An afternoon visit, not always the best, but at least a visit has been achieved. Leaving the car it was quiet as expected but a Robin soon broke the silence and a Magpie sat in a nearby tree.
Off across the orchard and a Crow flapped by with some Starlings, 6, hot on its tail feathers. A Blue Tit called from the hedgerow and a Green Woodpecker dip-dipped its way east, eventually calling several times.
House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Fieldfare and Goldfinch all joined the list. I found a few Fieldfare, Starlings and 2 Redwing sitting in a tree on the eastern edge of the orchard. A few Blackbirds were being alarmed.
Off across the fields and a Lesser Black Backed Gull went east. 2 Mute Swan were in the field and remained there all the time I was on site. 2 Cormorant flew west and one flew south.
As I approached the pits I could see the ditch was quite full:
...heres a little video of the ditch in flow......
At the pits:
43 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 23 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 4 Mallard, 4 Goldeneye (all females), 4 Gadwall.
Whilst I was there 10 Canada Geese flew west along with 100+ Greylag Geese. 2 Canadas returned from the west and landed on one of the pits.
Great Tit, Jackdaw and Chaffinch were around the pit along with 120+ Black Headed Gull flying west. The birds of the day then turned up - Kingfisher, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin.
On the way back a Song Thrush was in full late afternoon cry.
The SE wind had picked up somewhat and cloud cover increased.
It really is saturated out there Graham, not know it this wet in the 15 years ive lived in Hadlow.
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