Bit of slow mo footage of a Humming-bird Hawk-moth seen in my garden yesterday. #Kentwildlife

At work and currently watching a Black Redstart feeding nearby, nice way to break up my 12hr shift 😅

I went to see the Spotted Crake this morning at Sandwich Bay, and as much as it was a pleasure to see it was the hirundines that gave me the most enjoyment. Thousands in the area with some feeding in large numbers just overhead.

A change in job and career began this week, and with it, a change of workplace birds to look out for 👀 #DoverDocks

I was treated to the spectacle of thousands of hirundines while walking the dogs yesterday, video doesn't do them justice, as they stretched as far as the eye could see. Also Med Gulls, Ravens and Buzzards made for an interesting walk across what are normally barren fields.

Nice morning spent birding Sandwich bay. Caught up with the Glossy Ibis that are in the area, plus Great White and Cattle Egret, and always a pleasure to see the Grey Partridge. #kentbirding

Had a brief sea watch from the end of Deal pier this morning. Not much on the bird front, but called the coastguard, after spotting a life raft drifting south down the channel.

Ed Davey is leading narrative on Elon Musk’s incitement to violence msg. But is it getting ANY broadcast media attention? @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social @itvnews.bsky.social @skynewsrss.bsky.social @itvnewspolitics.bsky.social We demand ALL our parties get proper coverage not just overplatforming of one

My wife was after some driftwood, so where better than the beaches of Dungeness. While she searched for wood, I looked for birds, a win-win situation. An enjoyable sea watch was had, fittingly topped off by 3 Swift, battling the headwinds, on their journey south.

Amid international outrage, Israel is now claiming the double-tap strike on Nasser hospital was an accident—after celebrating it in Hebrew media. Drunk on their own impunity they take us all for fools. They mock humanity itself. Hell is not hot enough for these monsters.

Two weeks ago, I had to remove two chicks from a box after both adults had failed to return for a number of days. Both were underweight and needed urgent care, so I drove them to my nearest rehabber in Reigate. The second was released today, at 46 days old, and flew of strong 🥰

My last two Swift chicks have had no adult contact since their last feed on the 14th. Hoping the adults have timed their departure right, and their weight isn't far off for fledging. I've also been informed, the 1st of my rehabbed chicks was released successfully today😁

Pissed off to see the remains of a House Martins nest, that was situated on my Doctors surgery. It's been used the last two or three years, and this year was no exception, when I watched adults feeding young, on my last visit.

Found this moth sadly dead in my garden this morning, is it a Striped Hawk Moth? #moths #Kentwildlife

Important interview of a highly experienced American Green Beret by Jeremy Bowen, documenting IDF war crimes at aid sites.

Anyone able to identify this bee for me? I found it using my bee hotel, the holes are 4mm for comparison #bees #Kentwildlife

Good news. But all while the country park is owned by a property developer, the nature there will hang on the balance.

Believe it or not, this Swift has just returned to feed its chicks. But rather than nest in the box, they had found an old cavity that took them into my loft space. Which means a climb up and back down with every feed 😅

A serious amount of ladybirds in my garden these past couple of days. #kentnature

When you're at work and get a message from your wife about a large moth in the garden. So I've still never seen an Elephant Hawk Moth 🙄

On a more positive note, while at work this afternoon, we had a walk over Kearsney Abbey, and enjoyed watching some Tufted duck chicks just doing their thing 😊

So I've been having a problem with a neighbours cat and despite my best efforts the bastard has still managed to get onto my outbuilding and take a prospecting Swift. When are owners going to take some responsibility for their pets, that constantly decimate our wildlife

These Swift chicks are less than a week from fledging, while other eggs at the colony have only just hatched. Which just shows the contrast between their breeding journeys. Still a bumper year here, with all 14 pairs attempting to breed, and currently 25 chicks across the nests. #kentnature

The first morning of our event for Swift Awareness week was a success. Lots of interested people visited, with some spending their time just chilling in the garden watching the Swifts come and go, whats not to like 😊 #kentnature #kentbirding

This weekend!

A strange but enjoyable encounter with two deer on my drive home from work recently. These would have to be the most Easterly deer I've seen in kent, in maize fields, between Whitfield and Deal. #Kentwildlife

The speed these adult Swift enter the nest here is incredible. The trust they must have in each other to nail their landing 😅 #Kentwildlife

Walmer and Deal Action for Swifts will be hosting two mornings at my colony for Swift Awareness Week on the 28th and 29th June. Anyone can pop along to talk all things Swifts, be it conservation or just a love for them. With live camera feeds and birds on the wing, what's not to love. #kentnature

The fourth Swift chick only held on for two nights before the adult removed its weak body from the nest. Elsewhere at the colony, more eggs have been laid recently, with 13 pairs having now laid or in the process off laying. 1/2

The fourth Swift chick hatched today in box 21a. But with a 3, 4 and 5 day headstart, its siblings already have the upper hand. However, I do love an underdog, and I'll be rooting for it from the sidelines #kentwildlife

Looks like a late Swift has returned to find its partner had started without it 🙈 Seen this happen before on occasions but never as late as this. #kentnature

Two Swift chicks hatched now in box 21a, it's all going to get chaotic from here 😅 #Kentwildlife

Box 21a have always laid 3 eggs, so it was a shock to see 4 when they shuffled about this morning 😲 will make for interesting viewing if all four are fertile. #kentnature

Single White Stork over my garden at Upper Deal, before drifting South. #kentbirding

With prolonged time on the nest over the last two mornings, I had a feeling the first egg would be soon. Laid this morning and 10 days earlier than last year. #Kentwildlife

Strong winds here today make it a perfect day for the Swifts to collect nesting material #kentnature #swifts

Swift update: I currently now have 3 pairs back in boxes 20, 20a and 21a. Plus another 4 single birds in boxes 2, 3, 21, and 24. All birds back so far have arrived earlier than last year.

Final tally up, on what turned out to be a garden raptor watch. From 11:30-13:30, 118 Red Kite, 23 Common Buzzard, 4 S/Hawks, 2 Peregrine and 1 Hobby. My biggest ever garden count of Kites. #kentbirding

23 Red Kites, 5 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sparrow Hawk, just over the garden(Upper deal) in the last 15 minutes.

Box 20a and the 3rd Swift to arrive back, 8 days earlier than last year. This will be its 5th year nesting on my house. #kentnature

Apart from the first year when the pair in box 21a arrived together, they have subsequently arrived 7 to 8 days apart. So imagine my shock when this happened this evening 😁 #kentnature #kentbirding

My 2025 Swift season has officially begun. I spotted a single bird over the house this morning before returning later to box 21a. This has been the first bird/box for three years now, returning on 29th Apr 2023, 28th Apr 2024, and now the earliest it's been so far by two days. #kentbirding

Nest cameras set up and ready for the arrival of my Swift colony. Hard to imagine there could be 30 adult Swift gracing my screens in the not so distant future. #kentnature

Thoughts on this Buzzard that's just gone over my house, just seems a bit off for a Common 🤔 #kentbirding

Had the odd Red Kite over the house already this year, but today movement seems to be increasing with 5 birds drifting overhead already. #kentbirding #kentnature

Just seen reports on a FB Swift group of an arrival of Swifts at a colony in Northern Ireland. Insanely early, his previous earliest birds arrived 16th April.

Nice wandering over Worth Marshes this morning. My first Sand Martins, Swallows and Sedge Warblers of the year. Plus, much more there to be enjoyed. #kentbirding

Only one month to go until these aerial experts call my house home once again, the countdown is officially on ⏳️ #Swifts #kentnature

Just let my dogs out in the garden and heard some common Scoters calling overhead.