Monday 16th. April 2012

With blue sky but hard frost and low temperature this morning , I wasn't sure where I was going as I pulled out of the drive . It felt more like those days during the winter when I visited Sevenoaks Reserve , so that was where I decided to start . Arriving at the car park at just 3C on the car thermometer , a couple of extra layers were put on and off I went . I had read recently that the Little Ringed Plovers had returned , so I made them my first target , heading for the Public Hide , with the small islands in front . As soon as I opened a window , I was met by a very cold blast blowing straight from the North Pole by the feel of it . Not a lot of activity apart from the male Lapwing still

trying to attract a female , and being interupted by another male whilst trying to do so . He was still

making that strange clicking sound as he displayed , and at one point two Greylag Geese approached him to see what all the noise was about . Mind you , they couldn't complain , as two of theirs went

into a noisier display to each other , having just mated . Lots of Pied Wagtails chasing madly from

island to island whilst a drake Shellduck just passed by , looking somewhat aloof . Eventually the Little Ringed Plovers showed up , acting the same as the Pied Wagtails , island hopping . It seemed
as if there was just one female , being relentlessly pursued by two males . Every now and again things quietened down as they took a rest , before resuming the chase . Though some distance off , I

got a few shots during one of the quiet periods . When I couldn't stand the wind any more , I went to see how the Great Crested Grebes were doing , they were nest building on my last visit in the next bay . The nest looked finished , but only one bird was around , looking quite lost . Plenty of birdsong

 around the reserve , especially Blackcaps , they seemed to be everywhere . I don't think there was a time when I didn't hear one singing whilst I was there . Mind you , lots of Wrens were also seen , and

many of them were in full song too . Around the other side of the East Lake , 3 more GCG nest that I

saw being built were also found birdless , and out in the lake a pair were still displaying . From Willow Hide , very few ducks , mainly Canada , Greylag and a few Egyptian Geese . In the field behind , it looked like a new lot of lambs had been born , these in better conditions than the last , having to endure the snow . Looking back at the lake , all the Geese seemed to be heading to the far

side , I then noticed a Fox on the far bank , and the flotilla of Geese , now joined by a male Mute Swan , shadowed the Fox as it made it's way along the bank and disappeared into a reedbed , and out of sight . The flotilla moved to the far end of Snipe Bog Lake , presumably tracking the Fox , where

the Mute Swans were nesting . Now the cob thought that the flotilla was too near his pen , and proceeded to chase them off . On Long Lake I found another Mute Swan nest , this time close to the

path , but unoccupied with eggs showing . Close to the nest was the remains of a predated egg ,

possibly the Fox seen earlier .When I passed it a little later , I'm glad to say the pen had returned and was brooding the remaining eggs . The birdsong continued all the way back to the car park , courtesy

this time of a male Chaffinch and a couple of Treecreepers .. Before spotting me , this male Great

Spotted Woodpecker was working on a new nest hole , but he soon disappeared as I came into view .

Passing North Lake , a Greylag Goose looked very settled on her nest , and around Carter Hide , no Kingfishers , but at least 3 , possibly 4 male Blackcaps trying to woo 2 females , this being a very shy

one . It was about lunchtime now , so decided to head up onto the Downs to look for butterflies and reptiles , the clouds were rolling in now , but I'll finish that part of the day tomorrow .