Boreal wanderers

Kenardington - 1300hrs - cool, cloudy, w 3 - After picking up two of our regular visitors (Ray and Stuart) from Ashford we headed for the peace and tranquillity of the canal. The wayside habitat hereabouts often yields one or two species that are difficult to locate on the arable wastelands, such as Yellowhammer and Song Thrush, and so it proved to be. However, the main event was the spectacle of a 500 strong flock of Fieldfares plundering a hawthorn bush laden with berries complete with much chacking, terrific stuff. Also noted along the canal side banks a few Redwings, Blackbirds, Stonechats, Pied Wagtails, Mipits, Linnets, Chaffinches and Goldfinches, plus Kestrel and Buzzard soaring over the grasslands.

                  Kenardington, one of the most scenic parts of the Marsh                               

                                Fieldfares, Royal Military Canal

Around the Marsh - Crossing the flatlands we called in at the Midley feeders where the Tree Sparrows showed well. From the range road at Lydd we nailed two Little Owls by the watch towers, a Green Woodpecker and more Mipits, while further along by the guard hut at Galloways four Corn Buntings sat atop a clump of elders. From Springfield bridge a few ducks and grebes were on the water and a trickle of Skylarks overhead. After a natter with PB we headed down to the point for brief views of a male Ring Ouzel and a Sparrowhawk at the southern end of the Trapping Area to complete a tidy afternoons birding.