Hawfinches and snow flurries

Lade - cold, cloudy, snow flurries, E6 - We didn't tarry long out in the open first thing due to a raw-bone wind, just checked nothing new had dropped in on the lakes overnight, which it hadn't, before scurrying home for a bowl of porridge.
Godmersham - After picking up Clare and Peter from Ashford station (down from London for a three day Birdwatching Break) we headed over the hills to the churchyard at Godmersham in search of Hawfinches, and were not disappointed as a pair of these giant finches performed to order. They spent most of their time feeding in the yew trees, but also perched out in the open and on the floor underneath a holm oak, before flying off to roost.

  Plenty of other members of the thrush and finch families in particular were noted nearby including Redwing and Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, plus Green Woodpeckers and cracking views of a pair of Goldcrests foraging along a yew hedge.

                             

Conningsbrook Lakes - En-route back to the Marsh we called in at the country park lakes for a look around but could only find a few common ducks such as Pochard and Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe and a small gull roost.
Walland Marsh - Called in at a barren Scotney where a pair of Ringed Plovers on the double bend grass were about the only birds of note. Crossing the Marsh, four Buzzards, Fieldfares, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Tree Sparrows were all logged. At the harrier roost several close birds soon drifted off to the main site where up to ten birds came in and a Merlin showed briefly.
  It was one of the coldest days in the field I could remember with light snow flurries and a bitterly cold east wind throughout. We were all glad to get back indoors.