Dengemarsh Gully - mild, cloudy, drizzle, NE2 - The last of the mild days, apparently, before a cold, northerly airflow sweeps down from the Arctic tomorrow. However, we walked the gully first thing where the majority of birds were in the section between Springfield bridge and the start of the track comprising a handful each of Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and a Cetti`s Warbler. The middle section was barren and the only other grounded passerines were two Meadow Pipits and a Stonechat at the seaward end, plus a Raven over. The reserve was equally quiet (only four cars in the main car park with the VC closed) with just the usual wetland birds from the bridge and Dennis`s lookout, plus a Firecrest and Chiffchaff in the scrub by the hide and at least two Caspian Gulls on Burrowes. Nothing much else to report at Lade apart from two Goldeneyes on south lake.
This afternoon I joined Chris for the monthly harrier count out on Walland Marsh where 15 Marsh Harriers came to roost in the main reed-bed, plus stunning views of a male Hen Harrier that passed over our viewpoint heading to roost elsewhere. Also noted: 26 Cattle Egrets (the highest number I`ve ever seen in the UK), three Great White and a Little Egret, two Buzzards, two Kestrels, a Snipe, several thousand Starlings and a large, distant mixed flock of Lapwings and Golden Plovers.
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