Saturday 11th February 2012

The car thermometer read -11.C as I left Barming for Whetsted, 20 minutes away, to see if I couldn't catch up with the Hooded Merganser that had been seen by Marcus Lawson yesterday afternoon.  Three pairs of gloves did little to keep the chill from my fingers as the sun slowly rose.

The River Medway was frozen on one side of the Golden Green lock, and water vapour rose from other demonstrating how cold the air was!  At Whetsted the pit was almost completely frozen, with only a small area of free water and this was crammed with wildfowl.  It made quite a sight to see Little Grebe, Widgeon, Gadwall, Coot, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye (single female), Smew (a very fine drake), Red-crested Pochard (two)all crammed into together.  On the ice was a large flock of Greylag Geese and 46x Barnacle Geese!

Unfortunately the Hooded Merganser had left, but I was pleased to add a pair of Goosander to the list as I walked back over the lock gates on the Medway.

Later I cycled into Maidstone along the River Medway from Barming.  I was surprised to see a redhead Goosander on the river by Tovil footbridge, and it was still present but opposite the Lockmeadow complex as I cycled home.  Redwings and Blackbirds were constantly darting ahead of me and I counted 46 on the 2.5 mile journey home - quite some number.  However the best was saved until last; with it almost dark and sure that nothing else was to be seen, I caught sight of a redhead Smew about half way along the river between East Farleigh and Barming bridges.  It was on its own, but as I cycled towrads it a couple of Moorhen shot away from the bank and spooked it.  It took flight down the river towards East Farleigh.  Quite a day for sawbills!

Friday 10th February 2012

With increasingly cold weather coming in I made another quick visit to Bradbourne Lake, East Malling.  Yesterday I managed to dip on what would have been two new patch ticks for me: Egyptian Goose and Curlew (heard).  C'est la vie!  The Teal count was up to 5 birds now (inc. 2 Drakes), with a pair of Gadwall and a female Shoveler added another species to increasing list of wildfowl on patch.  The Lapwings were still on show, and with a bit of winter sun I couldn't resist some more photos.

Wednesday 8th February 2012

Checked out a couple of lakes in the East Malling area on the off chance of a Smew (or two) - Mote Park and New Hythe have both been graced in the last 2 days.  Clare Park between East Malling and West Malling was the first port of call - good to see a Grey Wagtail, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

to the research station and Bradbourne Lake, which produced 3x Teal, 12x Lapwing, Grey Heron and a flock of Black-headed Gulls, one of which had a pinkish tinge to it's breast....but no Smew!

Lots of prints in the snow.

Monday 6th February 2012

A quick sortie across the orchards on the research station, in the snow turned up much of what had been seen on Saturday: the White-fronted Goose was still present and the Deceit of Lapwings had increased to 12.  Their footprints of the latter were found all across one of the fallow fields, indicating how they run from one exposed weed to another!

Another visitor from far materialised in the shape of John Clements, desperately trying to acclimatise from the 36.C heat of Goa to -1.C of East Malling.  Earlier in the day he had a seen Lesser Redpoll in one of the orchards and even a Snipe in the middle of Kiln Barn Road

Sunday 5th February 2012

The predicted 5 inches of snow turned up right on cue as the Met Office has said.  In between sledging and snowman making with my lads I managed a quick patch walk.  Redwings were everywhere in Barming, with good numbers of Fieldfares in the orchards.  Sledging by St Margaret's church saw 6x Lapwing, 3x Cormorant, 3x Mute Swan, 16x Canada Geese, 2x Jackdaw,1x Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk over.

A walk from Barming to East Farleigh via the orchards and back to Barming Bridge via the River Medway towpath turned up a few 'harsh weather' species including 2x Gadwall, 10x Tufted Ducks and 2x Snipe.

East Farleigh (double-click to enlarge)

 Two species of duck rarely seen on the Barming patch (Gadwall, above, and Tufted Ducks, below)

Saturday 4th February 2012

A quick afternoon visit in the biting cold to East Malling Heath and the Research Station.  I tried to add a few species to the KOS Winter Atlas on the Heath, and although the I had 8x Goldcrest, 2x Bullfinch and 30+ Fieldfare, none were new for the tetrad.  

Lapwing, looking surprisingly 'petrel'-like in flight!

Moving onto the Research Station I was pleased to relocate the 1st-winter White-fronted Goose - pretty obvious in the flock today (see photo above).  A Teal and 6x Lapwings were new additions to the year list, the former being only the third I've seen one on site.  35+ Coots, 13 Skylarks, 60+ Linnets, 2x Little Grebe, 3x Mute Swan and 2x Tufted Ducks were also on show in the freezing conditions - even the waterfall was starting to freeze over!

Mystery goose

Spotted this 'small' goose amongst a Greylag and Canada Goose flock in East Malling today. 1st winter White-fronted??....I'm rubbish at geese!!!  Any help appreciated :-)