This was the first walk under the newly relaxed Government Guidelines we could have this year. We were fully booked at 30, however the weather during the late afternoon and into the early evening was not looking good with showers locally heavy and light.
I didn't actually count the attendees myself, but I think there was about twenty of us all together, maybe a tad more.
Rain was threatening all the time so I decided to dispense with my normal talks about Medway Council and the Nightingales at Lodge Hill and do that en route as it were.
We made our way on to the site and along to the gravelled path leading eventually to the sea-wall and the top end of Flamingo Pool, we walked slowly and methodically listening intently, only the ocassional Blackcap and Blackbird sang, interspersed with a Cettis' Warbler.
At the sea-wall we agreed to split into two groups with me and Warren as joint leaders to double our chances of getting a Nightingale to sing, as we met up some 20 minutes later, no-one had heard the iconic songster. Oh well thats' wildlife watching for you.
We did however see, Grebes, Little and Great Crested, Coots, Tufted Duck, Mallard and three Common Terns overhead as were a dozen or so Swifts over the car-park
My thanks to Warren, Des and Carol for their organising etc. Ed and Lesley for their help.
Depending on how it goes next Thursday at Northward Hill I may have to think about squeezing in a couple of unscheduled walks next week when the weather is supposed to improve.
That said everyone appeared to enjoyed themselves, even though none of theNightingales took after Gene Kelly, Singing in the Rain!