Friday 26 December 2014

Full suite of herons

Dengemarsh - cold, overcast, light airs - 1030hrs - On a murky, still morning Mrs PT joined us for a full circuit of Dengemarsh, during which time we clocked up all the herons, so`s to speak: Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Herons, a Bittern and distant views of the two Cattle Egrets sat on straw bales over by the town. Being as the reserve was closed we walked the track up past Boulderwall where there was no sign any Tree Sparrows on the feeders, just a few tits and Chaffinches. The fields, however, were full of Wigeon, Lapwing, Starlings and feral geese, plus several Marsh Harriers, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Around the arable field margins a few Skylarks, Reed Buntings and Song Thrushes were disturbed, while the chicken sheds attracted a Black Redstart and several Pied Wagtails.
Tracking round via Springfield Bridge the hayfields and flood looked perfect for waders and wildfowl but there was not a single bird present. By the ramp Snipe, Grey Plover and Curlew called overhead, plus Bearded Tit, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler in the reedbeds, and that was about it really.
NB: Other local news today concerned the long staying wild swans and Bean Geese on Walland Marsh, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs down at Pett Levels (MH).

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