Saturday was a bit of a non-entity as after walking for half an hour heavy mist descended. However a couple of Buzzards were seen and a flock of  Siskins were in the alders.I was unable to make out birds on the lake but returned to find two Little Grebes(64) in the far margin. I took a record shot in the grey conditions:-

Two Little Grebes

Today wasn't much better but it was good to find a flock of Redwings plus 3 Yellowhammers in the horse paddock.The alder wood at the north of the paddock held three species of woodpecker.Both Great -spotted and Lesser-Spotted(65) were drumming and I eventually caught sight of the Lesser-spot as it flitted from one drumming post to another.

I'm always made up when the Lesser spots appear on the patch.

The lake still held the Little Grebes and two Coots but not a lot else.So the struggle for species continues. 

On the 3rd of the month there were good numbers of birds in the orchardswith some 1000+ Redwings and 600+ Fieldfaresplus 20 Meadow Pipits and a similar number of Chaffinch.
A Marsh Tit (55)was seen behind Lake Cottage and 6 Mandarins (56) were on the lake. Four species of gull flew over:- Common, Black-headed,Herring and Lesser Black-backed (57) were noted.
On the 8th a Water Rail(58) was heard then glimpsed at the southern end and amazingly another Raven (59) went over north west the following day.
On the 10th a Grey Heron(60) flew over the house and dropped into gardens opposite and down at the lake I foound one of the previous years Reed Warblers nest in the reeds.

old Reed Warblers nest

On the way home from work on the13th my first Common Buzzard (61).

Saturday 16th started really well with a juvenile Peregrine (62) carrying prey which flew over me in Kirkins.

The following morning I was greeted by a dusting of snow and two Skylarks (63) were in field in Kirkins.

Early snow in Kirkins on the 17th.

Happy New Year

December 2015 passed with no new species for the year list but did turn up my first winter Blackcap and second December Chiffchaff so the list finished on 104(the lowest I can remember).
Looking back on the year and the highlite was probably the Osprey which stayed around for three days in September

juvenile Osprey in Shirrenden.

Sadly, Goosander and Pochard were both missing and Barn Owl seems to have disappeared.The month ended on a a pleasing note when ,on 29th,Egytian Goose,Brambling and the second Raven of the year were seen with a Marsh Tit seen the next day,

Marsh Tit

2016 started at 06:45 when I ventured out into the garden to hear a Tawny Owl calling.After breakfast I left for my walk adding House Sparrow,Robin,Starling Fieldfare,Carrion Crow,Chaffinch  and Robin before I left the garden.As I walked through the village I added Magpie,Collared Dove, Blue Tit,Redwing and Wood Pigeon.
Down through Kirkins and Dunnock and Great Spotted woodpecker were seen plus a flyover Yellowhammer.A Pheasant called from the wood at the bottom where a Song Thrush was singing.
Into the horse paddock where a Grey wagtail then Stock Dove went over followed by a Brambling calling loudly as it flew north.At the bottom of the field a Wren called in alarm as I stepped into Furnace Lane.
I added Green Woodpecker and Siskin as I walked onto Hononten Farm.Along the track I saw Black headed Gull,Canada Goose,Jay,Goldfinch,Meadow Pipit and Herring Gull.
Down at the lake Mallard,Moorhen,Kingfisher,Great crested Grebe,Coot and a female Teal were on the water.Both Common Gull and Cormorant flew over as did a Lesser Redpoll and a Linnet.
Around at Shirrenden Bullfinch, Mistle Thrush,Coal Tit,Nuthatch,Jackdaw,Long tailed Tit,Goldcrest and finally Tree Creeper were added.
On the walk back up Furnace lane a Sparrowhawk was seen bringing the total to 51.A terrific three hours birding.
In the garden and Greenfinches were on the feeders.During the afternoon,on a walk with my wife,Kestrel and Rook were seen bringing the days total to 54,

October left with 26 Mandarins on the 28th of note and 3 Tawny Owls calling on my way to work at 06:15.
On 31st of the month a 'continental'Coal Tit was in a horse chestnut tree in Back lane and at 16:05 a skein of 110 Brent Geese flew S/E over the village.
The first week of November saw an increase in the numbers of Fieldfares and the 8th of the month I had a single Crossbill(103) over.
Yesterdays walk was somewhat shortened by snow on a freezing wind but before it set in I saw 300 Fieldfares and 20 Redwings and the lake held a Coot (somewhat uncommon in these parts) and a drake Wigeon.

Yesterdays drake Wigeon.

This morning there were good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares around the orchard and a Reed Bunting was a welcome find as was a splendid male Brambling on the track near the farmhouse

The Wigeon had gone as had the Coot but there were a few Mandarins on the lake

Two of the Mandarins on the lake.

As I got round to the Shirrenden side I glanced up to see two Carrion Crows mobbing something and as I got me bins on it I was delighted to see it was a Short eared Owl(104).Fantastic!!I watched it gain height and disappear to the north west.

Unfortunately I got called to work just as it disappeared so had to make my way home before I could finish my walk.

Walks on the patch now consist of mostly popping in on the way home from work but one on the 22nd was interesting for the large mixed flock of finches that are now congregating in the old orchard.This was made up of Linnets,Goldfinches,Chaffinches,Bramblings(3) plus Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits.
There was a flock of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls were feeding on the Greater Willowherb at the southern end.

                                              Lesser Redpoll on willowherb,
That evening there were also six Swallows feeding over the small sheepfield.
On saturday 24th four Bramblings were present and the lake held 2 Kingfishers,4 Mandarins and a
Water rail of note. A Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were also seen.
On Sunday 25th the highlite was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which flew into the alders at the southern end and the finch flock had been joined by some Yellowhammers and a Reed bunting.
This afternoon a Chiffchaff was in the hedge at the edge of the horse paddock in Furnace Lane with a flock of Long tailed tits and also with them was a cracking Firecrest (102).Brilliant!!

Sunday 18th Update.

It's been an interesting week on the patch which started on the  14th with a gull fest in Kirkins where the field had been turned over attracting six species:- Black Headed(120),Herring(52),Lesser black backed(2),Common(2),Great black backed(1) and an adult Mediterranean.
The following day a Swallow went through heading north.
Yesterday(Saturday 17th) the first winter thrushes arrived with 249 Redwings seen,mostly in one flock of 200 birds.In contrast just 15 Fieldfares were seen.
Another Swallow was seen going north and a male Blackcap was found in the hedge by the pumping station in Furnace Lane.Goldcrests were numerous with at least a dozen seen.
Down at the lake the field where the large orchard has been grubbed out recently there was a great mixture of birds with Chaffinch,Linnet,Meadow Pipit and a couple of Bramblings feeding on the ground plus a large flock of Goldfinches.
40 Siskins were in the lakeside alders and 5 Lesser Redpolls flew overhead.Three Chiffchaffs were around with one bird feeding on the ground among the mixed flock.
Kirkins held 31 Stock doves and a Mistle thrushes.
Today there were more Redwings arriving with 65 seen and 17 Fieldfares overhead. Small numbers of Skylarks were going over in all directions as were small flocks of Chaffinches and one Brambling called as it went overhead.
Down at the lake a Water Rail called and 4 Egyptian Geese went north.
Most intriguing of all was a movement? of Magpies which consisted of a flock of 8 then a flock of 18 going south, something I have never witnessed before.
Swallows were seen again with 2 south,2 north and 3 west.I imaging theses will be the last I will see this year although I do have two November records so you never know!
 

I was away at the end of September so didn't get to walk the patch until a short walk after work on the 6th October which produced the first Lesser Redpolls of the Autumn plus a few House Martins and Chiffchaffs were still around.
On Saturday 12th I managed a full walk of the patch which gave the first Water Rail and a decent flock of Siskins plus a few L/Redpolls. Skylarks were passing over head in small numbers and there was a total of 9 Chiffchaffs.A flock of 30 Meadow Pipits were on Kirkins field and in total 42 species were seen.
On Sunday the the undoubted highlight was a skein of 320 Brent Geese(101) which went over at 08.15am.
On the insect front I found a Hornets nest in the oak tree which usually plays host to the local Little Owl pair.

Hornets nest.

I've attached a photo of the Osprey which stayed around the lake for three days in September.

Unfortunately the light was poor and the Osprey was always distant.