How could I make today a better day ? Trespass , not once , but three times .
Having seen Phil/Sharp by Natures great shots of the redhead Goosander recently , I made New Hythe my first trespass , hoping to get some shots of the bird . Phil said it was on the unfrozen water of the Millstream lake , and thats where I headed . Getting to the open water , I scanned the edge of the ice , and there it was , but I was looking straight into the sun , so made my way some way further down the track to get between the sun and the bird . Having got into position , I scanned again , and it was gone . I thought it might be below water , so I got behind some Willows and waited . An hour passed , my feet were freezing , and with no sign of the bird , I
decided to move on . The only interest whilst waiting was this Great Crested Grebe , that came up with a decent sized fish , and was struggling to get it down . I crossed the Diver's Bridge to see if the bird had flown to the Railway Lake , but it hadn't , and a couple of male Shovellers , 
pictured , and a few Pochard and a lot of 'black and white' , Tufted Ducks and Coots , were all 
that were found . As Phil had mentioned , the West and East scrub were alive with Redwings , plus a few small flocks of Fieldfares flying over .Feeling cheated , I moved on to my second trespass , Mote Park , Maidstone , the patch of Simon /Mote Park-A Wildlife Patchwork . Simon had mentioned that there had been two Water Rails on the Old Duck Pond , where last year , I joined him to see the Jack Snipe that was overwintering there . No Jack this time , but it wasn't long before a movement at the back ,
turned out to be a Common Snipe . I watched it feeding for some time , and soon it was joined by 
a second . A third showed up , but never got close enough to the other two to get a shot of the three of them together . Another movement turned out to be a Robin fossicking , and in the 
same area , a Wren , searching frenziedly for it's breakfast . I was about to give up on the Water 
Rail , when the vegetation right at the back moved , and I managed a shot of this secretive bird . I felt well pleased and watched it get closer and closer to the edge of the vegetation , and 
eventually break out into the open . With the sun on it , this was definitely the best view that I have had of the species . How could things get better ? Well , having fossicked around , in and out 
of sight for some time , it jumped up onto some taller vegetation and started to preen . This went on for several minutes , before it went back into the water , heading for the gulley at the back , where it usually disappears to . Trouble was , this time , the three Common Snipe were resting in that area , and as the Water Rail reached them , it flew at them , and they flew off , and that was the last I saw of any of them .I ate my lunch , feeling well pleased , then made my third trespass of the day , another visit to Adam's/East Malling,Ditton and Barming patch , which was on my way back . The churchyard was much quieter this time , apart from a couple of Mistle Thrushes , due probably to the roadworks on the approach track to the Research Station . There were a few Fieldfares in the adjoining orchard , but they were very flighty , as were the many Wood Pigeons in the same area . Things were much noisier as I approached the buildings , with large numbers of Fieldfares , Wood Pigeons and Starlings , but once again very flighty . Often all the Starlings
would lift and land en mass on the wires , this being just a short section of them . I found it impossible to get anywhere near the Fieldfares , so decided to see if I could find the spot where Adam has been watching the Redpolls . I had a general idea , but that wasn't enough , and soon after crossing a railway line , the cloud came in on the wind , and I turned back . All the way I could make out tyre tracks , and expected at any time to find Adam's bike in the hedge , but didn't . On the way back , I did catch sight of a chap on a bike with a reflective jerkin , heading back to the Research Centre at just after 2 o'clock . I wonder if that was him , and I just missed him ? Passing through the buildings , several Fieldfares were seen in the higher trees , but in the 
first orchard on the right I spotted a single bird , quite close to the road . I got a few shots of it feeding on the Apples that are covering some of the trees . Slowly , I moved closer to the fence , taking shots as I went . Eventually , I got as close as I could , and was pleased that the bird carried on feeding , not bothered by me , and as I 
left , it was still in the same place .A most enjoyable treble trespass .
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 .
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 .
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 .
found were several 'foreign' Blackbirds , like the one pictured , lacking the orange bill and eye ring . Three Redwings were found in a large Holly , but no chance of a shot , they were gone before I could get the camera out . About the only other species found was the Robin , even if , 
like this one , looking a bit dishevelled around the edges . Heading home through the woods , the glare of the white snow was subdued in one area , by the needles of European Larch . This is one 
of only three conifers that drop their needles in Winter . The other two are the Swamp Cypress , a native of around the Gulf of Mexico , and the Dawn Redwood which was thought to be extinct for some hundred million years , until found in SW China in the 1940s .
mist , before turning for a look . Down on the large meadow , I came across another two , but 
they didn't hang around either . I late found all three on the edge of the golf course , but once again , they were gone in a flash . 
seen together on a snow free area under a large Yew . Must have been holding a convention .
time practising their acrobatics , whilst having their breakfast . We needed some essentials from the town , so I donned several layers and wellies , and took my life in my hands on pavements that resembled skating rinks . Once I got to the bus route , things were easier , and even better on the main road to the town , but it meant that I had to return to the skating rink again . I managed to get some milk , bread and vegetables , but fresh food was very scarce in the supermarket . I returned home , back onto the untreated roads and pavements . Living on the edge of the estate is good , usually , except when it is forgotten about by the gritters .
Waxwing , held the only Winter Thrush that I saw or heard whilst I was out , a Fieldfare . Strange how both species are usually found in flocks , but both of mine were singles . As I walked along the bridleway, I questioned if I had done the right thing , as a cold mist came rolling down 
the valley . I took a couple of shots , in colour , even though they do look monochrome , but I can 
assure that it was as cold as it looks . It also meant that I saw or heard very little , but even so , it was good to be out again .
on the Pyracantha berries .
came down on Tuesday , had increased overnight to a good 16'' . With snow still falling lightly , it was obvious that it would be another day of sorting pictures on the computer , interspersed with looks out of the back bedroom window . As soon as the seed went down on the path , the mixed Finch flock , more nemerous than yesterday , found it and 
began to feed vigorously . Also feeding well was the Blackbird that has taken a shine to the 
Callicarpa berries that were meant to attract the Blackcaps over the Winter . Another glance out the Winter saw a single Redwing attempting to feed on the Pyracantha berries behind the Callicarpa , but by the time I got the camera , it had disappeared , to be replaced by one of the 
many Wood Pigeons that have been driven into the gardens to search for some uncovered food . Before long , when a fresh scattering of seeds was put down , numbers of up to 15 of these 
'hoovers' took charge of the path , not letting other species get a look in . When they wern't 
about , another opportinist made the most of the bonanza . I also had a sighting of a Goldcrest , flitting about in a conifer , but distance and light conditions were against a shot .
confirmed what I had hoped it would be , a male Blackcap , sitting quietly . After a short while , 
he got down to the matter in hand , eating as many of the Callicarpa berries , before that Blackbird got back . He showed a few times over lunch , but not again once I got back upstairs . The snow has been heavier since lunch and the bird numbers have diminished . I'm hoping that this will be the end of it , as I feel like a caged lion at the moment , with no volunteering or getting out and about .
some birdfood , hoping that the local cats would stay in doors . This was the depth of snow on the birdbath by the rockery , and the path was even deeper . The feeders were draped in the white 
stuff too , but surprisingly few birds were coming to them . The seed on the path only brought 
the usual Woodpigeons , their tracks showing in the fresh fall of snow . Eventually a small flock of Chaffinches showed up , and although I could hear Goldfinches and Greenfinches could be heard , they must have had better fare on offer elsewhere . Once again , the Chaffinches were 
supplementing their diet with the Pyracantha berries .
next doors Eucalyptus tree , I did see how Rose Ringed Parakeets deal with this weather , head under wing and dose , hoping it will all be gone when they wake up . The only other visitors 
spotted were a pair of Collared Doves , really surprising given the conditions .
