Ten members assembled in the National Trust car park in surprisingly mild but windy conditions. Robins were immediately in good voice while a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed close by and then flew into view. Wrens too rattled out their songs while couple of Greylag Geese sailed overhead. The water seemed to hold few birds but careful scanning revealed six Great Crested Grebes, two each of Mute Swan and Tufted Duck as well as a few Mallards, Coots and Black-headed Gulls. The woodlands around the lake revealed typical birds as much by sound as sight. Individual Blue and Great Tits flitted about and small flocks of Goldfinches and Long-tailed Tits foraged in the canopy. A Goldcrest bouncing in and out of view proved entertaining while a song thrush appeared on a perch. At the end of the lake the action picked up briefly as Coal Tits buzzed around in territorial disputes and a few Stock Doves moved among the conifers. At the start of the heath a pair of Stonechats was quickly identified, the first of three, while Skylarks ascended in melodious song and a Buzzard drifted in the distance. Along to the approach to Kings Ridge several Dunnocks burst into song and Dartford Warblers scratched out a note or two but disobligingly failed to offer any sort of view. A Grey Heron provided some amusement by behaving rather like a harrier, turning and banking over the heath. A pair of Red Kites proved to be the final sighting as activity on the descent was virtually zero. The walk was agreed to have offered a very welcome change from recent weather conditions with a respectable species list of 37.