Yesterday evening was the 7thand last of the RSPB Medway local group sponsored Festival of the Nightingale Walks, in all three venues. Four at RSPB Northward Hill, two at RSPB Cliffe Pools and one at Lodge Hill, Chattenden.
The celebrated bird sings for barely 6/7 weeks, from mid-April to the end of May, hence the 27thof May being the last.
It has to be said this years’ walks have not been the most successful at any of the venues due to the dull, cold and gloomy weather, that said each event has produced at least some song albeit short and sweet on occasion.
It was a delight to greet a spectacular thirty-five attendees to the Bromhey Farm car-park, so many as to fill the entire car-park.
After giving my usual speech about Local Council Plans to build houses on protected land on the Peninsula, Lodge Hill and Deangate, both either Sites of Special Scientific Interest (due to their important Nightingale populations) or within the 400 metres SSSI impact zone, we set off.
It was pleasing to note in the group several familiar faces ie. Local Ward and Parish Councillors and Local Council Officers. These are the very people who have the power to help protect our wonderful wildlife locally, including the Nightingales.
We took our normal route through and up to Sweeney Viewpoint. Owen Sweeney was a prominent member of local bird groups and was in no small part instrumental in getting the old army camp Lodge Hill, Chattenden designated as SSSI for the Nightingales.
On the way we heard the throaty bubbling call of the female cuckoo and the more familiar call of the male.
We stopped at the viewpoint to admire the magnificent vista across the marshes to the River Thames, Essex and beyond. The Cooling Radio Station 500 yards out will always prompt questions. I was able to give a potted history of its’ prominent place in communications during the Second World War allowing Churchill to talk to the President of the United States.
Walking across the bridge and starting to ascend Northward Hill we heard Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff.
At The Marsh Viewpoint, just prior to going into the wood, we stopped to admire the elevated view of the Marshes, which I think is the best on the reserve.
Once in the woodland with its’ magnificent Oaks and scrub we stopped several times to hear various phrases of the fabled birds’ song, whilst hearing Robin, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Wren and Blackbird.
We then made our way back down the hill, about halfway down (at last) we were treated to two Nightingales full voice in the scrub, everyone got to hear the rich and varied whistles and bubbles of this beautiful songster. Across the bridge we heard a Lesser Whitethroat to add to our Warbler list with the Common Whitethroat as well.
So, back up to ‘Sweeney’ to admire the setting sun, it was after all nine o’clock and everyone was more than happy with the evening, good company, beautiful birdsong and a wonderful sunset making it all the more magical.
My thanks to Trevor Hatton for his assistance.
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.