Sunday 16th December

My birding this weekend was limited to a walk along the River Medway between Barming and Teston Bridges. The ground was still frozen in places, with a thin layer of ice formed acroos the lock at Teston. 3x Grey Wagtails were seen en route, feeding around the numerous streams that feed down to the river, a Kestrel scanned the river bank from the old orchard and a female Sparrowhawk loomed high aboce the fields towards St. Margarets church. Small parties of Greenfinch and Goldfinch were encountered, and although Bullfinches were heard, none ventured out from the dense shrubbery lining the railway line. I was hoping for Siskin or Lesser Redpoll on the numerous alders en route or possibly a Snipe in the stream culvets but none of these were seen. Finally a single Kingfisher was seen flying from the river towards the grounds of Barnjet Priory.