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.
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| 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'
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| A white fellow in amongst the Fallows |
