Bewick`s Swans

Mostly Walland Marsh - mild, overcast, occasional drizzle, light airs - Under leaden, Mordor-like skies we spent most of the day criss-crossing the Marsh in search of Bewick`s Swans for the National Survey. Sadly, only eight adults were located; six from Hook`s Wall and two opposite Appledore Turkey farm, all feeding in oil-seed rape fields amongst Mute Swans of which a total of 425 were counted. Hopefully, a few more may join their kin as the winter progresses.There was also no sign of the two Whooper Swans in the fields along Dengemarsh Road.
  The dull weather conditions didn't make for a very inspiring outing, but what was just as depressing as the lack of wild swans was the shortage of birds in general. Hardly surprising really with the fields being ploughed up to the margins, while the devastation caused by the turf cutting process along some of the lanes has to be seen to be believed. A few winter thrushes, Buzzards, Kestrels and finch and gull flocks, plus a Green Sandpiper at Fairfield being about the sum total.

                                Four of the Hook`s Wall Bewick`s Swans

                                The iconic Fairfield Church

  Back on the shingle there wasn't much change to the birding scene with plenty of activity on the Boulderwall fields and the usual biomass of Cormorants, ducks and gulls on Burrowes, plus 16 Blackwits and two Ruff. Elsewhere, at Scotney a single Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe were present (MC).