Morning Walk. Capstone Park, Chatham, Kent

Luddenham and Motney Hill

Birding time was short for us today having long made plans to spend time with friends living near Norton, Faversham. Popping into Luddenham very quickly on-route resulted in seeing two Spotted Flycatchers. More surprising was seeing a further two in an orchard along the A2 while having coffee and cake! 

Our day was essentially non-birding, but did involve a wonderful walk to Conyer where we had a delightful lunch outside enjoying the beautiful weather hearing Cuckoo and seeing a couple of Buzzards as we made our way.

Journeying home, we detoured via Motney Hill where still this site provides one of the few reliable sites for Turtle Dove near our home in Gillingham and we were not to be disappointed as one was quickly located singing on the telephone wires while a Cuckoo sang distantly.

A lovely day, with great birds, company and exercise! The only down-point remains that our dog Nell is still recovering from cruciate ligament surgery. She would so have enjoyed the walk today.

Spotted Flycatcher

Turtle Dove

Elmley Reserve

Corn Bunting

Lapwing

Marsh Harrier

Redshank

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

Shoveler

Skylark

Spotted Redshank

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Darland Banks, Gillingham

Unable to view the bird sadly, but managed to capture the song of this Nightingale present on Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent:

Nightingale singing (recording opens in a new window)

Northward Hill

Blackcap

Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Greenshank

Redshank

An unexpected visit following a business meeting to Bough Beech. Traffic on M25 was at a standstill, so diverted here instead.

Linnet

Pied Wagtail

Riverside Country Park & Elmley Reserve

Riverside Country Park & Elmley Reserve:

Black-headed Gull

Blackbird

Lapwing

Little Egret

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Red-legged Partridge

Redshank

Rook

Turnstone

Yellow Wagtail