Hooded Merganser Kent 3rd March

I've always associated these buildings with farms in Kent.

And so to Kent 'The Garden of England'
for a female Hooded Merganser 
(and a drake Smew)
with me old mucka Ewan.

The Merg has no rings...
Has all its feathers...although when watching the
Video back it is missing a secondary which
I'm reliably informed isn't one they clip on captive
birds. Smart little sawbill wherever it came from.




Stole this explanation
First time visitors to Kent and Sussex are often puzzled by these brick or stone built barns with their round or square towers. The history of the oast house is almost a microcosm of agricultural activity in 'The Garden of England' in the 19th century.
Oast houses were designed to dry hops (Humulus lupulus L.), the climbing plants whose dried female flowers became a vital ingredient in the brewing of beer, which overtook traditional ale (brewed with just malt) in popularity following the introduction of hops in the 17th century. Hops add flavour and aroma to beer, making it clearer and less perishable. Thanks to hops the modern British drink of 'bitter' was born.

To think that one day, this very crop, could be
crafted in to a warm flat brown eggy liquid,
consumed all over the country by men sporting beards (and sometimes woman...no seriously..
I've been to Nettlebed) dressed in knitware composing three part harmonies in a dingy folk club...
Brings a tear to the eye and orrl aarownd moy aaat.

Wetstead GP's near Tonbridge