LEYBOURNE LAKES - DECEMBER 2ND 2012

having just spent 26 days in the tropical temperatures of the Gambia it was really nice to scrape the ice off the windscreen of the car (I can't believe I just wrote that). Anyway, I love those clear, crisp winter days that you occasionally get in the UK and today was one of those.

Leybourne Lakes. Ashford, Kent

We are staying with Dawn's daughter, Amy in Ashford, Kent and very near to the lakes at Leybourne. This morning I went for a walk for about an hour and a half around the lakes. I was amazed at the number of species flitting about in the hedges and trees and along the lake shore.

I listed 35 species including all the common garden birds and common ducks. It was really nice to see Redwings and Fieldfares for the first time this winter. I was hoping to find a Waxwing or two as there has been a large influx into the UK over the last few weeks.

Both the Green and the Great-spotted Woodpeckers were very showy and I had great views of one of my favourite birds, the Dunnock.

After brunch, (an early lunch or late breakfast) taken in a lovely pub in  West Malling we drove to Sevenoaks and spent the afternoon walking round the extensive grounds, which, in fact, is a deer park.
I added Jackdaw, Common Kestrel and Wren to my day list'

A white fellow in amongst the Fallows