PAST TIMES (1969)

November 8th,cloudy,though with some bright periods,cold.

 New Hythe,Brookland lake -water level,nice and low,birds seen - Water pipit (1),Meadow pipit (9),Pied Wagtail (5),Grey Wagtail (1),Lapwing (20),Green Sandpiper (1),Jack Snipe (2),Common Snipe (3),Dunlin (5), nearby - Stonechat (2,pair),Linnet (20),Goldfinch (50),Greenfinch (40) and a mixed flock of (100),House and Tree Sparrows.

I then went over the railway and walked across the area to the lakes at Leybourne,noting on the way,Pochard (6),Mistle Thrush (5),Song Thrush (6),another Grey Wagtail(Mill stream) and a flock of Fieldfare (20),which passed over quite low going in a westerly direction.

Castle lake - Willow Tit (2),Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1),Bullfinch (5),Siskin (30)and Canada Goose (2).A road is now being constructed through the area (M20),no Grebes were seen on either lake and only a few Coot were present.

Feeding in the fields to the west of the lakes,were (100s),of Rooks and Jackdaws,with many more in the air as far as the eye could see,I also saw at least (50) Skylark.