One of the two sallow clearwings attracted to the Sellindge garden this afternoon @birdingbazzer.bsky.social

A nice variety of clearwings in the Sellindge garden this week: orange-tailed (5), red-belted (11), currant (5), red-tipped (2) and yellow-legged (1)

A willow emerald damselfly at cock ash lake near Sellindge this evening. Seems quite early this year. How does this compare with other records @marcheath.bsky.social

Some pictures on a beautiful sunny day in Kent. First twayblade and fly orchid I’ve seen this year.

Many large red damselflies around the garden today and plenty of evidence of their emergence from the garden pond this morning @marcheath.bsky.social

An unexpected surprise this afternoon was a lone early purple orchid amongst the many bluebells and wood anemones at Yockletts nature reserve in Kent.

a Black Redstart was an unexpected visitor to the Sellindge garden late afternoon today, new for the garden list.

Some dragonflies and damselflies from around the Sellindge area in the warm sun this week with large numbers of recently emerged willow emeralds today @marcheath.bsky.social

A few lovely orchids seen in east Kent this morning. A small area of beech trees with many beautiful white helleborines was quite something to see in the dull light.

The amazing fly orchid in Kent today always brings a smile; also lady orchids, twayblades and so many orchid wonderful spring flowers.

It was a beautiful morning around Shuart with the sound of sedge warblers and whitethroats singing all over the marsh, and my first cuckoo this year was lovely to hear.

Some recent additions to the Sellindge local ‘patch’ year list, all seen at Cock Ash Lake

A lovely walk at Minnis Bay this morning with the usual winter waders, 40+ g c grebes on the sea, hundreds of Brent geese and an obliging rock pipit.

A grey heron on a grey morning from a local walk around the Sellindge area. Also c35 siskins, 18 redwings, a grey wagtail, nuthatch and treecreeper at Horton Priory

A short walk from Shuart this morning (still shaking off a rotten cold) a couple of brambling and a white-fronted goose with the local greylags were the best bits.

A lovely Christmas Eve walk around the Shuart area and the 4 snow buntings landed right beside me on the beach at Plumpudding which was a real treat.

A local walk around Sellindge this morning over 40 species seen/heard, best bits were a red kite, 4 buzzards, a sparrowhawk, c30 siskins, 6+ yellowhammers, c60 fieldfares, c80 redwings, a little grebe and 6 tufted duck on cock ash lake.

This kestrel dropped into the garden and enjoyed a bit of a splash in the pond then took a rest in the Kilmarnock Willow