A roving report from Pam

Pam has recently returned from a weeks in Tunisia (it should have been two weeks but the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano delayed the holiday by a week) with her friend Marilyn.

Although she wasn't birding Pam did get a nice picture of a Laughing Dove taken in the hotel.

One of the interesting place they visited was El Djem or the Roman town of Thysdrus, which is home to some of the most impressive Roman remains in Africa. El Djem is famous for its amphitheatre, capable of seating 35,000 spectators. Only Rome's Colosseum (about 45,000 spectators) and the ruined theatre of Capua are larger.

I was fascinated by the pictures of the mosaics that are displayed in the museum. These were used to decorate luxury “villas” of the Roman city of Thysdrus, and are regarded as some of the most awe-inspiring relics of all Roman antiques. I like this stylised Owl, but it is the other birds round it that provide an identification quiz. Send your answers on a postcard (or in the comments below).

There are quite a number of different birds on the piece as well, I can recognise a Heron and I think there's a Bustard and a Partridge but what else?

Did they make a Maltese Cross?

Using the back roads to get from Samphire Hoe to Lydden I came across a building I had either not noticed or not passed before. I looked interesting but unfortunately I was only able to look from the out side because it is all locked up. St John's Commandery is an English Heritage site and it is possible to view by prior arrangement.

Their WEB site gives the following information:

"The flint-walled 13th-century chapel and hall of a 'Commandery' of Knights Hospitallers, later converted into a farmhouse. It has a remarkable medieval crown post roof and 16th-century ceilings with moulded beams."

The Order of the Knights Hospitaller (or the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem or the Knights of Rhodes, or latter, the Knights of Malta) has its origins in Jerusalem.

The Knights Hospitaller Order was founded by Italian merchants from Amalfi. In the second half of the 11th Century, Jerusalem was in the hands of the Sultan of Egypt. Through their business and influence, the Amalfitans obtained the permission to build a house near the Holy Sepulchre. The house was to serve as a shelter for the Western pilgrims. They also built a convent for the Benedictine monks, and a church dedicated to Saint Mary.

The History of the Knights Hospitaller is fascinating and a google book by Dr Helen Nicholson of Cardiff University fills in much of the history, and may be helps give an insight into the current political divide in the middle east.

I am always excited to get a new book, and the Dragonflies of Kent by John and Gill Brooks is no exception. This is a follow up to their original Kent Field Club publication and now has added a mass of new information and some wonderful illustrations. Kent has some forty species on the County List and this is an invaluable guide to their distribution and natural history. A wonderful piece of work by two dedicated naturalists.

Three becomes two

A few more moths in the trap this morning, and it included two new species for the year.

Diurnea fagella, is an early spring species, with a wing span of just over 2 cm. The moth above is a male, the females have much smaller wings, the caterpillars feed on a wide variety of trees.

The Powdered Quaker is one of the larger quakers with a 4 cm wing span, in the south Willows are one of the main food plants.

When I got to the monument this morning the group were watching the Serin that had been relocated on the Lees. It was calling it's jingly call frequently and flew to the Paddock and then onto the hedge next to the Droveway.

Once again I failed to get a clear view of it perched and didn't manage a photograph of the bird. Gerald Segelbacher kindly sent me a couple of his very good pictures. Despite the conditions being perfect a few hundred metres inland the cliff top at Bockill and the Lees was extremely foggy with poor light, there are a couple more of Geralds pictures on the Bockhill page of the KOS Website.

Later two Raven flew over Bockhill farm, being mobbed by a Peregrine, which looked like a mosquito in comparison! I had a walk round the Paddock later this afternoon and relocated the Serin, which flew to Mc Swiggans, again managing to avoid my camera lens! A pair of Mistle Thrushes were collecting food, presumably they're feeding young.

I only noticed the other day that the three radio masts (the Three Sisters) had become two. I've been told that the news was in the Kent papers, but some how I managed not to know about it. I'm surprised that something of historical significance has been demolished, especially when you think of some of the monstrosities that are preserved as listed buildings. I gather that the demolition too place on March 24th. There is a good photo here and a lot of comments about the demolition.

The eleventh Hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh Month 1918.

Today, as everyone is I am sure is aware, is Armistice Day. Ninety one years ago peace was declared and the first World War ended, well at least on the Western Front.

Six years before that, on that very day day Irene Buttress, daughter of Bert and Lillian Buttress was born. How it was that they named my mother Irene, which is derived from the Greek and means peace, six years in advance of that day I'll always wonder at. She's with Pete in the photo above.

For the first time for many many days I didn't press the button on a camera once today. After the nostalgia, brought about by the day, I thought I'd take a quick look at previous years. 2005, a Grey Wagtail in the garden.

2006 a Green Woodpecker, also on the lawn (grass, it doesn't deserve to be called a lawn really).

In 2007 I was in Queensland Australia, at Atherton. I found a small flock of Sarus Cranes in a field near the road and watched them dancing.

Near by was a Willie Wagtail, although not related to the old world Wagtails, it does have some similarities. They like perching on petrol station roofs , for instance.

Last year, it was a Pied Wagtail in the Bay. I obviously could find a wagtail in 2006!

Ever wondered what it is?

Today wasn't nice. The wind got up to 50mph in gusts and the rain was nasty. To compound it, the cold that I was developing in Clitheroe came to it full blown maturity today and my ears, throat and all my joint ache. It's a good job that the medicine I take for colds is so palatable, hot Whisky, (or better still Whiskey if you got some Jameson's) honey, lemon and sugar. It probably doesn't work, but it is at least worth trying.

Looking at my study window there were a few drops of rain, had I been looking west instead of east there would have been many more.

When I was at the vets the other day, visiting a sick Bonxie, I finally got to see what this doorway was all about. I've passed it dozens of times but never stopped to look. It is the remains of St Jame's Church, and is almost nest to the swimming pool.

Originally a Saxon church it is assumed that St James's is one of the three, unnamed, Dover churches listed in the Domesday Book. The present structure dates from about the 12th century. As well as being a place of worship the church was also the meeting place of the official courts of the Barons of the Cinque Ports. Their last meeting was in 1851 and was presided over by the Duke of Wellington as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

By the 19th century the old church was in need of enlargement and restoration. It was decided that it was not possible to build a sufficiently large church on the old site at the top of St James's Street, and a new site further north on Maison Dieu Road was selected.

The new church was built between 1860-2 and when it opened became the main parish church. The old church was used by a group of French protestants for a few years and was eventually restored in 1869.

This picture, copied from the information plaque, shows the original church.

The old St James's was severely damaged by enemy shell fire during World War 2. It was hit several times by shells, the tower eventually collapsing. In 1948 it was decided to leave it as a ruin to commemorate the people of Dover who, like the church, suffered much during the war.

The new St James's Church survived the war relatively unscathed but much of the parish it served lay in ruins and it was declared redundant and demolished.

A wander round

I had a walk from the house, along Kingsdown Road and then took the footpath just before Old Stairs Hill, over to Bockhill Farm, passing the edge of the Golf Course. The highest point here give a fine a round view. I took a few photos of some of the things that most appealed to me.

At the moment there are an enormous number of Crane Flies (Daddy Long-legs) around. This always gives rise to the most amazingly stupid and hysterical comments in the papers and on the TV and radio about the terrible menace they are. They do of course represent a good source of food for some of the birds that are now forming small feeding flocks. I noticed a good mixed group of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, with a few Chiffchaffs moving along the hedge next to the Golf Course.

There's a lot of food available at the moment. Anyone who has rung (banded) Blackbirds at this time of year will quickly find out that Blackberries form a major part of their diet.

There are good numbers of Sloes around as well, these have other uses, although I'm not really a Gin drinker, a drop of sloe Gin a Christmas makes an interesting tipple.

Looking east the cliffs at Cape Gris Nez were clear today and the French Monument can just be seen.

Turning left the view across to Ramsgate Harbour was a bit hazy, but the white cliffs at Pegwell stand out.

I always enjoy the panorama from here, the Ripple Windmill prominent in the comparative foreground, with Manston Airport behind.

From up here it is easy to see how the hedges from the cliff top lead down to the small farm wood. The hedgerows are important as the road ways for both bird and small mammals, and far too many have been removed from the farm here.

While I was scanning the area one of the avian success stories of the last two decades, a Green Woodpecker, yaffled loudly and landed on a tree not far away.

Isolated in one of the fields here is another of the remnants of the war years. I'm not totally sure what it was, I presume it held a gun, it certainly has a good view across the Channel. Big Bruce, an earlier feature, is about 200 metres down the hill.

Dr Who was here!

Adisham is an ancient village dating back to the seventh century. Now-a-days it is some what overshadowed by the small town of Aylesham that was built in the 1920s to provide home for the miners in the Kent coalfield that had been open in the early 20th century. More recently the village featured on Dr Who, when it was the scene of a martian invasion.

When you enter the village it is surprising to find this large church situated on a small hill above the triangular village green.

Christ Church, Canterbury was granted a church in Adisham in AD 616. The present building dates mainly from the 13th century. One thing that probably explains the size of the Church is that the monks of Christ Church once had a Priory here in Adisham but along with so many of these establishments, they disappeared at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries.

The Church is unusual in Kent because of its crossing tower with the pinnacle roof and cruciform design. The Church became this design in the 14th Century when transepts were added to the Norman Church.

The tower was originally castellated but was shortened and restored with its present roof as the result of repairs required in the mid-1800's.

I obtained information about the Church, from the excellent Kent resources and British History on Line as well as James Anthony Syms "Kent Country Churches - continued".

Stoned Thrice!

Today I had the pleasure of taking a contact from Oregon out for a days birding before he went on to Mongolia. Having picked him up from Heathrow the first objective (after a quick cup of coffee) was to see a Stone Curlew. Luckily I had some help and we headed west into Hampshire to a site, where a friend had been watching a pair yesterday. Once we got there we scanned the area for about 15 minutes without luck. Then magically I caught a glimpse of the wing bar moving in the view I had in the scope. Although the bird was too far away for photos it continued to give great views to Mike for a while and our first target was in the bag.

The second thing on Mike's list was more predictable, and not too far away. So it was back on the A303 and join the queues going west. A few slowish miles down the road saw us parking at Stonehenge. As you can see, I'd arrange with English Heritage (and photoshop) to have the area clear of any other people.

It is a long while since I last visited Stonehenge, in those days there were no ropes, no walkways and I took pictures of the kids leaning against the stones in these arches. I have to say that I think English Heritage have done a great job on the site, and better still being a member parking and entrance were free!

I wonder if those ancient Druids ticked off ancient Pied Wagtails while watching the sun come up?

Mike was impressed, having been to a National Geographic exhibition about Stonehenge, he's now seen the real thing.

On then to Thursley NNR, in Surrey. This is one of my favourite away day places, it is one of the largest remaining fragments of Surrey heath and includes areas of lowland heath, mire and woodland. Although some of the woodland and heath was damaged by a large fire in July 2006 most of the species that make it special are still thriving. The Tree Pipit (above) performed beautifully.

It commenced it's song flight from the top perch and then parachuted down to the pine above. It is one of my favourite songsters, but at Thursley it is outdone (see below). Nearby we watched a male Stonechat doing its clinking stones call as it sat on top of a gorse bush.

Another of the special things at Thursley offers is the intriguing Sundew. These insectivorous plants bring a touch of the exotic, although this group appears to be going hungry at the moment.

The one sound, above all others at Thursley that I love to hear is the song of the Woodlark. We saw two pairs, both walking along the tracks, one carrying a caterpillar and a group of four. Each time they were fairly quiet although a few subdued "tit-too-lit" calls were heard. Finally, just before we got back to the car park, we heard one singing it song of pure notes. It was a it of a cheat though, instead of performing its song flight it was using a telephone line to sing from. The one down side was that we failed to find a Dartford Warbler. The cold weather has obviously had a major affect on the population here, although I hear that they fared better in the new Forest.

Nonnington - historic village

Nonnington is a small village about halfway between Canterbury and Dover. It has been associated with the Kent coal field and is close to Snowdown Colliery, but it is also a village connected with the more traditional Kent industry of agriculture. The history of the area is rich and varied and there are two superb WEB sites connected with it. The first is Nonnington - Historic Village in Kent, and the second is Clive Webb's History Book of Nonnington. Both include information about the historic church.

In addition there is an interesting booklet available in the church "Walk-round Guide to the Church of St Mary the Virgin". Together these publications give a fascinating insight into the history of the area. There has been a church on the site for over 700 years. The beautifully kept grounds and building make it one of the most attractive in the area.

Although the church dates back to Norman times the porch is very obviously Victorian.

On the South-west corner of the church the War Memorial for the Great War of 1914-18 has been incorporated into the buttress. I haven't seen this done anywhere else.

There is a simple square flint and mortar tower. The battlement on the top of the tower had no defensive purpose at all.

Only the cross beams in the wide nave are old. perhaps from the late 1300's.

The large organ dates back to 1906, and is a dominant feature.

This decorative window is comparatively modern. The older windows are plainer and smaller.

There are four large coats of arms above the plaques on the south wall. These are memorials to the Hammond family. On the east wall there are a number of memorial plaques to the Plumtre family. There is a great deal more detail about these in the book and on the WEB site.

The whole village is well worth a visit and I shall return having done more homework before my next visit.