CROYDON RSPB MEMBERS' GROUP - TRIP REPORT

More reports of flooded villages in Kent had been heard during the week, but again we managed to keep dry, despite visiting two wetland sites in that county!

The first stop during our circuit of the Sevenoaks reserve produced the anticipated wildfowl on East Lake - mute swan, mallard, teal, pochard, tufted duck, moorhen, coot and a cluster of little grebes. A little further on, willows and alders beside the River Darent yielded song thrush, blackbird, robin and wren, then a party of finches feeding, allowing us good views of goldfinch, siskin and redpoll. (Following the national trend, the winter population of siskins is now increasing at this reserve, while redpolls are decreasing; goldfinch numbers are stable.) Gadwall were seen from the Willow Hide and a pair of wigeon flew in as we watched. A flock of tits near the Carter Hide was accompanied by at least one goldcrest and several chaffinchs. Returning to the East Lake, this time to scan from the Public Hide, we carefully checked the reduced tips of islands that remained above water - we failed to locate any snipe there, but did find a dozen or so lapwings (our only waders of the day). Out in the sunshine again, we were mildly surprised to discover one or two common darter dragonflies still on the wing and further non-avian interest was provided by a good range of fungi beside the path into the woods. The highlight from the Tower Hide was a water rail, obligingly standing out in the open for a session of preening and allowing everyone good long looks through scopes - this bird's eyes, glowing bright ruby-red in the sunlight, were particularly striking. Back at the Visitor Centre, we enjoyed hot soup and the luxury of tables for lunch, while great spotted woodpecker and mistle thrush posed conveniently in nearby treetops.

Just a short drive away at Bough Beech, the water level was the highest anyone could remember (and certain of those present remember the reservoir being constructed!) From the causeway, pochards and large numbers of great crested grebes were the most obvious birds out on the water and there were fleeting flight views of a kingfisher before it vanished behind bushes and of a female goldeneye also departing the scene. One long-sighted group member spotted corvids mobbing a distant raptor (revealed with the aid of scopes to be a sparrowhawk). Apart from a fine cock pheasant, there seemed little to see along the roadside to the south, but in one of the large oaks back towards the Oast House, the resident little owl was showing particularly well, piercing yellow eyes radiating anger when a passing squirrel caused some disturbance. (We often forget that the little owl is not native to Britain - after earlier attempts, the first successful introductions of this species were made in Kent in the1870s and Northamptonshire during the1880s. There are now reckoned to be around 9,000 little owls breeding in Britain, although the population is currently in a period of decline). A nut-dispenser in the orchard near the Oast House was attracting a succession of blue and great tits, but we waited in vain for anything more unusual to appear. After sunset, as a huge flock of jackdaws arrived to roost in the woods, we trained telescopes on the planet Venus, prominent in the western sky.