Bird Biomass

Lade - mild, cloudy, w 2 - Another mild winters day on the south coast, and long may they continue.
On south lake the long staying duck Red-crested Pochard was among the diving ducks which included a pair of Goldeneye. Water Rail and Cetti`s warbler were giving it what for in the willow swamp while Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all put in an appearance behind the `mirrors`.
One of the local dog walkers reported a Bittern earlier flushed from a reedbed along the causeway.
Dengemarsh - Parked up at Boulderwall where up to 20 Tree Sparrows around the feeders along with Great Tit, Reed Bunting and Chaffinch. We walked up to Hookers checking the fields for yesterdays small curlew that showed briefly near the Corral, but no joy. The fields across towards Cockles Bridge and the paddocks were full of birds; and with a Peregrine on the hunt every so often thousands of Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Starling, Stock Dove, corvids and gulls took to the wing. Several Marsh Harriers, Kestrel and Merlin were also present, plus 100 feral geese, 20 Shoveler, 10 Curlew, 2 Stonechat, 2 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker and a Great White Egret. The Hookers reedbed had several Bearded Tits and Cetti`s Warbler calling.
Called in at the vc where the Bard of Burrowes was holding court. Several Smew were reported on the pit and 3 Avocet flew through which I managed to miss.