Wednesday 16th December

Another fine frosty start, I noticed Redwings moving about as soon as I stepped out of my door in South St, Barming. Most were dipping in and out of a Holly Tree near the top of the road, I tried to get a few photos, but I needed to move on as I was already running 10 minutes late. As usual I scanned the surronding shrubs and trees to increase the daily species count, I can usually manage 9 or 10 by the time I reach the A26.

In a Silver Birch I picked out 2x Chaffinches and a Redwing, and then 2x Goldfinch flew in, a bonus species on this stretch and then another, slightly smaller bird...a Redpoll! This is the first time I'd seen one in this area of the patch despite regularly scanning the Italian Alder windbreaks that are prevalent in the surronding orchards. It was feeding quite contently on it's own, so I managed to get good views, my immediate impression was Mealy (Common). It looked bulky (although it was about -4.C so may have been fluffed up!), clean with no evidence of any buff wash across the breast or flanks. It had pale/grey cheeks and bold, broad well-defined streaks along the flanks. The wing bar was prominient and very pale. Face-on it looked pretty mean, bulging eyes with bull-neck and broad black bib and very dark lores. It was quite high in the tree but I spent about 10 minutes trying to get some photos, a selection of the better ones (!) below. I'm happy to call Common, but welcome comments/discussion (adam.whitehouse@emr.ac.uk). Seems to be the winter of Redpolls for me this year-I do tend to latch onto species!

Running very late now I effectively ran the rest of the way into work, not adding much more to my morning total; although 6x Black-headed Gulls sitting in the Redstart pub car park was another first, and a Little Egret fly-over Kiln Barn Road was a real bonus. I was 10 minutes late for work!

Tuesday 15th December

A hard frost last night and an excellent day to walk into work...but my wife woreked nights last night so I had to drop the kids of at school/nursery in the car. The orchards were looking an absolute picture, neatly frosted, the morning sun just glinting off the apples. Needless to say the orchard floor was alive with Chaffinches and Fieldfares.

I met up with Phil Sharp (http://sharpbynature.blogspot.com/) at lunchtime, hoping to connect with some Redpolls over Ditton Quarry. When I arrived Phil was already there, fresh but slightly chilled by an a walk around New Hythe. We set off for the wooded area in the SW corner and quickly connected with a couple of Lesser Redpolls. More were found, with Goldfinches in the Alders, and eventually a putative Mealy Redpoll in an Alder with the sun directly behind it! There were a number of Lessers in the same tree, the views were a little challenging, but the clean rose-pink breast, lack of 'buff waistcoat' and grey/pale cheeks gave me the confidence to call Common. Phil was happy, but I wanted better views! The Quarry was bathed in lovely crisp light, but were in the shade looking into the sun. I knew good views could be had if only we could get the 'right side' of the birds, but this was going to time, but I had to leave to get back to work. Good to catch up with Phil though....the Quarry can be a lonely patch!

Friday 11th December

A misty and icy start to the morning, only managing to notch up 19 species on the way into work. I was pleased to see a small party of Bullfinches by Gallagher's Quarry, one bird kept hovering, something I've never seen Bullfinches before, showing off her white rump! Reminded me of the Hummingbird Hawkmoths we'd had in the summer.

Another posed, and any regular readers of this blog will know that I've never managed to get a decent photo of one, despite seeing them most days. Well this one is the best to date, although the mist thwarted me getting the perfect shot!

No sign of the Little Owl or Common Gulls this morning, although Gallagher's Gallop was being put to good use!

A number of people got back to me yesterday about yesterday's putative Mealy Redpoll, and all agreed that it looked good for this species, so thanks to all those who contacted me. I went searching for it today, managing just 20 minutes over Ditton Quarry. It was exceptionally quiet in terms of birds, but very busy in terms of dog walkers! I scoured the Alders in the SW corner of the quarry, located a charm of Goldfinches and then the Mealy Redpoll again. I got brief, distant views and managed a couple of poor record shots again. I didn't see any other Redpolls, the Mealy seemed to be hanging out with the Goldfinches!

Saturday 21st March

Busy day today - had to go into work to pollinate some plants morning and afternoon, we haven't engineered ones that recognise weekends and flower 5 days the stop for 2! Stppoed off briefly to check for Wheaters in the pastures around Oaken Wood, Barming but no sign, nor Marsh Tit or Little Owl. As I walked to the glasshouse at the Research Station (East Malling) a Skylark sang. There are goo numbers of Bee Orchid rosettes around the entrances to the glasshouses - we really do well with this species on site.

In between pollinating we took the kids to Knole Park, Sevenoaks and I was hoping for some birds while we wondered around, but very little showed. I spent most my time loitering aroun dead trees while the kids climbed them - some fanatastic patterns on those that had lost their bark.

Before returning to work in the afternoon I dropped by Ditton Quarry on the off chance of Redpolls. After 10 minutes I located one...then two...then five Lesser Redpolls working through the Alders in the SW corner. Then unexpectedly a Mealy Redpoll joined them giving brief, but excellent, views for a minute or so before the whole flock suddenly took to the air for no apparent reason. I suddenly remebered I'd got work to do (!) so left without trying to relocate the flock.

Tuesday 10th March

Back over to Ditton Quarry this morning and 4x Lesser Redpolls were quickly located feeding in the leaf litter under the alder trees in the SW corner of the site. After 10 minutes, and with heavy rain, I felt this was going to be it, but for once persistence paid off and a flock of Redpolls bounded into view and dropped down into the alders. One by one they dropped to the floor to feed and eventually a Mealy Redpoll appeared amongst them. Again clearly a larger and paler bird, with a lovely rosey-pink breast contrasting against it's pale plummage, compared the 16 Lesser Redpolls. The flock was very flighty and flew off a couple of times before eventually returning to the alders. I got another good view of a Mealy sitting in a nearby willow before the flock flew off high southwards just before 08:50.

I returned at lunchtime to meet up with Ken Beckett who had contacted me to say he'd be interested to see the Redpolls. We saw small numbers of Lesser Redpoll in various Alders in the enjoyable 45 minutes we spent there but unfortunately no Mealies. Someone else has to see them!!! Ken also saw a couple of Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, male Bullfinch and Song Thrush while there.

Sunday 8th March

Only time for a very brief visit to Ditton Quarry this afternoon. I quickly relocated the Redpoll flock and had excellent views, occasionally feeding on the ground below the alders in the south-west corner of the site. Amongst them was 3x Mealy Redpolls, very prominient by their larger size, frostier appearance and blush-pink breasts against the smaller, brown-tinged Lessers. Sorry no camera so no pics.