Bearded Tits

Dengemarsh - warm, dry and sunny, SW3 - Once the early morning rain had cleared it turned into a fine autumn day, ideal for a long Ted walk around Dengemarsh taking in the reserve and the arable lands across Manor Farm. Whenever I hear the metallic pinging call of a Bearded Tit it always transports me back to my Navy days sitting in a Sonar Control Room listening to the ASDIC ping of a transponder seeking out a submarine - funny how the mind works at times! However, I digress, back to Bearded Tits, surely one of our most handsome birds, yet frustrating too being denizens of reedbeds where they`re more often heard than seen, but not so much at this time of year when they tend to group together, prior to dispersal and seeking out new territories. This morning I saw three different parties during our circular walk, two by the pump and one at Hookers near the grit tray; and let us not forget with less than a thousand pairs nationally, still something of a rarity. Also from the ramp I had a brief sighting of my first Ring Ouzel of autumn in the gorse scrub opposite along with several Robins and Goldcrests. Elsewhere, across the wetlands: two Bitterns (flight views), three Great White Egrets, four Marsh Harriers, a Kingfisher, six Cetti`s Warblers and two Water Rails calling, 30 Teal and 10 Lapwings (hayfields) and Reed Buntings everywhere. While the farmland tracts were quieter, Ted managed to flush two migrant Song Thrushes from a turnip field, where small numbers of Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch and two each of Kestrel and Corn Bunting were logged, plus a pair of Ravens `cronking` loudly over the pylons at the end of the walk.

    Bearded Tit, Dengemarsh