Wednesday 26th. September 2012

A catch up on a few bits of interest both before and during the recent deluges . Before all the rain started , I had a look up on the Greensand Ridge for any signs of Adder breeding this season . Although the conditions were ideal , I failed to find a single Adder , never mind a neonate . It wasn't a totally wasted journey though , as I managed to find a single Slow Worm and 8 Grass Snakes . Five of the latter were found singly , but the other three were found together . The two smaller specimens

were a good size , but the probable female was enormous . The same day , on my return home , I noticed a female Southern Hawker hovering around the pond . On previous occasions , by the time I have arrived with the camera , she has gone or only stayed for a matter of seconds , but this time she stayed for several minutes . She tried to lay her eggs on anything and everything around the pond ,

here attempting to deposit on one of Carol's flower pots . But her favoured spot was the mossy area just by the waterfall . She seemed to lay several eggs in the moss , and was not bothered by my close

attention . I left her to it , and asked Carol not to do any 'garden-heeping' in the area for the time being . The rains could have been great news for hedgelaying last Saturday , but the overnight showers seemed to miss the site that we were working on , and with the ground like concrete , it was impossible to drive in the stakes on the newly layed hedge , so we will have to make another visit later to finish things off . I had promised to help with a small mammal survey yesterday afternoon up on the Downs , and as things started to brighten up somewhat around lunchtime , I decided to have a look in at Sevenoaks Reserve before meeting up for the survey . That brightness didn't last long and the second half of the journey was in driving rain , which was still falling as I reached the Reserve car park , but again brightness was showing from over the West Lake , which duly arrived . I made my way down to Willow Hide , passing a very wet chap who had been caught out in the last shower . I

had the hide to myself and got set up . A good number of Teal , all females , were dabbling in the shallows and of course the Coots were arguing . A scan further out in the lake found a male Pochard ,

dozing , almost on the other bank . Then , from behind the left hand island , my first two Winter ducks of the Autumn , a pair of Wigeon , still looking very much an item , with the drake guarding

every move of his lady . The sunshine was nice , but more darkness was moving in . Whilst watching the Wigeon , a Kingfisher flew down from the far end of the lake and landed in the trees overhanging the island . Following it was what turned out to be a Chiffchaff . As the Kingfisher looked down for a meal , the Chiffchaff searched in the branches above . Twice the Kingfisher moved perched and both times the Chiffchaff followed . I was sure that the next move was going to be onto the stick outside the hide , and was ready for it . When the Kingfisher did fly , it was over to the East Lake , not to the stick , and again followed by the Chiffchaff . Whilst this was going on and the clouds gathered , a second pair of Wigeon appeared from the left of the island and started preening in the shallows .

Then , the heavens opened again , and the pair got a shower thrown in for free . I didn't see it fly in , but at some time during the shower , a drake Teal arrived , and when the sun came out , you could

almost see the smile on his face , the only male amongst the females present on the lake . With the sun , the feeding started up again , encouraging one of the resident drake Gadwall to venture near the

hide and show off his still splendid colours . Leaving the hide in the hope of reaching the car park before the next downpour , a quick look at the East Lake showed hardly anything on the water , but a large collection of birds , probably mainly Geese , down by Tower Hide , but I didn't have time to go down there to see if there was anything else with them . I also noticed that there had been recent clearance in front of Tyler Hide , possibly earlier in the day , which would account for the lack of birds on the water at the Visitor Centre end . I did make it to the car before the rain , but drove through lots of it on way to meet my fellow surveyor . On arrival , it was still raining , so it was wellies and wet gear , but by the time he arrived , delayed by local M25 traffic problems , the worst was over . We headed off to check the 50 pre-baited traps , thinking that not much was going to be out in the recent conditions , and so it proved . Although 11 Wood Mice and a single Yellow-necked Mouse were found in the morning survey , just a single , very energetic Y-nM ( pictured showing the

yellow band running right round the neck , and some very sharp teeth ) and a very wet Field Vole was all that was found , but at least we stayed dry . As I neared home I caught another shower , which stopped just before backing in . Carol was amazed how much rain I had managed to find , as that five minutes before I arrived was all she had had all afternoon . Perhaps that should tell me something ?
Oh , and in case you're wondering , yes , it is still raining as I post this .