Wednesday 22nd. January 2014

A catch up in pictures of a few visits made over the last week or so :

The Redwings are almost finished the berries on the Cotoneaster bush next door , unfortunately the bush is in shade for most of the day .

The Laburnum tree on the other side makes a good perch , to make sure all is well before dropping down onto the feeders in our garden .

A morning visit to Sevenoaks Reserve found 6 Common Snipe dozing , and one having it's morning swim , seen from Tyler Hide . Otherwise , just the usual species on the East Lake .

Having found little of interest down at Sutton and Slingsby Hides , I had a look on my way back , finding the 7/10 Common Snipe feeding on the edge , directly infront of the hide . They were well settled and coming closer , when two 'birders' arrived , kicked one of the benches against the hide wall as they sat down , opened the windows whilst talking loudly and declaring 'not much out there , is there' . I didn't reply , packed up my gear and left , as did the Snipe when the bench hit the wall .

In the top of the tall Alders on the way to Willow Hide , 50+ Siskin , the largest flock that I have seen this Winter .

On the horse field alongside the track out , 1 of 2 Egyptian Geese was still doing it's morning PT .

Much further out in the field , a 100+ mixed Thrush flock feeding on the ground , mainly Redwings with a few Fieldfares and these two Mistle Thrushes .

A look in on Kelsey Park in the sunshine found the new season in full swing , but it seemed a bit more practice was needed here .

A Little Grebe had found a substantial meal .

For once it was the Moorhens , not the Coots , that were fighting amongst themselves .

Passing the heronry again , the pair seemed to have sorted things out . Just to the left of their heads and behind was another GH sitting on her nest , and trying to make out nothing was happening .

On the way home , a stop at Keston Ponds found my third new species for the site , a male Pochard .