31st January Westland Green

A mid afternoon wander around Westland Green, the disused gravel pits and Caley Wood offered a rare sighting of a distant but superb red kite. This was only my second record of this bird, so most pleasing. Heading east towards Little Hadham, it was keeping low whilst being mobbed by corvids from all sides. Also seen were 19 pied wagtails, in one flock, feeding on the plough behind Caley Wood. Good numbers of mallards were registered on the pits along with several moorhen. A kestrel was near the golf course and a marsh tit (only 4th record) was seen in the hedgerow not far from Alder Wood. A solitary great spotted woodpecker was feeding at a garden nut feeder and a large party (15+) of long tailed tits breezed through Caley Wood. Photos show the pied wagtails, a view looking south east from Caley Wood and the male kestrel.