It seems to me that the Rother Valley deserves much more birding attention. The area between the Blackwall Bridge and Maytham Wharf Farm to the north-west is a flood reservoir, and when it floods the birding can be spectacular. On the 18th Jan the wildfowl included over a 1,000 Wigeon plus Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Pochard, over 400 Greylag and Canada Geese, plus lots of Lapwing and even 2 Ruff. So far the Winter Atlas has turned up nearly 80 species in that square, highlights being Water Pipit, Peregrine, Goosander and Green Sandpiper.