New Hythe Lakes 11-3-2012

Wendy and I took a long walk round New Hythe Lakes on Sunday. Being a sunny day it was very busy and the amount of wildlife was down. Ocean Lake had the usual Coots, a few Mute Swans, Moorhens  and Mallards, also a pair of White Ducks (Aylesburys? White Mallards? Domestic? I know not which category they fit into). Greylag Geese were also around in increased numbers. The Dipping Pool had nothing other than Coots and Black Headed Gulls, the stroll round its north side provided sightings of Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits and Chaffinches.

Mute Swan - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

The stroll between Streamside and Railway was peculiarly silent, a few Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes joined the Coots on both lakes and other than the Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits the only sightings on the path were a Wren and a Dunnock. The highlight of the day was a Kingfisher I saw briefly on the far side of Streamside. We went down to Brooklands Cafe where we ate our sandwiches watching 3 Pied Wagtails, a couple of Robins and several rabbits on the grass.

Pied Wagtail - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

After lunch we went round Brooklands Lake seeing Coots, Tufted Ducks, Black Headed Gulls and a couple of Great Crested Grebes. Walking through the Marsh we heard a couple of unsighted Ceti’s Warblers but not a lot else. This was probably due to several Motor Boats ploughing up and down the Medway, with the tide as high as it was their wash was coming over the footpath in places and one boat in particular wanted the world to know they were having fun!

Grey Herons - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

The Heron’s were nicely on display as can be seen by the photos, though the sound of someone with a chainsaw a couple of fields away caused them some alarm every time it started up again.  

Grey Heron - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Abbey Mead had nothing different to the other lakes, just Tufties, Coots and BH Gulls. Whilst I was looking over the lake Wendy had the joy of a Long Tailed Tit nest building in front of her, apparently oblivious to her presence it flew in front of her to alight in the half built construction partially hidden in a bush, pecked around a bit then spun round in the nest to ensure all was comfy before flying off again for the next bit of material, we moved on quickly so as not to alarm it. Back over the Railway line we caught a distant Cormorant, a Green Woodpecker, and a pair of Collared Doves, the latter going through some courtship manouvres.

Great Crested Grebe - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Our last look at Ocean lake revealed a dabchick bringing the number for the day to a sad 29 seen and 1 heard. Unlisted were the Carrion Crows, Magpies, Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Herring Gulls and Starlings. I am also counting a Kestrel we saw over the central reservation of the M2 on the way back home (on a low count day I need every single one I can get) Wendy would have us count the rabbits too, the list being that short I was tempted, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

Black Headed Gull - Canon 400D + 100-400mm