Having seen and read of the Slavonian Grebe at New Hythe on Phil's/Sharp by Nature's blog , and once again unsure of where to go today , the blue sky and sunshine had me pulling into the car park at Brooklands Lake , just after nine o'clock . I parked next to another chap who was getting kitted out for the weather and binoculars around his neck . As I got my boots on , I casually asked ' here for anything special ? ' . He said that he had seen the Slavonian Grebe yesterday in not so good weather and had returned today in better . That's hand I thought , I'll stick around this chap . From the conversation it was obvious that he was local , and after a while , I asked ' do you know Phil Sharp ? ' , to which he re[lied , ' I am Phil Sharp ' , and thus started a most enjoyable morning with a fellow blogger . We started looking along the Paper Mill end of the lake , and before we got to the first corner , we came face to face with Allan Woodcock/Snodland and Surrounding Area , who as it happens was tracking the Slavonian Grebe along the edge of the reedbed towards us , and gave us our first fleeting glimpse of this smart little bird , before diving and disappearing for a while . When it did show again , it was heading for the diagonally opposite corner of the lake , at quite a remarkable speed , given it's size . We left Allan and headed around the lake , getting just the odd glimpse . From high ground Phil spotted it again , but by the time we got in front , it had disappeared again . Then eagle eyed Phil spotted it again in a small bay in a reedbed quite a distance away , and in case this was to be the only opportunity , I got the camera ready , and 
fired off a few shots , just as it was dealing with a good sized fish it had caught . No sooner was that fished swallowed , the bird dived again , and shortly afterwards , came up with the second 
course of it's breakfast . It then went into a preening session , and we took the opportunity to get closer , but found that this bird could spot a camera from a great distance , and was very good at 
making itself scarce . Eventually , after much trying , a few decent shots were obtained , firsts for me , having seen but not photographed the species before , but , looking back , the most frequent
shot taken , was of the back of the bird , as it once again put distance between us and it .
Phil had mentioned that the river should be about at low water , so we left the Slavonian Grebe in peace and went down to the little outfall to see what was about . On the mud were Lapwing , Little Grebe , Cormorants , Grey Heron , Redshank and , spotted by eagle eyed Phil on the far 
bank of the river , a single Common Snipe , which became 2,3,4, possibly 5 seen during our stay . 
Along with the usual BH Gulls , were a couple of Common and 2/3 Greater Black-backed Gulls patrolling the river as the tide turned . With the tide turning so did the weather as the cloud started to roll in on a stiffening breeze . Phil headed for Abbeymead , whilst I headed back to Brooklands and another look at the Slavonian Grebe , which was now well out towards the centre of the lake . A few more species were seen on the way back to the car park , and am posting a couple of shots for anyone who doesn't often see them ,
Tufted Duck and Pochard ,
and a male Shoveller . Before heading home , I tried for the Goldeneye on the small Alders lake , but no sign , probably because of three angler there . On the large lake , a Great Crested Grebe posed for a shot .
A slow drive down Lunsford Lane once again didn't produce the hoped for Redpolls , but there 
were several very nervous Redwings , feeding on the Hawthorns . Movement high up in an Alder had me grabbing the camera , but it turned out to be a female Chaffinch . 
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit this morning and it was good to put a face to a name . If it hadn't been for Phil's eagle eye , I could well have dipped the Slavonian Grebe shots , so thank you Phil , I hope we meet up again in the future .
Winter , visiting the morning of the first snow flurry of the Winter overnight . I managed to get a 
few shots , but they were through double glazing , the second in next door's Laburnum tree . No 
sooner had I taken them , this Jay arrived noisily , and the mixed flock flew off down the garden . I took the opportunity to open a window and waited . A Blackbird was the first back , 
and started to eat the Blackcap's berries on the Callicarpa , and eventually the flock returned , 
one by one . The Brambling returned to the same feeder , but entered from the other side , with the roof now hiding it at times . Later , it and the Chaffinches moved onto the Pyracantha berries
on the fence line . Carol had mentioned earlier in the week that she had seen the Chaffinches feeding on the berries earlier in the week . The Goldfinch also returned and posed 
for a shot , but the light didn't do it justice . Shortly afterwards , a couple of the local Jackdaws 
chased everything off , probably just as well , as I now had to rush breakfast and get up on the Common .
The tiny brownish cups of Rutstroemia firma ,
and early specimens of Neobulgaria pura var. foliacea .
house recently , the camera was with me , and before I could get out onto the road , I had to wait for this Pied Wagtail , doing a very good impression of a 'road runner ' . Passing cars didn't 
bother it , and even when I did pull out , I had to steer around it . On the way back , I detoured around the roads with the berry laden trees , without any luck , but did find an unexpected cock 
Pheasant on the pavement outside one house . He must have been related to the 'road runner' , 
as he took no notice of me and just carried on doing his yoga exercises .
about afterwards , were these four bitsers , and I thought any one of them would make a good subject for a 'Who do you think you are ?' episode .
very little fungi was found . Under some Scots Pines , I did find a few specimens of Auriscalpium vulgare , a species that I have only found once before . This species only grows on decaying/buried Pone cones , and has spines rather than gills or pores , similar to the Hedgehog 
Fungus that I posted a while back . Oh yes , it's common name , Ear Pick Fungus .
revealed a Blackcap . I'm not sure if it was the light conditions and the distance , but most of the cap looked brown , but the middle looked as if it was coming through black , in my mind making it a first year bird just coming into adult plumage . Another couple of scans didn't produce anything better , so I took the path across the road and down another road where many of the Fieldfares seen overhead were landing . Unfortunately the road is lined with windbreak trees that are still in full leaf , so that didn't work either . Heading back , I reached the 
churchyard again , and finally got a shot of a Fieldfare in a tree on the back wall . I also realised that some of the birds I had heard , were feeding deep in the many Yew tress , on the ripe fruits , but very difficult to see . Keeping an eye on the rows of fruit trees too , I finally found the 
only one I saw on the ground . Whilst in the churchyard I found a specimen of Stinking Iris-Iris 
foetidissima , now in it's fruit bearing stage , under one of the larger Yews . The book says it smells 'sickly sweet' when crushed , hence it's common name .
Thrush , one of several seen and heard showed well , as did the other native relation , the Mistle 
Thrush , showing well against the clear blue sky , and enjoying a meal of Yew berries .
closer , and circled in front of me , it was just a Grey Heron , which then settled in it's probable 
roost , halfway up the lake , on a dead tree . By now the light was going fast , and the moon over 
the Downs was getting quite bright in the evening sky . At 4pm. I gave in , the cold and damp getting the better of me . So the day finished , no Bittern , no meet with Phil ( I've heard since that he was on 'domestic duties' at the Bluewater Shopping Centre ) , no Waxwings and just missed Adam into the bargain .
and a couple of minutes later , spotted the bird , feeding on Rowan berries on a small tree in the road . I managed to get just three shots , luckily with the large lens attached , before a skip lorry came by with chains clanging , and that was the last I saw of the bird . I checked other berried trees around but nothing . After lunch I did the local streets and further afield , but did not connect again .
couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers , almost directly overhead , several Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants , and lots of Coots . The reedbed remained motionless during the hour , but I did have a Kingfisher sighting . Getting chilly , I set off to see what else was about , and getting closer to the railway and river , the fog got thicker . Crossing the West scrub , the amount of 
berries for the Thrushes was incredible , at that went for the rest of the site as well . In the East scrub , I checked out the area where I have found Wax Caps in the past , but like other sites this 
year , they are few and far between . I did find a few Parrot Wax Caps-Hygrocybe psittacina ,
gotropa and Clitocybe nebularis-Clouded Agaric , pictured .
vegetation , which I think is Marsh Stitchwort-Stellaria palustris , which should have finish flowering back in July according to the books .
them with difficulty as all the leaves are still on these trees . I found Greenfinches , Goldfinches ,
shot . All was much the same , but for three Cormorants , hauled out on the small island . Another 45 minute vigil had the same result as before , but I was treated to a mixed flock , 
mostly Long Tailed Tits , with the odd Blue and Great Tit and a single Goldcrest . They flew in and noisily got on with their lunch . Try as I may , I just couldn't get a shot of the Goldcrest , but 
the Long Tailed Tits gave good views .
it got closer , I could see it was the Whooper Swan that Ken posted the other day . As it got closer , two diver's were half in , half out of the water , and the Swan came to within 10 metres of 
the pair . I don't think that there is any doubt that it is semi tame .
1 day ago
