Lonely lament

Lade - mild, dry and sunny - The past couple of days have been in marked contrast to the dull and dreary conditions of the past few weeks with bright sunshine and lighter winds; perfect weather then to get out and about away from the frenetic lunacy of this time of year (I can`t even bring myself to write the dreaded C word...). It always astonishes me, particularly when the weather is fine, how few people take advantage of the accessible countryside down here on the Marsh and simply go for a stroll in the fresh air. Surely there`s only so much telly folk can watch?

                                Leucistic Rabbit by the corral

                                Great White Egret, Hookers reedbed

  Take yesterday, for example, we did a circular walk around Dengemarsh from ARC; up the main track past Boulderwall fields, around Hookers and across the fields to Dengemarsh Road, down to Springfield Bridge and around the hayfields to the ramp, retuning via the access road.- and saw just two other birders along the way! The bird count was far more impressive however, with 50 odd species including Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Snipe, Pintail, Skylark, Bearded Tit and Corn Bunting.
  This morning we checked out the local patch first thing followed by a walk along the seafront from Littlestone to St Mary`s Bay searching for Snow Buntings, of which there was no sign. A few waders had pitched up on the shingle beach at high tide, while several Skylarks were noted on the golf links.

                                Turnstones on the beach