Boulderwall wetland

Boulderwall Fields - 0800hrs - mild, wet and windy - Had to call in at the RSPB workshop this morning so checked out ARC first where 30 odd Bewick`s Swans left the roost heading for a days grazing on Walland Marsh. The Black-throated Diver was on the water but distant, while the usual wintering wildfowl included several Goldeneye, Pintail and Shelduck. Down at the pines a Sparrowhawk broke cover and both species of woodpecker were noted.
  There was plenty of Tree Sparrow and tit activity on the bird feeders, plus Greenfinch and Reed Bunting. The recent heavy rainfall has transformed Boulderwall fields into a wetland haven with hundreds of Wigeon, Coot, Curlew, feral geese, Stock Dove, Lapwing, Starling and gulls enjoying the rich pickings. A Peregrine flushed thousands more Lapwings and Golden Plovers from the fields towards Lydd. We walked around to Gun Club pool where a redhead Smew was present and a wisp of four Snipe flushed by a passing Marsh Harrier. Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Stonechat, Cetti`s Warbler, Meadow Pipit also noted, plus two Foxes. 
  Elsewhere on the bird reserve this morning the Glaucous Gull was on Burrowes, a pair of Smew at Christmas Dell and a Slavonian Grebe on Lade south.