Monday 30th. January 2012 ( Part 1 )

It was cold when I pulled into the car park at Sevenoaks Reserve just before 8 o'clock this morning .

As if to prove the point , the picnic tables behind the car park had the slightest sprinkling of snow on them . Whilst getting my gear together I recorded GSWoodpecker , Redwing , Robin ,Chaffinch and Blue , Great and LTTits .Walking down towards the East Lake , a pair of Bullfinches were in a Hawthorn tree . I took three quick shots , all of which were rubbish , was it going to be one of those days , I thought to myself . As usual , I headed for Willow Hide , hoping for another 'dancing' Bittern or even another Pike-eating Cormorant . Needless to say , neither was seen , but the usual species ,

including the likes of this drake Shoveller were on show as usual . Heading down between East and Long Lake , Jay , Magpie , Carrion Crow , Dunnock , Robin , Song Thush and Woodpigeon all showed well . A Grey Heron on the edge of both lakes and at the end , the Rose-ringed Parakeets were still guarding their nest holes . On the spit that juts out into East Lake , another pair of Bullfinches were found , and again , they evaded the viewfinder . From the end of the spit , I scanned the lake for any sign of the Goosanders that had been seen yesterday , but nothing was found . At one point , a Kingfisher flew through the eyeline and then came to rest just 2 mtrs.away from where I was standing , but it then saw me , and that was the last I saw of it . The fields behind the 5 bar gate contained a large number of Canada Geese and a few Greylag Geese , but alas no sign of a Barnacle or white-fronted . Retracing my steps between the two lakes , a couple of drake Pochard were found 

keeping close to a flotilla of Tufted Ducks . A Song Thrush that was in full song , stopped completely and gave me an old fashioned look as I passed underneath , only to carry on with it's song

once I was some distance further on . On taking the little track around the small pond behind Willow Hide , a good imitation of a Hummingbird caught my attention , low down in the vegetation . Could this be another Firecrest ? Unlike at the car park on the Common , a quick playback confirmed it's

relation , a Goldcrest . Between Willow and Carter Hide , the Alders were invaded by a flock of Siskin , estimated between 100 and 150 . Chattering away constantly to each other , they filled the

 tops of 4 Alder trees , this shot contains about 50 of the birds . A bit further along the track , my first Water Rail sighting of the Winter , albeit very , brief . Almost back at the top of East Lake , a couple of small birds some way further down the track caught my attention . There then followed a tantalising , I take one step , they move two steps further away game , so I had to take my shot of a

Lesser Redpoll further away than I would have liked . A few more of the species were found feeding in the angler's car park . The Public Hide produced the expected Common and Black-headed Gulls ,

lots of Lapwing and for once , the Common Snipe were feeding out in the open and joined today by a Pied Wagtail . Cormorants and Teal and lots more Greylag Geese helped fill the islands . Heading towards Tower Hide , I had a similar experience to that of the Redpolls , with a very mobile flock of

Siskin , feeding in the bushes and a few on the ground . Once again , getting any nearer was impossible .
I'm going to leave it there for tonight , and will finish off the visit tomorrow , which will include the naming of a fellow Blogger caught trespassing , red handed .