Wild swans

Lade - mild, sunny, light airs - A bright, frosty start to the day with the prospect of a more spring-like week to follow. On south lake two drake Goldeneyes were displaying frantically to a harem of ducks and a Dartford Warbler called from gorse scrub by the main track.

                               Kenardington, RMCanal

Birdwatching Break - Picked up Clare and Peter from Ashford station this morning, who`re down from London for a three day tour. We stopped off at the RMC at Kenardington where a mixed flock of around 200 winter thrushes was the highlight, comprising mostly Fieldfares. Also seen: several Buzzards, Kestrel, Jay, Song Thrush and Great White Egret.
  Moving across the Marsh we stopped at Horses Bones Farm where the 34 Bewick`s Swans were still present, though distant and looking nervously around at the sound of shotguns, while at  Caldecote Lane a flock of 50 Corn Buntings on overhead wires and several Mipits noted.
  At Pigwell a Grey Wagtail was amongst the Pied Wagtails on the sewage works but we could find no sign of last months Woodlark. The front fields at Scotney were full of birds including hundreds of Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Wigeons and Starlings, plus 20 Redshanks, two Dunlins and, from the double bends, the Barnacle Goose flock.
  From Springfield Bridge several Marsh Harriers, Buzzard, Great White Egret, 50 Linnets, Mipits and the two wintering Whooper Swans. On the way back to Plovers, in fading light, we paused along the Lydd Road to scan three of the four `resident` Cattle Egrets.

                               Whooper Swans, Dengemarsh