Raptors and herons

Dengemarsh - 1000-1300hrs - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - After single figure overnight temperatures the morning soon warmed up nicely with thermals rising off the shingle making for a bit of raptor movement. Mrs PT joined us for what is becoming a regular Sunday morning circuit of Dengemarsh, which got off to a slow start with just a few Robins, tits, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats around the ARC car park, while the Boulderwall scrub was a bird-free zone. The fields towards Lydd yielded two Common Buzzards, three Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel, plus the first of at least five Sparrowhawks soaring over the peninsula. The bean fields on the back track held a few more warblers, several Reed Buntings, Yellow Wagtails and Tree Sparrows. More Yellow Wagtails were feeding amongst the suckling herd at Springfield Bridge from where we had protracted flight views of a Bittern that eventually went down in front of Christmas Dell hide. Around the lake and on the hayfields were ten Little Egrets, five Grey Herons and a Great White Egret. The hayfields remained largely dry attracting nothing much of note apart from two Wheatears and a Snipe, but good views of Bearded Tits were had in adjacent reedbeds. After nattering with the duty warden we headed for the viewing ramp where a Hobby performed and more Buzzards and Sparrowhawks passed over; whilst there a tweet came through telling of a Honey Buzzard heading towards Lade - typical! But, no complaints, it had been a fair session with the raptor and heron tribes highlighting.

                                Great White Egret, Dengemarsh