The last few days have been seriously wet and windy apart from yesterday when it was clear and sunny. I have been rather busy this last few days as well with a concert in our local "Great Hall" where where as the conductor of my band we played in front of 1200 people. I spent yesterday getting over it!

 On Thursday night last, I heard a Tawny Owl from the garden at around  30 past midnight. This is the first heard here in Alphington …….. by me that is ………. in 24 years. I was pleased and surprised! Birds have been pretty constant, mostly Goldfinch, a few Blue and Great Tits, Sparrows and a massive flock of Collared Doves totaling 17.

The Brook is still flooded and I doubt it has been any good for the Kingfishers to fish in. I am looking forward to a return to normal levels and then I will be able to continue my Kingfisher studies. It will be interesting to see if they return to their successful fishing ground or have they moved on to another area where fishing is easier?  Even worse have they perished? Mortality rates in Kingfishers is really high with a large percentage of fledglings dead in the early months of winter. 

We are about to travel to Chard Reservoir in Somerset where a Red Throated Diver has been resident for the last 10 days, hope it is still there. Good photos have been taken from the hide and I am hoping, in this bright sunshine to get the same. Check back later to see!