Milder today but mainly cloudy.0830-1100,NewHythe.One 40ft net up,only birds ringed,1 Great tit,1 Dunnock and 1 Goldcrest.Walked over to the Bittern lake and found one bird again preening (photo) but I still cant work out how to publish them,so I think no photo.Two Cetti`s were heard and in the west scrub 2 Song thrush were in song and 1 Redwing was seen.

Garden,Male female Reed buntings again and 1 Woodpigeon along with the usual House sparrows 20+,Starlings,1 Robin 1 Dunnock and 2+ Blue tits.Still no Greenfinch and Song thrush (very scarce over last five years at least).Nice male Sparrowhawk seen on the roof of the house opposite.

Milder today with quite a bit of sun.A Buzzard came high over the garden at 1130,it was being mobbed by a B H Gull,it made its way east.Male and female Reed Buntings in the garden again.

Sitting in the conservatory with the wife this morning(Jeanette) she pointed out a small bird feeding in a small Yew tree in one of our tubs,it turned out to be a nice male Goldcrest,only one foot away.Other birds in the garden included a male Blackcap (ringed on the 7th) and a nice male Reed Bunting.Called into New Hythe between 0900-1000,saw the Bittern again in the usual place about six feet into the reeds and half way up the stems (preening),also seen on the 8th at 1430 (preening).A Little Egret flew over the west scrub towards Johnson`s lake and three Heron were present along the mill stream.Back again at 1330,no Bittern but 2 Buzzards were watched over the Downs across at Burham (displaying).

February 11th 1968,Johnson`s lake,1400.A bird which I first thought was a Robin feeding on one of the small islands in the lake,turned out to be a 1st winter female Bluethroat.It was last seen in the same area on March 4th (second wintering record for Kent).

East Malling and Waxwings.

Nice day,clear and sunny,but below freezing first thing.Between o900-1030 saw me at East Malling (orchard behind the church).One Waxwing seen immediately on the top branch of the tallest tree,4 more located feeding on fallen apples.About ten minutes later a flock of between 15-20 birds flew off in the direction of the railway.I then walked along the path and over the railway in the hope of connecting with them again,but no luck.I did however see a Goldcrest in one of the conifer trees along the path.On my return 2-4 were then present on and off.Other birds present were,1 Green Woodpecker,50+Fieldfare,with smaller numbers of Redwing,Blackbirds and Brambling (one of which was in breeding dress).

I saw my first Waxwings at East Malling (Rocks road) during the winter of 1964/65,up to 12 were present in the area from December 25th,into February.They were seen to feed on Hawthorn berries,Crab apples,Poplar buds and Rose hips.

Nice sunny day,but remaining cold.Male and female (unringed ) Blackcaps in garden,also the female Reed Bunting again.Caught up with a Bittern in the usual place at New Hythe,sitting half way up the reeds preening,Kingfisher,several Goldcrests also seen (1630).Male and female Goldeneye on Teco lake,probably the same birds that were present on the Trout lake last week.

First heavy snow for almost twenty years.Male (unringed) Blackcap was back in the garden,along with the Mistle thrush and Wood pigeon.

February 2nd 1963,morning cold,little wind,afternoon snowed.Lunsford lane stream,1 Water Rail.Holborough (river) 1 Rook over,4 Skylark,2Lapwing,1Water Rail,1 Coot,19 Teal,5 Mallard,6 Shelduck and 20 Dunlin present.

February 2nd 1969,clear, but cold and windy.A Hooded Crow was seen flying over Leybourne towards Birling during the afternoon.