It is most definately still winter !!!

The original plan for the weekend was to find some Lesser-Spotted Woodpeckers over at Hothfield Heathlands KWT reserve but the weather did not play ball. However some nice sightings both here and at Chilham Lakes on Saturday. Sunday was cold and windy, but despite getting stuck in the middle of the Lydd Half Marathon crisscrossing Walland Marsh, again there were birds to been seen. The Waxwing flock remains on the edge of Ashford too.

Saturday 9th March

Hothfield, Heathlands KWT Reserve - 09:00 to 11:00
2 Pheasants, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, c50 Redwing, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatches, 6 Treecreepers, 4 Jays, 20+ Siskin, 4 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Yellowhammers, 1 Reed Bunting (male).

Chilham, 11:00 to 13:00, Lakes & Pickelden Lane
2 Gadwall, 4+ Tufted Ducks, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3+ Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kingfishers - pair, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtails - pair, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Bullfinches.

Sunday 10th March


Ashford, 09:00
84 Waxwings (Hestia Way/Forum Way area).

Orlestone Forest, 09:30, Faggs Wood
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Jays.


Walland Marsh, 10:00 to 11:00
35 Bewick's Swans, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Black Swan with Mutes by Midley Drying Barns, 1 Little Egret (Fairfield), 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay (Fairfield), 10 Tree Sparrows (Baynham Farm), 20 Greenfinches (Baynham Farm), 8 Yellowhammers (Tickners Lane).

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 11:00 to 12:00
23 Barnacle Geese (Dengemarsh Road), 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-crested Pochard (drake on Herons Park Lake viewed from Galloways Road), 3 Goldeneyes (2 drakes and a duck on New Diggings), 2 Smew (redheads on ARC Pit), 1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret (New Diggings), 2 Oystercatcher (ARC), 1 White Wagtail with 3 Pied Wagtails at south end of ARC Pit.... Spring is here !!! BBBBRRRRR !!!!