Marsh Tit

Walland Marsh - 0900hrs - cold, sunny, nw 3 - En-route to the woods a drive across the Marsh delivered the Bewick`s Swan flock at Hawthorn Corner and a Common Buzzard on a swan carcass at Midley, plus several Marsh Harriers, 2 Jays and a few winter thrushes. A flooded field near Fairfield attracted a couple of hundred Lapwings, Curlews and Common Gulls.

                                          Bewick`s Swans, Walland Marsh

                                          Bracket fungi, Park Wood

Park Wood, Appledore - A wander round a very muddy wood delivered all the common tits and thrushes, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The southern side of the wood adjacent to the vineyard was sheltered from the wind and bathed in sunshine and as a result attracted most of the birds. Best of all was a calling Marsh Tit which eventually showed well along with its mate, also noted here Bullfinch, Long-tailed tit, Jay and Goldcrest. A dung heap by the vines held a group of thrushes, plus 2 Yellowhammers and a Green Woodpecker.
RSPB - 1500hrs - From the causeway road a flock of 250 Shovelers sheltering from an increasingly nippy wind on ARC. At least 12 Smews on New Diggings and 3 Great White Egrets. Along the access road Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and 3 Marsh Harriers, plus hundreds of Lapwings, Curlews, Goldies and Common Gulls in the fields towards Lydd, plus 4 Barnacle Geese, 3 Ruff and another Great White Egret. All the usual wildfowl from the visitors centre. Jack Snipe was on the sightings board but nobody seemed to know whereabouts on the reserve it was seen. Hung around for last knockings to see if the Barn Owl appeared again but without success