Friday 19th.November 2010

After two days up on the Greensand Ridge , and yesterday working up on the Common , I couldn't wait to get out this morning , especially as we were fog free and the sun was shining . I set off , as often not sure where to , but soon ran into fog on the M20 . From high ground , the fog could be seen lying the lower areas , and unsure of the weather further on , turned off at New Hythe for a look around Phil's lakes , and who knows , run into the man himself .
I was parked at the sewage works entrance just after nine , and headed straight to the Bittern viewpoint , thinking that it might be around still due to the conditions . A good hour , produced a 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 ,
and the odd specimen of Snowy Wax Cap-Hygrocybe nivea . Also found were a few specimens of Field Blewit-Lepista saeva and over the railway line , on the path to the river , lots of Clitocybe gotropa and Clitocybe nebularis-Clouded Agaric , pictured .
Lots of Bullfinches calling , and the odd one seen along the river , which was just about coming up to high tide , seen through a thick fog . Fieldfares , Redwings and Blackbirds were feeding along the length of the path , and a splash of white caught my eye amongst the green and brown vegetation , which I think is Marsh Stitchwort-Stellaria palustris , which should have finish flowering back in July according to the books .
I didn't go around the Sunken Marsh , but headed back along the railway , not seeing / being able to see much on the way . By the time I crossed the railway and was approaching the Bittern reedbed , as if by magic the sun appeared and the fog started to quickly lift . I'm not sure , but it seemed to be going back up the river , perhaps with the tide turning . Just before the reedbed , a flock of Finches few into one of the Alders and started feeding . Hoping for Siskins , I scanned them with difficulty as all the leaves are still on these trees . I found Greenfinches , Goldfinches ,
Blue and Great Tits and then finally , a couple of Siskins , which didn't stay around for long .

Although I was heading back to the car to get my lunch , I decided to give the Bittern another 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 .
As I passed the diver's car park , I noticed a Swan swimming towards me from the far bank . As 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 .

I finally made it back to the car for lunch , and whilst eating it , decided to have a look at the footpath alongside the Research Station at East Malling , where Adam works . I'll write that up tomorrow .