Monday 30th. January 2012 ( Part 2 )

Heading down towards Tower Hide , the small pond low down on the left , which always looks good for a Water Rail or even a Bittern , did produce some movement amongst the dead reed stems , but eventually the movement took off vertically , and revealed a drake Mallard . My initial view out of the Tower Hide revealed very little apart from Coot , Moorhen , a couple of Teal and a Rabbit . Further searching found at least another 5 Common Snipe , but these were in their usual mode of

feeding amongst vegetation , until one moved out to the waters edge for a wash and brush up .Also on the water's edge was a single Lapwing , some distance from all it's mates on the islands . Perhaps

it wanted to 'be alone' . A Green Woodpecker was also seen , fossicking amongst the dead vegetation at the far end of the reedbed , and half a dozen Greylag Geese flew in and made their way into the

little inlet between Tower and Kingfisher Hides , this one looking very full of pomp and circumstance . I had also been keeping an eye on the open water , finding not much more than
GCGrebes , Tufted Ducks and a few Gulls , when I noticed a bough line being formed by something

swimming at a really good pace , heading towards the beach area in front of the hide . As the visibility got better , I could see that it was a drake Goosander . I followed it across the lake and then checked the beach area to see where it was heading , and found that from somewhere , she definitely

wasn't there earlier , was a redhead/female Goosander ., possibly the one I photographed here a couple of visits ago . The drake paddled into the same area , but never got really close , mind you ,

the redhead didn't seem that bothered or impressed by his arrival . After the drake had a wash and brush up , the pair got their heads down and dozed , slowly drifting further down the beach . At one

stage , they were joined by a drake Wigeon , also in doze mode , that's him top left .With lots of Zs in the air , I decided to go and have a look from Slingsby Hide , and as usual was met by someone who

needs no introduction . All was quiet in the reedbed apart from the usual Coots in the area behind the hide , and yet again , no sign of Water Rail from this usually reliable site . A dispute between a Wren

and a Dunnock out front and a Wren fossicking on the ground directly below , was the only shot managed . A quick look out of Tower hide showed no sign of the drake Goosander , although the redhead , who had drifted even further along the beach , was still there . A scan of the lake found the drake right over the other side , just right of the gasometer , and back diving again . The drake

Wigeon was also mobile , just entering the little inlet , now vacated by the Greylag Geese . I headed back to the car and a warm drink and contemplated leaving it there , but once again decided to have one more look at Willow Hide , and it was on the track between Carter and Willow Hide that I found the trespasser , in the form of Ken / Focusing on Wildlife , looking a bit sheepish at being caught red handed . After catching up , Ken said that he had hoped to find the RRParakeets , the Egyptian Geese and the Siskins , but hadn't been lucky with any of the species , so we set off down the down to the bottom of East Lake where I had seen the RRPs earlier . Three birds were still present when we got there and Ken got a couple of shots in the gloom . We then walked out on the spit , hoping to reconnect with the Bullfinches , but no luck , but whilst showing Ken where I had the Goosanders earlier , found the pair right at the left side of the beach , but only just as neither of us had a scope . We stopped at the 5 bar gate to scan through the geese in the field , but again just Canada and Greylag were found . Just about to leave the gate , Ken took a tumble and recieved a blow to his cheek as he hit the ground , having got his foot tangled in Bramble , but he was more worried about his binoculars and camera . Fortunately , neither were damaged , but Ken decided to call it a day rather than taking the long walk around to Tower Hide that we were thinking about . We never did find the Siskins again , nor the Egyptian Geese , I hadn't seen any all day . As soon as we got to the car , I quickly explained to Pam that I hadn't tripped Ken over then punched him in the face , before he got in with that or another story . Ken and Pam left for home and a sit down and tot cuppa . It was good to meet up again Ken , hope you didn't do any lasting damage from the fall . It would be unkind of me to mention that you should take more water with your drink ! Along the track from the car park to the road I managed to get a full house of Thrushes , sighting Fieldfare , Redwing , Song and Mistle

Thrush and Blackbird , in quick succession , all feeding on Ivy berries .
On the way home , I had a quick look around a couple of small lakes almost over the road from the

reserve and found , sorry Ken , you don't want to know this , 5 Egyptian Geese . Just before arriving home and very close to the farm lake , a Cotoneaster bush overhanging the lane had attracted a large , estimated at 40/50 , flock of Fieldfares that lifted off as I passed like a cloud . I stopped a bit further down the lane but there was nowhere safe to stand on the narrow lane , so I left . 53 species on the day , including the Egyptian Geese , was two down on the last visit , but I was well happy .
This morning , just about 8 o'clock , a similar sized flock of Fieldfares turned up on next door's

Cotoneaster bush , and in just 10 minutes stripped a large area of berries . At this rate , I don't think there will be any on it by the weekend . Glad I did Sevenoaks Reserve yesterday , today it's been snowing lightly all morning and it is bitter .