WeBS and warblers

0420 - 0750 foggy, clearing a little later, still, warm

Today was the official WeBS count....grrrrr!.....fog fog fog.....so completely pointless....I was hoping to get this session in on the day, but it will have to wait till later this week if the weather holds off and I can get over to the pits one evening....ah well....

This also meant there was a very heavy dew....the many webs present were finely decorated...

 ....so although I wore my wellies it was almost pointless as the top half of my jeans were soaked and the water running down the inside of the boots......

....meantime....the warblers were counted

Blackcap 30
Whitethroat 15
Nightingale 9....possibly add 2 more as the usual sites that have had singing males in were quiet today...
Lesser Whitethroat 3...possibly another one at least around....
Garden Warbler 5...possibly another one or two around....
Chiffchaff 30
Willow Warbler 3...possibly another one around, again quiet.....

...but you can only count what you can only count....I have already decided that next year I will be getting some maps printed out so I can keep an eye out for things much better....

This visit was an all new experience....I have decided that on WeBS counts I am going to get to the pits quicker which can be done by using the official pits entrance road in Whetsted.  This does mean missing out the village, Five Oak Green, orchard and open fields and several species were missing on my rounds, but that is the way it will have to be....and now I have actually found a more circuitous route it will pay to do so as I can keep an eye on more territory and the counts of warblers become more accurate....!...and the mysterious missing pit has now been unveiled....

So my new experience means I now enter at the east end of the site near the main Maidstone Road.  Robin, Blackbird and Song Thrush were loud and proud when I got out of the car.  I set off along the road and was greeted by Reed Bunting and Tawny Owl, although the latter was further east, probably the east side of the main road.  However, another called later on site.  Woodpigeon, Wren and Blackcap joined in.
At the Quarry entrance I cut right along the official footpath which holds, so I found out last week, 2 Nightingales within a few feet of each other.
Skirting a gate I entered what can now be called the East Section containing the missing pit.  It will be difficult to count a lot on this pit as much is overgrown with Willow along the edges.  The gaps mean anything on the pit will be able to see me so will probably take flight.  I might need to work out a strategy for this as we go along.  Hmmmm.  A new Willow Warbler here though.
It was just inside this sectoin that I came across a great flower...

Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi

Chiffchaff and Whitethroat here.  Great Tit, Blue Tit, Crow.  A Jay flew silently by.
Leaving the East Section more more 'new' Nightingales present.  Green Woodpeckers calling most of the morning.  Long Tail Tits seemed busy busy busy and some Linnets skittered around.  There seems to be three areas for them, near the East Section, a larger group at the Quarry and more at the West Section.
Chaffinch joined in as I wandered to the Quarry area, only one Nightingale, the usual other one or two here may have shut up shop already perhaps?!
Plenty of Bullfinch action today in many parts of the pits.  Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Magpie and Lesser Whitethroat.
Reed Warbler gave good views at one of the bigger pits where there is a thin fringe of reeds.  The female Mandarin took flight and the Cuckoo called.
Along the southern edge of the pits...

Cinnabar, Tyria jacobaeae

I found 3 or 4 Yellowhammer sites today.  Sedge Warblers rattled along the footpath toward the west end of the central section.  No Hobby.....but a great display of bright yellow....

Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus

Jackdaws called overhead as did Goldfinch.
With my wet walk along the north side of the pits complete...finding plenty of...

Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa

Grass Vetchling, Lathyrus nissolia

I headed further north on a footpath to a cut through I found leading back toward my original footpath at the East Section.
It was at this new cut through, whilst standing listening to a Nightingale that has made its territory where I have to walk through that I head Turtle Dove briefly.

Heading back to the car several Swallow were swooping across the fields along with a few Starling.
Back at the car I desperately looked across the few roofs of Whetsted hamlet and finally found a Collared Dove.