Brook House and Johnson`s Lake,late 1970s.

New Hythe,12th March 1981,sunny and mild,sw.

A pair of Ringed Plover are back on the sand-flat area (east and west scrub).Between 1980-1983,up to two pairs each of the above and L R Plover,along with a pair of Redshank and Lapwing bred on this site.Before the area had become suitable for this to happen,there had been two small lakes,which were then infilled.

Garden update,12th March.

The last of the wintering Blackcaps (male) was seen on February 27th.Reed Buntings have been less regular over the past week,although a male,with a very nice black bib was seen of the bird table for a short while this morning.

New Hythe lakes,March 5th.

Colder today,though quite sunny.Started from Brooklands lake,on which were 4 G C Grebes,2 Mute Swans,30 Tufted Duck,25 Coot,6 Moorhens and 30 B H Gulls.Walking past the sunken marsh a few Redwing were about the Hawthorns,along with 4 Bullfinch.The river held (which was high) one G B B Gull,2 Shelduck and 30 Teal.At the Heronry I could see at least 20 occupied nests.On Abbey Mead there was 9 Shoveler,1 Little Grebe,4 G C Grebes,25 Tufted Duck and 45 coot.Four Cetti`s were heard in the area.The railway lake held,12 Tufted Duck,2 G C Grebes and 10 Coot.On Tesco,80 Coot,4 Canada Geese,12 Greylag,10 Mute swan,4 Mallard,20 Tufted Duck and 4 G C Grebes were present.On the streamside lake,more Mallard were present than is usual at least 15,along with 2 G C Grebes,2 Little Grebes,8 Gadwall,45 Tufted Duck,2 Greylag,4 Canada Geese and 1 Kingfisher.Feeding in the Alders on the southern edge were 6 lesser redpolls.At the far end of the Mill stream feeding in the reeds were 2 Chiffchaff.Fewer birds were in song today,mainly Song Thrush,at least 6.

From the lakes I had a quick look in at Holborough marsh,where almost the first birds I saw were two Chiffchaffs feeding together in one of the reedy dykes.One being a collybita and the other a greyer bird of the northern type (tristis)