Tuesday 7th. December 2010

With volunteering cancelled for today and tomorrow because of 12'' of snow still lying up on the Greensand Ridge , and thankfully rid of the freezing fog that enveloped the area yesterday , I had to get out and headed for Sevenoaks Reserve , over some roads that are still far from normal . On arrival at the Reserve , still covered in a blanket of snow , and also dressed in a hoar frost , making everything look very Christmasy . Another birder/photographer had arrived just before me , and between the two of us we were making one hell of a racket as we walked on the frozen snow . He went left , so I went right to reduce the noise , but I don't think it made much difference . I headed for the hides by the reedbed , hoping for Water Rail or even Bittern , if I was lucky . Needless to say , I wasn't , and had to settle for a few Gulls taking their morning ablutions , and a male Pochard that was diving for his breakfast just outside the hide . The second hide was even quieter , with just a couple of Wrens fossicking around , but never still enough for a shot . Over the back of the reedbed , a Green Woodpecker was searching for it's breakfast amongst the snow . I had noticed on entering the hide , that one flap had been left open , and some seeds and nuts were on the window ledge . Just as I was leaving , I found out who they were left for , when this Robin landed on the sill , and eyed what was on offer . He took a few small seeds , then attempted a peanut , which he couldn't manage and had to drop . Taking no notice of me , he then proceeded to search the inside of the hide for any other food . Whilst he was doing so , I crushed the peanuts and spread them on the floor , and as I closed the door on leaving , he was tucking into his breakfast , now in edible form . A quick look at the large hide didn't produce apart from the usual , Mallard , Tufted , Shoveller , Teal , Gadwall , Canada and Greylag Geese , and lots more Gulls , including several Greater Black-backed .
Heading round to Willow Hide , I found the whole lake frozen over with the exception of one small area of open water , being kept open by a single Great Crested Grebe . Returning to the main lake , I bumped into the chap I saw earlier , and he told me that he had been trying to photograph a Red-necked Grebe that he had seen yesterday . Why did I make that first decision ? Anyway it had just disappeared behind the island , so started a game of cat and mouse between myself and the bird , that made getting a shot of the Slavonian Grebe at New Hythe like a walk in the park . I got brief glimpses of the bird every now and again , but the two things against me were the light and the distance it could travel under water . I gave up trying to walk quietly , concentrating on trying to get in front of it whilst it was under . Eventually I managed to get a few , what I would call record shots , but I was pleased , as with the Slavonian Grebe , I have seen the species before , but always out of camera range . Fortunately , a couple of the shots were in a bit better light and showed the red on the neck and the yellow on the bill . The chap also mentioned that he had seen Black-necked Grebe the day before , but hadn't seen it today . Eventually the Grebe took itself well out into the lake and started to preen itself , just as a bank of cloud rolled in , by which time my feet were like blocks of ice , so I headed back to the car , getting a shot of an overflying Grey Heron on the way , and having two flocks of Fieldfare fly over . Near Knockholt Station , the road is lined with heavily ladened Hawthorns , and I spotted a few Thrush sized birds as I passed . Turning around and parking opposite , I could see that they were a small flock of Redwings , but still the most I have seen together this Winter . I know it's not sharp , but I couldn't resist posting this shot showing exactly how the species gets it's name .
And finally . Whilst looking through shots taken today to see which to use on this post , I came across a few that made me stop and stare . I can't even remember taking them , and can only assume that I thought I was taking long distance shots of the Red-necked Grebe , but guess what they turned out to be ? I think . Could it be that I got some shots of the Black-necked Grebe , without realising it ?As always , I stand to be corrected . If it is , that's another species seen before but not photographed .

And positively finally , had to include this single Lapwing in the fields behind the main lake .

Have just heard that Thursday's work on the Common has been cancelled , so I will be climbing the walls by Saturday .