Wonderful Walland

Lade - 0900hrs - cold, drizzle, overcast, ne 3 - Another grim old morning with the remnants of last nights rain still in the air. A few Song Thrushes and Blackbirds flushed from the storm beaches, but no sign of yesterdays merganser on south pit.
Faggs Wood - 1200hrs - Picked up four London birders from Ashford station down for a three day birdwatching break. Stopped off for lunch in the woodland car park where we mopped up on resident species including Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Greater pecker and Jay.
Check the church feeders in Warehorne village where there were few birds apart from Long-tailed Tits.

                               

                               Coal Tit & Nuthatch, Faggs Wood

Walland Marsh - The bridge at Warehorne yielded Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Gadwall along the canal, plus Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfares and Red-legged Partridges. Driving across the Marsh this afternoon we notched up 7 Buzzards, 5 Kestrels and hundreds of winter thrushes. At Tickners seed dump 14 Corn Buntings, 8 Yellowhammers, 6 Reed Buntings and scores of Chaffinches, Stock Doves and Blackbirds. The field opposite the Woolpack held a small flock of grey geese of which 3 were White-fronts and 5 were Tundra Bean Geese! Marsh Harriers and Buzzards at Midley, plus hundreds of Lapwings, Goldies and a hunting Barn Owl. On the feeders the usual Tree Sparrows and further down the lane 2 Bewick`s Swans opposite the drying barns with the main flock of 240 at Hawthorn Corner, which also included 2 Whooper Swans. Having drawn a blank with the partridges at Caldicote the drive back into Lydd by Belgar Farm delivered a fine Barn Owl over the lane.
A promising start to the three day birdwatching break.