Sunshine brings out the birds

Lade - mild, cloudy/sun, light airs - A dry morning with hardly a breath of wind and a few wisps of mist seemed to encourage the likes of Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird into song. Around the willow swamp Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail all made their presence noted, while a Great White Egret was still at the far end of north lake. Several Marsh Harriers were on the wing around south lake checking out the Coots and a Peregrine swept imperiously overhead scattering the Teal and Wigeon.

                               Blue sky at last

                               Shags, Burrowes

RSPB - The fine weather certainly brought out the birders today, and there was plenty to see around the reserve. A morning circular walk for three visitors delivered all the expected wildfowl, egrets and harriers, plus 2 Shags and a Slavonian Grebe on Burrowes, Raven at Dengemarsh, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Stonechats by the corral. The fields at Boulderwall were packed with Wigeon, Lapwing and Golden Plovers, while the Long-eared Owl was still at roost deep within the sallows behind the discovery pond. During the afternoon news of a pair of Penduline Tits seen in Hooker`s reedbed draw a small crowd of hopefuls, but proved to be typically elusive. Sparrowhawk and Kingfisher noted here.
Elsewhere today, a drake Smew, a Bean and 19 White-fronted Geese were noted at Scotney (T&BH).