Twelve members of the Medway RSPB Group were signed up to the walk at Northward Hill today led by myself and Karen Snow.
After a brief update as to where we might find the Nightingales, Karen led her group along the main track up to, eventually Sweeney Viewpoint, we plumped to go left in the opposite direction past the office pond, hoping to hear the Reed Warbler, but no.
This was more than compensated by the two or three Nightingales singing full song from the scrub. We all stood, rooted to the spot, captivated (as usual) by the moment. For me it is the most beautiful of our Country’s Spring sounds and I am constantly pleased when each Mid-April, they return to our shores, and indeed to our part of the Kent countryside.
We carried on up to Ernest Hemsley Viewpoint and added, Jay, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Rook to our Corvid list and the addition bonus of a heard and then seen Raven, the distant ‘kronk’ is diagnostic and unmistakable.
A keen-eyed telescope spotter spotted a far off Marsh Harrier, which is pretty much a ‘given’ at Northward Hill, given a little patience.
Butterflies included. Large and Small White, Tortoiseshell. Peacock and a few Orange-tips.
Looking at Karen’s list for the waterfowl further out on the marsh, I don’t think we could add too much to it.
So all in all a very pleasant walk, with very pleasant company and great to see a couple of new faces