Water Pipits

Dengemarsh - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Once the sea fret dispersed (it didn't fully clear all day) it was a pleasant spring morning which encouraged several Marsh Harriers and Buzzards to thermal into the ether. We walked the gully which was fairly quiet apart from a couple of Wheatears at the bottom and a sprinkling of Linnets, Mipits, Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs along the way. A Raven flew over calling and a flock of 50 Brents went up-Channel.

                                Water Pipit country

  From Springfield Bridge a Bittern could be heard booming, while an immature Marsh Harrier glided over flushing the few wildfowl on the lake. The flood and hayfield 3 were devoid of birds apart from a few Greylags and there wasn't a sniff of a Lapwing, displaying or otherwise. At first glance hayfield 1 looked similarly barren until several Water Pipits popped up briefly and wandered along a flooded margin. Eventually after an hours searching at least eight were located.
  Elsewhere, on the field next to Lydd allotments the four Cattle Egrets were still present, as was a pair of Whooper Swans in the field by Cockles Bridge.

                                Barney enjoying the spring sunshine