Bunting Hunting

Park Wood - 1030hrs - cold, dry and sunny, n2 - Had a woodland wander with CP and the ladies on a cracking winter`s morning. All the usual timber birds including Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Green and Greater peckers, Jay, Bullfinch and a couple of Buzzards over the canopy. Sadly, en-route from the coast, 4 dead roadside badgers.

                                          Park Wood, Appledore

                                           Bewick`s Swans going to roost, Walland Marsh

                                          Lights Out, Walland Marsh

Walland Marsh - 1645hrs - Went bunting hunting this afternoon with CP in search of the 200 plus flock of Corn Buntings noted last week, but all we could find was a measly 30 odd. Anyhow, 19 Marsh Harriers came to roost, plus an odd looking ringtail, small and dull with a narrow white rump a bit like a Monty`s; strange looking thing and would like to have seen it in better light. Also noted singles of Bittern and Snipe, a few Reed Buntings and, in dribs and drabs, 66 Bewick`s Swans to roost on the open water with much yelping and `oop-ooping` in the setting sun.
NB: Other local news included further sightings of the Sea-eagle over Saltwood this morning heading east along the hills towards Dover, and a single Glossy Ibis over Dengemarsh this afternoon flying towards Scotney (SB).