Dengemarsh - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - A superb morning to be out in the field commenced with a spectacular sunrise over the power station. As we parked by Springfield Bridge seven
Cattle Egrets flew in to the mist-wreathed hayfields to feed and already several Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets were on the wing. We walked the gully to the sea and back which harboured a goodly number of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and, most numerous of all, Robins, plus 10 Goldcrests, 10 Reed Buntings, three Cetti`s Warblers, five Chiffchaffs,
Firecrest, Grey Wagtail and 10 Teal. However, there was virtually no overhead passage apart from several flocks of inbound Starlings totalling 500 birds. Also noted four Ravens, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, two Buzzards, four Stonechats, a few Mipits and Skylarks, plus 200 Med Gulls on the sea.
Sunrise over Dungeness
"This is way too early for me..."
Finches in the sunshine
"Cronk-cronk" - surely the most evocative call of any bird
Tower Pits - Quite a few Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Blackcaps, tits and Robins in the bushes around the car park. The walk down to the pines and around the back yielded Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 10 Redpolls, Reed Buntings and our first
Jay of autumn, plus flyover Siskins, Redpolls, Goldfinches, Skylarks,
Redwing and
Brambling. From Hanson hide eight Blackwits and two Great White Egrets.
Chiffchaff on a wire
Will-o`-the-wisp
Hunting Short-eared Owl
Walland Marsh - Superb end to the day out on the Marsh with CP counting harriers to roost. Fifteen Marsh Harriers eventually flew in at two different sites within the reedbed where both
Short-eared and
Barn Owl were seen in good light and at close range successfully hunting the adjacent grasslands. Also noted four Buzzards, Kestrel, Snipe, Reed Buntings, Bearded Tit, 50 Golden Plovers, 100 Lapwings and around 500 Greylags flying in as the sun set over Oxney, magical stuff.
Sunset on Walland Marsh
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