January 26th (New Hythe)

I walked out to the river,across the railway at the southern end of Abbey Mead.Through the east scrub and then back to Brookland`s car park,via the Mill stream.

Birds seen - river (low) Teal cira 60  Gadwall 14  Mallard  26  Little Grebe 2  Redshank 1  Lapwing 6 Kingfisher 1  Great Black backed Gull 1 Common Gull 2 and numerous Herring and Black headed.

As I walked past Brookland and Abbey Mead lakes.I could not help but notice how quite they are now,compared to the beginning of this winter.Coot numbers are way down on the Nov/Dec totals and the same can also be said of Pochard and Tufted Duck.

A nice find in the east scrub,was a pair of Mistle Thrush.A species which is becoming increasingly hard to find at New Hythe.Seven Redwing were also present,this species along with Fieldfare has been scarce in the area this winter (winter berries,especially hawthorn are very poor this winter).

Finches are also scarce,that is apart from Goldfinch.I personally have seen no Redpolls and as for Siskin,I saw just one bird last month.

A singing Blackcap,before the cloud rolled in at the northern end of Brookland lake,just about sums up this winter (mild and wet).

Later I walked across the cereal/hay fields between Snodland and Paddlesworth and saw 7 Yellowhammer.

So far this winter I have had no sightings in our garden of Blackcap or Reed Buntings