Gary Howard's birds and wildlife

After a couple of hours sledging in Knowle Park with the kids (no posh sledges for us just plastic rubble sacks filled with cardboard !) we were all rather chilled and decided to head home. I opted for a quick diversion to Bough Beech Reservoir especially as a pager report had mentioned 14 Whooper swans.  Just short of the reservoir we had about 10 Bullfinches close to the roadside and a few Yellowhammers.

Onto the causeway we parked up as it began snowing and joined Miles to scope the swans. They were in fact Bewick's - still rather smart and the biggest flock I've seen at Bough Beech. There were 6 juveniles and 8 adults, one of which was sporting a neck-collar. I'm in the process of finding out when and where it was ringed.

Little else of note on what ice-free water we could see.  A quick look in the orchard was disappointing with many blue tits and chaffinches but little else. Looks like a poor winter for brambling.

Ide Hill looking down onto the Weald.

Bough Beech Reservoir

Bewick Swans

Bewick Swan with neck-collar