I had a look around Kelsey Park after lunch , but even with no children and bikes , but still plenty of dogwalkers , there was not much different in what I found . On the end of the island that forms the Heronry , I found this Cormorant that is in almost breeding plumage , with it's
white patch on it's leg , and it's head taking on a colourful hue . In the heronry itself , I counted at least 6 birds sitting on nests , several flying to and fro , altogether making a total of about 20 . I had to smile to myself with these birds , standing on the island , under the nests , like fathers 
waiting outside a maternity unit . One new addition to the scene was an Egyptian Goose on the 
other smaller island in the lake , the first I have ever seen in the park , and could well be one of the four seen by an angler at Hayes Trout Fishery , as it isn't far between the two sites . At the 
end of the lake , the water tips over this little waterfall , before reaching the town of Beckenham , where it runs underground and in culverts , before appearing again in a park some miles away . From the other side of the lake , I was able to get another , bad , shot of the Cormorant , but 
showing the head colouration better . The only half decent shot was that of a snoozing pair of 
Mallard , right alongside one of the paths .It would appear that not just the new lens is playing up , as this seems to have taken for ever to put together , so whoever has possession of the noose , pass it on here please .
Hedgelaying tomorrow , finishing off the hedge at Lingfield , might get a few showers , just glad it's not on Sunday !
in one of the ditches . On the same day , calling in at Fackenden Down , my first Adder sighting
of the year , a very earthy looking specimen , just emerged into Spring sunshine , after spending the Winter underground in it's hibernacula . I had even seen my first butterfly on the wing , a
Brimstone up on the Common . With what has been thrown at us this Winter , such sightings seem so unreal this year . I know I had a hibernating Peacock a few weeks ago in the garage , incidentally , it is still there , having moved slightly onto some cloth that I put to ward off the 
draught from the eaves . Nothing exciting in the garden today , apart from a female Blackbird
that made me take a second look , before deciding it couldn't possibly be a female Ring Ousel . I remember Adam-East Malling , Ditton and Barming saying a while back , that he had seen some similar specimens .
than the new one and lens . The first shot I got included the blind and window frame , but I could see that it was a bird of prey . A bit more blind moving and window opening , with the bird 
looking directly at the house , enabled a second shot that revealed that it was a female Sparrowhawk . At this point I think she realised that I was there , and the third shot was a blurred one of her lifting off and flying back down the garden . Carol saw her go from the dining room and shortly afterwards , went out to put more food down for the Finches . I was still upstairs and Carol's presence started to attract the usual species . Then from half way down the garden , the Sparrowhawk lifted again from where it had perched and settled in a big Willow in the garden behind . I grabbed my new camera , but halfway down the garden , she spotted me , lifted off again , and that was the last we saw of her .
islands turned out to be a Common Snipe , feeding in the now sunshine . I watched it for some time , then had a second flash through the binoculars . I saw the second one land on a muddy area , then took my eye off it . When I searched the area , I found it , hidden behind a branch , 
the only cover in the area . I thought at first it might have been nesting , but too early for that I think . My solitude of the hide was then 
towards the bird , which in turn shot out of view at a rate of knots . This Gadwall shot shows how quickly the light was fading . When I got to the car , as I loaded my gear , I was serenaded by a 
Robin , and for that , felt he should be included in this post . This shot was taken with the 100mm lens .
the window , but most of the time , there were only Woodpigeons either hoovering up everything on the ground , or sitting waiting on the neighbour's fence to get a look in . The other 
often viewed species was the Grey Squirrel , this one being one of at least 3 frequenting the 
feeders all day . I think even the Rose Ringed Parakeets got fed up with the rain , keeping well under cover whilst they fed . Didn't see any Goldfinches today , unusually , but there were good 
numbers of Greenfinches , some arriving in pairs to feed . Most numerous Finch , as usual , was the Chaffinch , and even in the terrible light today , the male coming into breeding colours is 
certainly a striking bird . The best sighting , and the worst shot of the day , was a brief visit from the female Blackcap . She sat nice and still whilst I got the camera ready , then got spooked by 3/4 Jackdaws , swooping down from the roof . As the shutter went so did she as you can see 
from her tail .
browny/beige juvenile feathers , the 2008 brood , having lost those feathers , but still sporting 
the dark bill , and two pairs of adults , sporting the orange bill with the black knob . I think , from it's size , this one was a female , but as always , I stand to be corrected . Of interest , Mute Swans were brought back from Cyprus by Richard the Lionheart , after his third crusade . The Heronry on the island was very busy , with several nests occupied . The one I posted last time still had a bird sitting , and when I got talking to a lady who is a 'Friend' of the Park , and who visits the every day , young birds were heard calling at the weekend . Whilst I was talking to her , the Heron in
the middle of this shot flew in , and changed places with it's partner , settling down immediately on the nest . The original sitter , moving to the right , before flying off , probably to feed , the
replacement sitter already tucked well down , almost out of sight . The usual Canada and Greylag Geese attempted to 'mug' all passers by , especially children with loaves in their hands . On the far side of the lake in a more wooded area , I heard then sighted just 2 Redwing , and 
they soon flew off . In the same area was this Mistle Thrush , looking very colourful in the sunshine , against the blue sky . All over the Park , Rose Ringed Parakeets were screaching , and 
several pairs were working on proposed nest holes . This is probably the male , working hard , whilst the female tells him how to do it . Sorry ShySongbird , I couldn't help myself with that one ! Not a lot else of interest , but as I was returning to the car , 4 Jays flew to the top of one of the large trees at the entrance . Three flew of almost immediately , but one remained for a short 
while , enough to try for another shot . Once again , the branches managed to mask the bird , I'll get a clear shot one day , perhaps . The main reason for leaving was that the sunshine had attracted even more dogwalkers and loads of children and their bikes and scooters .
one of the unused horse paddocks , were 11 Greylag Geese , proper ones , not the farmyard mixed types that I usually see here . Only other interest were 2 male Egyptian Geese on the field next to the lake , this one definately not wanting his photograph taken , but I took it 
anyway .
perched and posed on one of the headstones in the older part of the Cemetery . Following the tramway into the Country Park , I found the first of at least 5 Kestrels , a female sitting in a low 
bush . I also found at least 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , probably more , all very vocal and most of them unusually feeding on the ground . The male Kestrels that I came across were not 
as happy to pose as the female , and most shots I got of them were 'back-end' , as this one was , flying off as soon as I got the camera out . The expected species turned up , but only a handful of Winter Thrushes , all Redwings , feeding on the ground in an area that had been cleared recently . One Grey Heron lifted from the middle of the Park , and was immediately mobbed by the gang of Carrion Crows that were sitting in a low Elder . Needless to say , there were plenty of RRParakeets flying , noisily about , but still no sign of Siskin or Redpoll .
Black Headed Gull , I think this is a first winter individual , but , as I think Simon mentioned the other day , many are well on their way to Summer plumage , Common Gull , Cormorant , Mute Swan ( a single juvenile ) , Moorhen , Coot , Canada Goose , and a good number of Shoveler , but 
well below their previous maximum , Tufted Duck , and , tagging on with them , the female 
Pochard . On my way back to the car , A Song Thrush was singing his heart out in the middle of another sleet flurry , and I disturbed two Green Woodpeckers , who were feeding on the ground , and flew off 'yaffling' .
on what I would call a very variable section , right at the furthest distance from the the car park . Closest to the car park were the Midland style layers , where they clean off the face side of
everything layed and leave all the brash on the field side of the hedge , and also have a rope binding across the top of the layed hedge , as opposed to our plait type binding .
the other two styles , but it does mean that even a small lamb would not be able to get through it . And , where was all this going on ? At the property of a very well known landowner who lives
in the area . Surprisingly , as I had gone down with a filthy cold and sore throat the night before , I managed a 3rd. place in my Class , and was presented with my certificate by the landowner . After leaving the competition , large flocks of Fieldfares were seen on the fields as we headed for the M4 , and along the motorway , 4/5 Common Buzzards and one Red Kite were spotted .
and surprised me how much difference there is in size between the two . And another of the Jack 
Snipe , still dozing , in amongst the vegetation on the bank . It would have been great to get a few shots of it out in the open , but I feel privileged to have seen it at all .
a Wren that was constantly on the move , searching for anything edible .
minutes , before it disappeared up the gully . Searched the vegetation , without luck for the Jack Snipe , till along came Simon , heading to meet a group for a guided tour of the park , and within seconds , he had found it . I must admit , that if I had searched all day , I wouldn't have spotted 
it , oh for sharp young eyes again . I'm glad to say , the Snipe was still in situ when Simon and his group arrived , and they too were very pleased to see the rarity . I stayed till midday , but apart from moving it's head position , it stayed well tucked up in the dead vegetation .
Redwings , and a large number of Starlings interspersed amongst them . A shot of the three species , taken with the old camera , as the new one will not be coming out with me whilst I am 
working , just in case . In the sunshine , between the snow showers , the Fieldfare made a striking subject , as it searched the grassland for worms and other tasty morsels .
absolutely everything in sight .
