I have had a hectic few days recently – lots of work to be getting on with and things to organise.
I have managed a few visits into the local patch, Mote Park. On Sunday I managed to locate my first Hobby of the year, fantastic!!! It zoomed low over the lake, presumably investigating if there was anything to hunt! There has also been a lot of vis-mig recently first thing in the morning, notably ‘Mipits’ and Skylarks, and a few Redpolls as well! The colours are really beginning to turn now, and there has also been a small flock of Parakeets on the scene – I wonder if this is the beginning of a take-over!?
On Saturday, I was leading a Training Course on Improving Grasslands for Birds for the Saving Magnificent Meadows Project. This is a fantastic and exciting project aiming to find Meadow Champions who can champion our local grasslands and meadows for wildlife. The day was a real treat, and was pleasure to teach those that attended. I try to make my courses as interactive as possible, using sounds, videos, and special guests too! If you’d like to know more about this great project you can get in involved with, take a look at the link on the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership website: www.medwayvalley.org.
I have been at Lullingstone Country Park recently, where the Ring-necked Parakeets are busy flying around the site and making themselves at home. There has been plenty to see, including Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and more!
Down along the River Medway I have been catching up with Kingfishers and Grey Wagtails. Cormorants have been fishing from Allington Lock, catching some surprisingly large fish!! And the mornings have been wonderful with the autumnal mists recently.
I have updated my Wildlife Holidays with the next three upcoming breaks, two to Norfolk and one to La Brenne. Can’t wait to start!!! All three holidays potentially jam packed full of birds and wildlife!!
