Clouded Yellow

 Warm, dry and sunny, NW 2 - After several days of poor weather it felt great to get out and about this morning, commencing at Scotney where up 1,000 feral Greylag and Canada Geese were on the flooded roadside sward, along with a handful of Curlews, Redshanks and a Ruff, plus all the usual Lapwings, Teals, Shovelers and Wigeons. A drive out across Walland farmland searching for any early wild swans or geese drew a blank, although a stubble field along Swamp Lane attracted 80 Mute Swans along with 20 Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits.

                                    Goose field, Scotney

A walk down to the sea and back along Dengemarsh Gully was virtually birdless, although the field by Springfield Bridge hosted a few Pied Wagtails, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Goldfinches, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. From the bridge there was plenty of raptor activity over the wetlands from Marsh Harriers and Kestrels, plus two Great White Egrets and six Cattle Egrets on the Boulderwall fields. From Hanson hide the usual ducks and gulls, including a distant Goldeneye, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and a late Clouded Yellow butterfly. From the willow trail a flock of Long-tailed Tits attracted two Chiffchaffs.