Off patch today, with the thaw almost complete we braved Knole Park, Sevenoaks with the kids. Nothing much out of the ordinary - masses of Jackdaws, Meadow Pipit and 8 Ring-necked Parakeets - except the fantastic evidence left by a Fallow Deer, presumably drinking from an iced up pool! 
Just after we left the park a superb male Sparrowhawk sped through the surrounding woodland. Some fantastic lichens on the decaying Oaks as well.
A hard frost this morning, and I was greeted by a Redwing singing from a holly tree opposite the house. Despite the icy conditions there was a feel of Spring in the air, a Dunnock sang from a perch, almost within grasping distance, at the top of North Street and a Song Thrush and numerouse Great Tits joined in the chorus. Both Green and GS Woodpecker were seen by Gallagher's Gallop and 200+ Fieldfare hopped around one of the pastures south-east of Kiln Barn Farm. A female Bullfinch showed briefly by the barn and a Little Owl was flushed from the leylandii hedge. The orchard at the Kiln Barn Road entrance to East Malling Research station held very few birds in contrast to last week, with few apples remaining to be fed on.