Trickle

Saturday 15 September

0900 - 1130 cool but warming, some sun SW f1-3

A meander round to see whats coming and going....lots of Chiffchaffs 'h-wheeting' around the site alongside their ever accompaniment...Blackcaps 'tak-takking'.....several of the Chiffs were inclined to song....the last hurrah before the off as they soon will be.....indeed im sure most of the ones present today were simply passing by in the pursuit of southness….

Apart from that a few ducks have arrived...the trickle of wildfowl begins....8 Tufted Ducks now and 5 Gadwall....

The Mute Swan family is still together and remains at 5 cygnets....that's a pretty good result for them...

So...whats happening with Whetsted….an update...

It seems that the pits will not be drained....mostly due to the poor quality aggregate present....the plan seems to be from October-ish to make camp and start the long....years!!...process of getting aggregate from the pits at Postern and Hartlake and drag it back to be 'processed' at the Whetsted/Stone Castle end...

It also appears the concrete plant will not be happening though other plant probably will...

Whatever happens its likely the pits will be out of action from a birding perspective for a good number of years as they will probably be working 6 days per week with heavy machinery.....there are, however, a couple of decent warbler areas that should not be affected.

Also, with the pits not being drained many ducks should be happy to return and over winter....however....Shovelers tend to be quite flighty so may not settle with the continual  disturbance....

There are other possibilities on the table and there are meetings with the Borough councils  still to take place....(both Tonbidge and Tunbridge Wells Councils are involved as the border between the two crosses the site.....)….