NEW HYTHE TUESDAY 3RD MAY 2011

There have been some good waders dropping in and over New Hythe this past week so I set off from the car park at Brooklands with high hopes this morning. I met Terry Laws and Alan Woodcock at the bucket by the river, where Terry had already had Common Sandpiper, a species that was still missing from my NH year list. Unfortunately it still is as it didn't make another appearance. With an absolutely bitter NE wind blowing straight across the river, Alan sensibly went on his way and left us to brave it. We were soon rewarded when I spotted a raptor flying high across the valley, it was a Peregrine, which was joined by two probable Sparrowhawks who drifted away just before the Peregrine performed the most fantastic stoop. I don't know what height it was from, maybe four or five hundred feet, but it dived so fast it was hard to follow it, I didn't see the outcome but a flock of pigeons flew up in panic from the area, probably minus one of their mates.
A short time later Terry spotted another good bird, a Mediterranean Gull, not a common sight here and only the third i've seen in the last two years. By now the wind was almost unbearable so we moved round to the sunken marsh in search of shelter. We parked ourselves just opposite Hoopoe corner and watched a large mixed flock of Hirundines and Swifts feeding over Brooklands lake. This has easily been the best Hirundine day of the year for me and the arrival over the weekend of the Swifts was very welcome and seemed a long time coming. Other birds seen from here included Reed Buntings flying to and fro across the river, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, a couple of Jackdaws, a single Lapwing and best of all three Common Terns crossing over from the Brooklands lake area. It's not very often I see three at a time here.

The tide was very low so we moved to the southern end of the sunken marsh to scan the mud for a possible wader. We didn't find any but Terry was pleased when I spotted a Little Egret flying over, a species which had eluded him at NH so far this year. This was no sooner in the bag when I noticed three waders flying NE, I couldn't ID them with binoculars but thankfully Terry was able to get them in his scope and confirm three Whimbrels! My first ever at New Hythe, what a great tick to take me to 97 species, just three to go for the magic ton.

Again the wind eventually moved us on and we made our way to the sheltered area just past the raptor viewpoint. Here in the warmer conditions we found a couple of moths, the first shown below is a Common Carpet and the second pictured at the top of the post is a very striking Angle Shades.





Butterflies were unsurprisingly few and far between but I did manage to get a shot of this Green Veined White and a poor shot of a Red Admiral. Apart from a Speckled Wood and my first NH Green Hairstreak, that was about it really.

There were still some Nightingales and plenty of Whitethroats and Blackcaps singing around the site, not least being at the east scrub where a search for Skippers proved fruitless, as did our attempt to find some Water Voles in the usual ditch. There has been a Garden Warbler down the millstream so we headed back in that direction, only to be disappointed again, I still need this for the year list. But we did find a few damselflies like the Large Red below, as well as a couple of Hairy Dragonflies patrolling over the stream and a decent sized Pike patrolling in it.

A final look at Brooklands lake failed to produce a hoped for Black Tern or Alpine Swift, well, you never know do you! But just as we were leaving I noticed an unusual looking damselfly, pictured below. These things, much as I like them, do my head in. Terry is suggesting possible recently emerged, green form, female Variable. As for me......i've got a headache! Any other bids?

In all 44 species were noted to start the May list for New Hythe, it should have been more but today was quality not quantity so i'm more than happy.

New Hythe lakes and an Elephant in the room!

In the absence of much excitement from our feathered friends, just a Common Tern on Brooklands lake and five Shelduck chicks on the river, my visit to New Hythe turned into a bit of a butterfly fest. With at least nine species on the wing, including a couple of new ticks for the year there was plenty to keep me occupied for a couple of hours. My only regret was my decision to wear my shorts today. In hindsight I should have known that firstly, the paths, as i've said before are somewhat overgrown. And secondly, I should have known that the butterflies would be on the wing and that they don't stick to the footpaths. Consequently my legs are scratched to pieces from the brambles and even now are still stinging from the nettles. Bring on the Dock leaves!
I'm going to label the pictures below, even if i'm a bit unsure of a couple of them. So apologies if i'm on the wrong track and feel free to put me firmly back on the straight and narrow if you wish.

GREEN VEINED WHITE

GREEN VEINED WHITE

The next three pictures are my first ever of Purple Hairstreaks. I've seen them at New Hythe before way up in the Oak trees but never been able to get a picture which is why i'm indulging myself with these. Aren't they great little critters!

PURPLE HAIRSTREAK

I think the two Skippers below are of the small variety. I thought i'd mastered the subtle differences between these and their Large cousins but now i'm a bit indecisive, at least I think I am............

SMALL SKIPPER

SMALL SKIPPER

Next up is another first for me at New Hythe, it's a Ringlet and I probably saw a dozen of them today.

RINGLET

A bit of a conundrum next. On the other side it's a Meadow Brown complete with eye spot but on this side it doesn't have one. I'm not surprised I get confused!

MEADOW BROWN

No mistaking this one. One of my favourites, even with their wings shut they look great.

RED ADMIRAL

RED ADMIRAL

Below is another first of the year for me at New Hythe in the shape of a Gatekeeper. I only saw the one, thankfully the sun was behind the clouds and he didn't seem inclined to fly.

GATEKEEPER

GATEKEEPER

Other species seen but not photographed (or photographed badly) were Large White and Comma. Still not many dragonflies about today but the one that got away was a nice Four Spotted Chaser which I think just wanted to be chased.

And finally. We were enjoying a very pleasant evening with some friends on Saturday when we were gatecrashed by a large creature the size of a small bat. It flew in through the open patio doors and caused brief pandemonium while we chased it around to capture, identify and eject. It was of course a Hawk moth and a quick rummage in the moth book confirmed it as the Elephant variety. I know what you're thinking, it doesn't look at all like an Elephant and you're right. But it does as a caterpillar when it sports a trunk like snout formed by it's head and thorax. This is waved around menacingly when alarmed to scare off predators..............honestly.

ELEPHANT HAWKMOTH

A Harty walk

There's a nice walk around Harty on the Isle of Sheppey that Carol and I like to do occasionally, it's about 8 miles long and there's a nice pub about halfway round. Given the weather forecast, today seemed like a good day to do it and we were right.
After parking at Leysdown-on-Sea we were soon heading inland along a farm track accompanied by the local Kestrel first of all and then by a pair of Marsh Harriers quartering the adjoining fields. We didn't object at all to the extra company.

BROWN HARE

At first the Brown Hare above seemed quite pleased to see us, even posing for the prerequisite photo. However, as the next picture shows, as soon as that was completed he decided enough was enough. I believe the technical term is 'showing a clean pair of heels'.

The terrain is pretty flat here, there's not much need for a Sheppey Mountain Rescue team if you get my drift, so the wind can be quite strong, as it was at times today. I mention this for a reason, as we walked on we noticed ever increasing numbers of small dragonflies along the path sheltering on the lee side of the hedgerow, there were literally hundreds of them, more than i've ever seen anywhere before. I took a couple of pictures but it was difficult as wherever they landed they were swaying in the wind making focussing difficult. I've looked in my books and can only assume, judging by their size that they are Common Darters. I await the verdict of my peers, who will also be needed at least once more, probably twice later on.....................!

COMMON DARTER

Some way further along we had our first encounter of the human kind. Nothing unusual in that I hear you say. And you're right, except that it turned out to be in the shape of Derek Faulkner of
Letters from Sheppey fame, click on his name to look at his blog. Apart from Derek we saw one other person on our travels, how good is that?

After the obligatory stop at the excellent Harty Ferry Inn we headed for the path on the top of the flood wall that winds it's way along the marshy, desolate, bird filled shoreline of the Swale. This is the Swale Nature Reserve that Derek is a warden for and very nice it is too, apart from the fact that it's a bit overgrown at the moment and the grass is very long. That's not really a problem except that we had both got our legs out today so they were at the mercy of every stinging nettle, thistle and biting insect, not to mention the terrifying prospect of one of the millions of Grasshoppers trespassing on 'private property'!

Sedge and Reed Warblers, Skylarks, Harriers, Shelduck, Greylags, Reed Buntings, Oystercatchers, Little Egrets and Grey Herons were just some of the species seen along the track. Bearded Tits were also heard, but only the shortest glimpse was had, mainly due to the strong breeze I suspect.

MALE MARSH HARRIER

The butterflies were really struggling here, again mainly due to the wind. Meadow Browns were I think the main species but I did find this Green Veined White sheltering in the grass.

GREEN VEINED WHITE

Also around in good numbers were what I think are Small Skippers (below) but again i'm happy to be corrected. A more open winged shot would have helped but it wasn't to be.

SMALL SKIPPER

Another one who wouldn't open his wings is the little chap below. I'm really confused with this one, it was very small and first I thought Gatekeeper but i'm not so sure now, in fact i'm veering towards Small Heath but who knows? Seriously, who knows?!

Since we're on the subject of butterflies, I thought I'd show you this picture of a Peacock........! It was wandering about in Harty churchyard and no Warren, I won't be adding it to my Kent list!

PEACOCK

And finally.....................I couldn't resist this Oystercatcher, just asking to be photographed, along the sea wall at Leysdown on our return.

OYSTERCATCHER

Thursday 6th May

GREEN VEINED WHITE

I had two choices this morning, cut the grass or go down to New Hythe lakes..........I arrived at the car park at about 10.00 and was just putting my boots on when Alan Roman arrived so off we trotted with Sedge Warbler and Turtle Dove in mind.

We listened to Sedge and Reed Warblers in various locations in and around the Sunken Marsh but would they show themselves? Not a chance. In fact considering the blue skies and sunshine the activity was quite subdued, these weather conditions although very welcome also meant that Hirundines and Swifts were few and far between compared to recent days. Butterflies however, were more appreciative of the conditions and I was pleased to get a better picture of a Green Veined White (above).

Still lots of Blackcaps around the area and Common Whitethroats seem to be getting commoner. Reed Buntings made a couple of appearances, I think I saw a pair of Linnets but couldn't be certain and a Sparrowhawk made a brief appearance. The river itself is quiet with just a few Shelduck, Coots and Mallards and of course the Turtle Dove was nowhere to be seen, again.

As we came out of the marsh area Alan heard a wader calling overhead and soon it appeared from behind the tops of the trees, unfortunately we only got a back view and were unable to ID it. It looked to be heading downstream so we decided to go back to the small wood to see if it had come down there.

SEVEN SPOT LADYBIRD

As we made our way back I noticed the Ladybird above and couldn't resist a picture, I know they're common but it's nice to see them back. I hope it is a seven spot, tell me if it isn't. I also find white butterflies confusing but I think the one below is a Small White.

SMALL WHITE

The big hairy specimen below has surely got to be a Red Tailed Bumblebee hasn't it?

RED TAILED BUMBLEBEE

Back at the wood beside the river and I soon spotted a wader quite a long way upstream feeding on the mud exposed by the receding tide. Luckily it flew nearer and landed in front of us without realising we were there, enabling us to confirm a Common Sandpiper, first of the year for Alan and me at New Hythe.

COMMON SANDPIPER

Walking down the path between Brookland and Abbey Mead I spotted a Grass Snake (below) soaking up the warmth on a sunny bank beside the lake, unfortunately I could only get a quick head and shoulders shot before it quietly retreated into the undergrowth and yes, I know snakes don't have shoulders but you know what I mean. I also saw my first good sighting of a dragonfly which i'm pretty certain was a male Hairy Dragonfly which I believe are usually one of the first
to emerge.

GRASS SNAKE

As we crossed the railway line we saw Ken Browne of Halling blog, like us he was enjoying the unexpected weather.Hope you found some goodies Ken.

The birdsong was better in the East Scrub with Nightingales and Willow Warblers being the star performers and a Gt Spotted Woodpecker also put in a guest appearance.

POSSIBLE COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY AND FRIEND

Down the Millstream path I came across what looked like a newly emerged Common Blue Damselfly. Sorry there are so many uncertainties in this post but one thing I am certain about was the song of a Garden Warbler which we heard along here. We stopped to see if it could be found as it would also be a New Hythe year tick and indeed it was found by Alan, singing from it's perch deep in a tangle of Hawthorn and Brambles. And he calls me Hawkeye!