Saturday was a cold one but there were plenty of birds around the patch. The feeders are attracting lots of tits and finches including a couple of Marsh Tits as well as Nuthatches and a Great spotted Woodpecker.
The lake is still quiet with just Mallard ,Moorhen and Great crested Grebe on the water and the odd Kingfisher sighting.
The new orchard still has a good Linnet flock and just a single Meadow Pipit.

                                                                       Meadow Pipit

A couple of Bramblings were seen near the feeders and there was also one in our garden but unfortunately it didn't stick around for a photo.This is a new one for the garden list, so I was thrilled.
The same day saw the first two Redwings of the winter in the garden.

                                                              Redwing in the garden
A Woodcock was flushed from the field edge in Swigs Hole as I walked towards the lake.

On Sunday the was a big increase in the Fieldfare and Redwing numbers in the orchards which in turn has attracted the local Sparrowhawks.

One of the many Fieldfares

Two Grey wagtails flew down the lake and a single Skylark went over.

The evening of the 8th Nov saw a drake Shoveller(109) on the lake with some Mallards.
Marsh Tits have been present at the feeders on most visits with a high of three on the 12th.

Chaffinch numbers have increased which has brought in a few Bramblings with three seen yesterday.

One of the Bramblings

The Ring-necked Parakeet was seen a couple more times earlier in the month but not recently. On the 12th two Hawfinches were found in Sprivers in beech trees near the ponds,

Yesterday(17th) the patch held really good numbers of birds with 300+ Black headed Gulls on fields in Swigs with a single Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull with them.

Med Gull with Black headeds

                                      

A walk to the lake in the late afternoon saw 6 Grey wagtails come in to roost and a Chiffchaff  was also seen.

With walks during the week confined to quick visits it starts to get harder to chalk up new species but going to fill the feeders always produces Marsh Tit as well as the four other commoner species.
It seems that two Water rails have taken up winter residency.
The one consolation with going just before dark is that I get to hear owls and recent visits have produced both Tawny and Little Owl calling.
Walking down to the lake on 2nd Nov gave me a Ring necked Parakeet(107) as it flew over noisily before landing in a tree in Gibbet Lane.

It was seen again on 4th when it flew towards Brenchley.

Saturday 4th was full of birds with a fall of thrushes with lots of Blackbirds plus the first decent amount of Fieldfares and Redwings.

Down at the lake and a large flock of Linnets also held 4 Bramblings but the icing on the cake were four HAWFINCH(108) that flew towards Sprivers. I later looked in Sprivers but was unable to locate them!

This evenings walk saw a Coot on the lake and the usual Great crested Grebe was joined by another.

The Osprey was last seen on 22nd October when it briefly circled over the lake before drifting to the north.

Enjoying a small bream

Not much else has changed on the patch with all the usual subjects being seen although seven Swallows were present on the 22nd.

Last weekend we went up to Norfolk to visit younger bruv and do some walking and birding.We visited a few reserves and did a bit of sea watching.

I took a few photos of a cracking Jack Snipe at Strumpshaw Fen:-

Jack Snipe-a little stunner

but always a little hidden!

    On the fen we also had some great views of  a Bittern which repeatedly flew between reed beds plus a Stonechat on one of the pathways,

My first Fieldfare of the autumn were seen this evening when I went down to fill the feeders.

It was a really good walk on the patch this morning with lots of birds about, in fact a total of 48 species were seen.
Amazingly the Osprey is still present on the lake attracting lots of birders.

                                                    Still on the lake and feeding well.

Redwings have not arrived in any great numbers but a few have been seen.

The feeders are attracting loads of tits including up to three Marsh Tits.A few Siskins have been seen and today four Lesser Redpolls were in the lakeside alders.

Marsh tit at the feeders

Probably my last House Martins of the year went over south on the 10th and two Chiffchaffs were with the tit flocks around the lake.

There seemed to have been a fall of  Song Thrushes with small parties passing overhead this morning.

Apart from the Osprey other raptors included Buzzard and a male Sparrowhawk that looks to have found the feeders!!

During a walk this afternoon was saw five butterfly species including Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and my first Clouded Yellow on the patch this year.

                                                             Todays Clouded Yellow

Another week has gone by and the Osprey remains on the lake, which has meant that plenty of birders are visiting.
At the weekend the feeders attracted lots of tits with three Marsh Tits being the high-lite.
On Saturday flyovers included Skylark, the first Lesser Redpoll and three Snipe.
A dozen House Martin and three Swallows passed through going southeast.
On Sunday a Stonechat was in the rough pasture behind Kirkins Farmhouse.

                                                    Sundays Stonechat- always distant!

At last the sun was shining

and the Osprey fed

Tonight was dull and drizzly but it continues to feed well and I also saw my first Redwings of the autumn.

Amazingly the Osprey has remained on the lake and continues to give great views to myself and visiting birdwatchers.

Perched on its favourite tree

Mandarin remain in varying numbers with 20 on the 28th.

Today there were a few mixed of flocks around the lake containing Blue,Coal,Long-tailed and Great Tits as well as Nuthatch,Chiffchaff and lots of Goldcrest(at least 20) and a Marsh Tit was in the trees by Lake Cottage.

House Martins and Swallows continue to pass through and the Water Rail was calling from Shirrenden side and in the afternoon 2 were calling from opposing sides of the lake.

Overhead Skylark,Meadow Pipit and Siskin were seen.

After all the dull weather I thought it my good to add some butterfly pictures from Corfu:-

                                                                        Swallowtail 

                                                             Silver Washed Fritillary?

Long-tailed Blue