster were easily found

Greater Butterfly Orchid only a single plant was located just off one of the paths.

Park Gate Down


Had the least interesting birds of the day but a couple of Apache helicopters had us wondering if war had actually broken out as they negotiated the valley!

Monkey Orchid the prize of the day as this is only found in a couple of sites in the country.

Early Purple we had obviously missed peak flowering of this orchid but there were a few in the fields.

Chalk Fragrant a few were found.

Twayblade they were sturdier and fuller plants than seen at Denge Wood.

Green winged another miss with regard to timing but a couple of withering specimens was found.

The day had passed and a very enjoyable one at that and the Orchids definitely reflect what is on the label which makes remembering the names so much easier!

Beddington Farm - A Late Migrant!

Back to the current day and the weather forecast looked unsettled with SW winds gaining pace during the morning. A 50% chance of rain early on had me up and out at stupid o clock in the hope that the farm might produce a late migrant or two.

A Common Sandpiper was the only offering of note, joining the LRP on the North Lake. The rest of the morning was relatively hirundine and migrant free but we are in late May!

A Red Kite showing moult in the central tail feathers and primaries made it an interesting wobbly flight over the lake as the wind gained momentum. I wasn’t expecting raptors today therefore a Kite was a nice bonus!


I recorded 53 species during my visit and can be viewed on the Beddington Farm ebird page.

Kent - Isle of Sheppey and Oare Marshes!

The North Kent Coast including The Isle of Sheppey was scheduled to be a regular haunt for myself and Pete in Spring and Autumn. Spring visits were almost wiped out due to travel restrictions but we did manage a trip last Wednesday following a revision of travel guidelines.


High tide at The Swale from Shell Ness was the first stop of the day. Shorebird numbers were low with Bar tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and hundreds of Oystercatcher packed onto the small spit. Redshank and Avocet were also observed on the salt marsh.

(phone through telescope)

An Eider that was in moult was spied on The Swale drifting round as the tide came in. Single Sandwich and Common Terns were noted.


A Red footed Falcon had been reported at Oare Marshes therefore a walk around Swale NNR was to be the order of the afternoon in anticipation of the bird venturing the short distance across The Swale onto the reserve. Black Kite had recently been reported in the area and again this area would be an ideal place to pick one up.

Sadly neither graced us with their presence but there was plenty of other species to keep us occupied. A Great White Egret in all its breeding glory was found on one of the pools. The bird was unsettled on the pools suggesting it had arrived in the area that day. The bird was later seen negotiating the Sheppey coastline.

Corn Bunting was observed near the reedbeds but proved difficult to photograph with the light and heat haze. Marsh Harrier was seen in good numbers along with a Hobby which was hawking insects eating on the wing. Yellow Wagtail were numerous in the fields.


The news services (Thanks Ed) were reporting the Red footed Falcon in the same spot as evening drew in. The temptation was too much to resist in the end and the journey around to Oare Marshes was taken. We arrived about fifteen minutes too late as the bird had flown off. This provoked a discussion about the old Harty Ferry service which may have saved valuable time getting from point A to B!

Oare Marshes was however hiding gems of its own as Bittern boomed before dusk, Corn Bunting were singing and a Barn Owl hunted over the reedbeds late evening.


It had been the perfect day with a gentle breeze and sunny conditions keeping the rarity hunters out until dark! Pete's blog and ebird counts Here

Surrey SVC17 - May 2020 Diary Update!

By mid May migration slows down with many birds having reached their breeding grounds culminating in the cycle of life beginning for many. The daily search for migrants takes a more leisurely pace but neglect this period of the year at your peril. The days may seem longer in the field but there is always the chance that MEGA will pass overhead or feeding on a habitat in front of you!

Beddington Farm held a pair of Black Necked Grebe for a day. I was on Epsom and Walton Downs as the local drums announced their presence. This species is a night flier which meant I could take a leisurely visit to see my second of twelve site records of this species. My last record at the Farm was on 26^th July 2007.

The Farm was fairly quiet after that with the seasonal rarity hunters dispersing to engage in other pastimes. On 19^th May a Mediterranean Gull announced itself joining a feeding frenzy with the noisy Starlings who were taking advantage of the ever increasing bug life over the Farm. The bird has been identified as a 2nd summer showing black through the primaries. I caught up with Arjun during this visit who will soon become a welcome addition to the BFBG. A couple of LRP a Red Kite and a couple of Buzzard were the rewards on a very hot day along the path.

Follow the growing number of Beddington Farm path observers and latest sightings on ebird

The Black Kite season was well under way! I enjoyed thousands of this species during my season with Batumi Raptor Count as they migrate through the Caucasus mountains.  This species is still a UK tick for me, and a species which I have chased around the South of England. Sadly most birds I have connected with have turned out to be mis-identifications a seemingly common occurrence with this species but there are a few out there! See blog link for id guide. Black Kite

I also took a trip to Thursley Common and Thundry Meadows to catch up with Redstart, Cuckoo, tree Pipit, and Hobby. I witness several migratory Red Kite during my visit.

The latter is one of my favourite birding spots in SVC17. During my visit I staked out a shy Garden Warbler by the river.

Hobby and Cuckoo was also present during a very peaceful afternoon with the birds!

Epsom and Walton Downs - April 2020!

The sighting of the month came on Epsom and Walton Downs on the 30th and what a corker it was. I was on alert that there was a MEGA lurking in the area but it could be anywhere if it had not already moved on!


The site always has potential which I guess is the reason my visits are more frequent these days. Once away from the racecourse you can escape the masses that use the area for recreational purposes. The ploughed fields show great potential and the hope that I will lay eyes on my next SVC17 prize Stone Curlew! A species that I have regularly missed in the county due to visiting more exotic parts of the planet!

This MEGA was not a Stone Curlew but a Eurasian Hoopoe which had been forced down by the heavy rain. The next few outings I perceived to be taxing with every field hosting the potential of accommodating this species. As things turned out the bird was very obliging and also made an appearance the next day calling before flying off! Was it just saying goodbye! The bird has not been seen since!

I recorded Wheatear during the month with a small fall of 3 birds and a Whinchat in the early part of May.

Red Kite and Buzzard were regular along with a potential meal Red Legged Partridge!

What a fantastic ending to the month. This was my second record in SVC17 the first at Beddington Farm on 15^th April 2018. My SVC17 list remains at 238 species!

Garden Watch - April 2020!

The garden I am now convinced is not on a migratory flight line as it produced slim pickings despite having my attention for the majority of the lockdown time.

House Sparrow, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon and Starling were all breeding as well as my noisy neighbours in my loft Grey Squirrel! “Keep the noise down!!”.

Needless to say I did not get photos of the Mallard that whizzed past the house or the Red Kite and Buzzard (both singular) that were on a mission to get somewhere. A Grey Heron was another brief passer by obviously checking out the ponds in the area. The Mallard was a new species for the garden bringing the total to a mahoosive 47 species!

Banstead Downs Golf Course - April 2020!

Banstead Downs Golf Course would not have been my first choice to "patch" watch but had its moments starting with a female Wheatear on the 13^th fairway. The bird moved on at the sight of the first jogger along the fairway. Beating the joggers and dog walkers was paramount if I had any chance of finding migratory birds! Insane o clock starts became the norm!

A small pond which must supply the greens with water during the Summer months has seen a few regular wildfowl species turn up and it seems the fountain draws these birds in to this tiny but deep body of water.

A Moorhen was the first species of note prompting a mental note to check the pond every visit.

The Moorhen was replaced by drake Mallard a few days later. The area around the pond also looks good for passerines.

A drake Tufted Duck was the next species of duck to appear. I was not expecting to see so many ducks on a golf course which does not have any hazards in the form of water traps!

Another drake Mallard and a Grey Wagtail were in attendance a day later.

The Firecrest were still present but have moved location probably due the completion of high rise fencing separating the path from the private housing. There have obviously been security breaches of late!

Beddington Farm - April 2020!

The following few posts primary objective is to update my ornithological diary during the restricted time spent in the field during migration. A review of the practicalities of covering my usual SVC17 sites resulted in Holmethorpe SP, Canons Farm, London Wetland Centre (Closed) falling under the axe for this reason. The sites that remained were Banstead Downs, Epsom and Walton Downs and Beddington Farm. The latter a site that once upon a time I would not have be seen away from during the migratory period.

Beddington Farm not surprisingly produced the most productive day on the 18th with a Surrey record 93+1 Bar-tailed Godwit flying E. The visit began on a good note with a single Whimbrel and a Barwit opening the days account. A Common Sandpiper made a short flight between islands on the South Lake. Hirundines including House Martin were seen with Yellow Wagtails venturing N.

I missed the Swift and the Commic Terns during my travels managing photos of the Little Gull and some of the Whimbrel.

(photo by Peter Alfrey)

The conditions proved too much for auto focus for my camera but fortunately there were photos taken of the Barwit spectacle. Thanks Pete for the photo!