Got out today after an early lunch , and although a Sunday , decided on a return visit to Kelsey Park , and the woodland surrounding The Beck , before it enters the park itself . The woodland adjoins a couple of football pitches , and it seemed the world was out walking it's dog , with the kids enjoying their bikes too . Needless to say , not a lot was seen/heard , apart from a couple of GS Woodpeckers and of course several RR Parakeets . Crossing into the park , no sign of the Winter Thrushes seen during the snow , and no surprise really as they had cleaned the Holly trees as clean as a whistle . On the way around the top of the lake , I was nearly mugged several times by Grey Squirrels looking for peanuts , in shells , which several people were carrying around with them . Just the usual Mallards , Coots , Moorhens , Greylag and Canada Geese and Tufted Ducks on the water , but hundreds of BH Gulls , flying noisily about , and snatching what they could out of the bread thrown for the ducks .
Around the other side of the lake , there was no sign of the two people I found sitting on the seat around the tree , or the other one on the grass . At the Heronry , 2/3 of the nest seemed to be
occupied , this adult , probably a female , was rearranging the twigs , and also seemed to be turning eggs , before settling down again , deep in the nest .
All if this going on under the watchful eye of what could be her mate .
Quite a large section of the lake has refrozen , and amongst the large number of BH Gulls , there was a juvenile Common Gull , looking totally out of it's depth amongst the others .
The BH Gulls were mostly sporting their winter plumage , with the dark spot behind the eye ,
But , every now and again , I came across individuals who have started to get the chocolate head colouring , their Summer plumage .
I found the female Pochard , tucked up under the opposite bank , but , no sign of her mate , but whilst looking , this Little Grebe , bobbed up from feeding on the bottom .
The Mandarin numbers have dropped to 6 ( 4M,2F) , from the 20+ on my last visit , and I was surprised to see that they were mating , as my book says 1 brood , April/May The female 
seemed quite happy about it , having a quick 'wash and brush up' afterwards , and then getting on with feeding . The males , when not mating , spending their time arguing , strutting and 
snorting amongst themselves . I never tire of looking at their plumage , and often think to myself that it would be almost impossible to paint the colours of the feathers on their head and neck .
Cloud started to roll in as I was about to cross back over to the woodland , but just before going out the gate , this Robin appeared out of nowhere and posed . 
The return through the woodland had no surprises , but with the temperature falling , it was a brisk walk back to the car .
scolded by this Wren after ten minutes , at least I knew that I was not completely alone on the site . The paddock that contained all but one of the horses , also contained a flock of 40/50 Redwing and a handful of Fieldfare , feeding on the ground at a good distance from the track , and very flighty . 8 rabbits were feeding in the field next to the Trout Fishery , right at the far end . The Fishery itself was the quietest I have found it this Winter , with the pair of Little Grebe diving for food , right over in the far corner . As I was leaving , an angler was putting his gear in his car and I asked if he had had any luck . 'No was his answer , and I can't even feel my hands' , no surprising , as the wind was really whipping across the lake , which is at the highest point of the farm , and really bitter . He did mention that about a week ago , there were 4 Egyptian Geese on the lake , 2 more than I have found there . Unsurprisingly , RRParakeets overflew several times during my visit , and on my way back to the car , I located , at a distance , the mixed Finch flock . I headed over towards them , hoping for a shot , but well 
before I got there , they lifted off and settled high in an Oak . Looking through the 15/18 strong flock , there were no Chaffinches with them this time , being alost entirely Linnets , with just a
couple of Goldfinches amongst them . Tomorrow , coppicing near Dorking , to get materials for the Lingfield hedge , in forecasted temperatures , even colder than today .
several Great Tits were 'teachering' incessantly . The odd Greenfinch and a few Wrens were all 
the smaller birds seen , until I came across this Robin , with attitude , giving it the old 'watching me watching you' scenario . A good number of Carrion Crows were gathered right in the middle of the park , a couple of RRParakeets flew over noisily , and the BH Gull numbers were still building as I got back to the lake . I noticed that the Lesser Black-backed and the Common Gulls were still in residence . A final scan of the lake produced the female Pochard , asleep amongst the
overhanging branches , just a shame the sun wasn't on that brown head and neck . Just before 
leaving the platform , these two appeared from nowhere , looking for a final meal of the day ( sorry again Warren ) .
cage , and I was beginning to think that this was what Carol spotted , until this little chap 
appeared . He's sitting still here , but made several dashes into the cage , to fill his pouches , disappearing for a short time , then re-appearing again , to refill the pouches . Not the best of shots , but it was taken through double glazing . Also putting in an appearance was the resident
male Robin , who , I have noticed today , has found a mate . Another sign of the 'S' word , with 
the first Snowdrops in the garden coming into flower . With being imprisoned today , I kept a good eye on the feeders , hoping for that elusive 
berries remain now . A pair of Coal Tits came to feed , but did not co-operate by getting in the same shot together . A pair of Blue and Great Tits also managed to evade the lens together . The Greater Spotted Woodpecker made morning and afternoon visits , and has got this Sunflower 
Heart thing down to perfection . As I said most usual species came through the day , but this
Collared Dove posed best , so am posting it .
came when this Starling spent a good 3/4 minutes bathing , and managing to completely empty it whilst doing so .
one of each , side by side , on the ground for comparison , the 
separate species in the one shot . They were a good distance off , in poor light , but shows Common on the left , Lesser Black -backed at the back , and two Black-headed . The area around
the viewing platform was ice free , and about a dozen Shoveler were feeding , swimming along , and filtering food out of the top surface of the water , with their massive bills . unlike the male 
Tufted Duck , who was getting his food from further down in the water . The only new resident 
that I could see , was this female 
tree where the paths cross . Could be the same one I photographed last visit . Crossing back into the Cemetery , I had another Green Woodpecker sighting , but not a picture . The only other 
again , the bird managed to get it's head behind a branch , I'll get a clear one , one day .
Little Grebe , Grey Heron , 
rising sun at 
this afternoon at 
Goose , neither lifted their head or moved at all ) , Teal ( female centre left , male centre right , again at 
Hen Harrier ( ring-tailed female seen at both 
Marsh Harrier ( 2 seen at 
Merlin ( seen at 
bad record shot of her in flight , she then headed across the other side of the site ) .
Red Legged Partridge ( a flock of about 15/20 seen between 
Pheasant ( several seen at 
Lapwing ( probably the most numerous seen species today ) , 
Curlew ( this was just part of a large flock lifting off from one area , then settling on another at 
grass , about 20 metres from the track . With binoculars , I could see that it was in fact a Brown
Hare , in it's form , Looking as if he was warming up in the morning sun . It never did move , but on my return , it had gone . I saw two others bounding across the field in the distance , but by the time I got there , they had gone .
that it worked out for me , but not for the driver of the car , parked on the slipway as it was so busy there .
