Friday 24.02 NHGP

A visit from 7.30 am till 10 in what was beautiful weather produced nothing new to the list except for my first Common Sandpiper on the Medway for 2012. No sign of Bearded Tits at holborough.

Sunday 19.02 NHGP

A quick one hour today to see if I could photo RH Smew on Brooklands lake as it was bright and sunny. Unable to find smew and no luck with Bittern but a short cut thru the west scrub I managed to flush my first Woodcock of 2012.
A visit to sheppey later in the day but not for birds but did find a large peregrine falcon sitting on a grass hump south side of the Sheppey bridge.

Monday 13.02 NHGP

A slightly warmer day today so walked from home. Allders still mostly frozen but one Red Head Smew in the patch of open water. Tesco lake mostly frozen but other the the usual at least 6 Little Grebes. On to Water Works Bittern who was "Dancing on Ice"

In the same area in the in alder trees there were Redpoll and Siskins. Over the railway and river/sunken marsh path had over 100 Teal.Brooklands Lake a Goosander was flushed.Little on return route

Sunday 12.02 NHGP

A quick visit at 2 pm after a text from Jerry W re Med Gull on Abbeymead plus RH Smew.
Arrived at the same time as Phil S a walk along Brooklands gave us 3 RH Smew in the only bit of open water on Brooklands. Followed by a scan of Abbeymead for Med gull with no luck. We then walked round Abbeymead and along the Riverside and Sunken marsh path hoping for Woodcock. Lots of snipe and activity on the heronry and a flyby of two Goldeneye.
The bucket view point was unproductive but on returning to the car park close encounters with several Water Rail and watched a Marsh Harrier on the otherside of the Medway.

Saturday 11.02 NHGP

Left home at 7.30am the car temp read -10 returned at 10am and it read -3. But none the less a clear blue sky and no wind so pleasant if dressed properly.Started a Holborough the path along the railway gave 3 cock pheasants and one snipe. The marsh itself was completly frozen and nothing was seen other than Coots and Moorhens. The Medway was very low and there were plenty Teal with Snipe,Redshank Lapwings. Further round the river defence wall I was suprised and pleased to see 3 Bearded Tits did not manage to get the camera out on time but while waiting for another opportunity managed to get these record shots.

Is this a weasel or a stoat and is that prey or young ?
Further round this path I managed to see another Bearded Tit.
Then round to Brooklands which was completly frozen

A bittern was seen in the SE corner and a trip to view over Abbeymead found the path still blocked and men working again on a new break in the mains water pipe. Abbeymead was nearly all frozen and all birds were congregated in the small bit of open water.

Sunday 05.02 NHGP

As forecast awoke to 4-6 inches of snow and a welcome visitor to the garden a Reed Bunting. A walk down the lakes was on the cards. Lunsford Lane feeders did not produce Redpoll or Siskin and other than Widgeon on Tesco this was quiet probably due to the amount of people and dogs out enjoying the snow. Bittern was not showing and that end of the lake was frozen anyway. Here we joined Phil Sharp and managed to see a sole Brambling in Trees adjacent to Bittern area. Over the Railway and along the "new" path to sunken marsh and the river lots of Teal present.
A visit to the Bucket gave views of a fly over flock of unidentified waders.Brooklands gave up a Goldeneye and Pintail. Mill stream path did not show the goosander.Still no Chiffchaff but total now 71

Saturday 04.02 NHGP

Another very chilly day ( -2 ) with promise of snow tonight. A call from JW yesterday told of Dunlin on the river from the bucket so today took David to Brooklands car park where we met Phil S who had located the Dunlin but needed the scope to check the ID. He also informed us of a Pintail on Brooklands which was immediatly located and later a Goosander on there as well and then reasonable views of the Dunlin. We then proceeded round Holborough marshes with nothing new but lots of Snipe on the river. The Winter conditions have pepped up the NHGP birds lets hope for some more goodies.

Wednesday 01.02 NHGP

A beautiful sunny day but temperature around zero. A walk from home with David via Holborough marsh /Coffee in Brookland car park . 4 Redpolls on Lunsford lane feeders no sign of Bittern,over Railway and along East side of Abbeymead where we met Terry Laws. Still no sighting of Chiffchaff . Holborough Marsh is very full of water with a good few Teal. The river gave is Lapwing / Redshank as we walked along the sea defence at Holborough a Marsh Harrier was quartering the reed bed and eventually flew up over the Paper Mill being mobbed by Crows and rose high into the sky and disappeared over the direction of Detling Hill. 

On the Mill Stream Path no sign of the Goosander but thanks to Terry did get 8 Widgeon on Tesco lake as we returned Home.