‘I indulge myself in some local bird-watching further afield on the marsh, with my trusted spaniel happily tagging along. The recent avian highlights have been the return of both nightingales and turtle doves from their overwintering climes in Africa’
Well, what a busy close season it has been, the cottage is being redecorated, there are boxes of books, ornaments and artwork stored in different rooms along with the barn. All this has made finding things a little tricky as well as negotiating a safe route through the collective clobber to access the tackle cupboards in the study for the essential annual maintenance of rods and reels before the glorious 16th June…
Fortunately, I’m a patient chap and have resigned myself to a longer period of inactivity with all things tackle related and left the decorators to work their magic whilst I indulge myself in some local bird-watching further afield on the marsh, with my trusted spaniel happily tagging along. The recent avian highlights have been the return of both nightingales and turtle doves from their overwintering climes in Africa, both of which have put a huge smile on my face. These species are red listed in conservation terms as their numbers have decreased dramatically over the past four decades.
The goldfinch, yellowhammer, blackcap and greenfinch appear to be doing better in these parts currently, perhaps due in part to the recent planting of a new 300-acre forest hereabouts, along with swathes of new orchards, both of which are good habitat for a wide range of species including insects and mammals.
From a birding point of view, I am now looking forward to hearing the unmistakable tick-tick-tick of the Grasshopper Warbler, which sounds remarkably like a centrepin reel with the check engaged. I located this secretive little bird over on some scrubland adjacent to the forest late last spring and I spent many hours with my binoculars trying to sight it and even though its distinctive call gives a clue to its whereabouts, finding it in the lenses wasn’t at all easy, but perseverance eventually paid off.
Upon recent local wanderings the whitethroat, bullfinch, skylark, reed bunting and flocks of linnets, to name but a few, have all made their presence known to me.
Spring is such a wonderful time of the year to see and hear the birdlife as they pair up and commence their annual breeding season. With the rivers closed to angling exploits it offers a country soul another dimension or indeed a distraction from thinking about piscine pursuits and a marvellous one at that.
Even during the spring my heart is never far from the marsh, it is after all where I learnt to fish and although my visits may be less frequent than they are in the summer months when I am earnestly trying to track down tinca tinca from the myriad of rivers and drains which criss-cross it, there are those mornings where the draw of that forgotten, haunted landscape is overwhelming.
I find myself turning the key, firing up the defender and heading south with binoculars or camera to hand. Some of the species I’ll encounter will invariably be those that I see closer to home but there are many which I will be more likely to witness down there: hobby, swallow, cuckoo, heron, egret and a plethora of different warblers such as sedge, reed, Cetti’s and willow et al.
On a recent visit I was fortunate to witness a pair of marsh harriers engaging in their courtship ritual but a short jaunt from a renowned marshland public house, which was quite incredible given how busy the establishment was on a warm mid-spring afternoon, with lots of comings and goings. The birds, it appeared,had little concern and were oblivious as were the customers to each other’s presence. I rather enjoyed the paradoxical situation playing out before me as I sat hidden in the long, fresh, bankside grasses of the drain, with the boy sleeping and nestled comfortably beside me.
Upon returning home, my beloved girl reported hearing ravens in the vicinity of the old manor, something neither of us had witnessed so close to home before. I can’t be in two places at once but am now keen to record a sighting myself of these impressive birds in the coming days as these are less than frequent visitors to these parts.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, British Trust for Ornithology and other wildlife trusts, amongst many nature-friendly organisations, are encouraging us all to be more conscious of our precious natural environment, to protect and nurture it for once it is gone, it has gone forever. I implore you all to support the sterling efforts that these organisations make in protecting nature and encouraging others to do so too. For, if we should lose it, recognising that we too are part of the ecosystem, we would be quickly bringing about our own demise. So, pick up those binoculars, grab the bird book, pull on the walking boots, take a wander and embrace what you see…and most of all enjoy.Life is definitely too short for just going fishing…
Writing & Images R.B. Traditional, Kent – June 2026
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