Dengemarsh - warm, dry and sunny, SW3 - At last the weather finally turned spring-like and there was plenty to enjoy on our circular Ted walk this morning around the marsh. It is one of my favourite hikes combining farmland with the RSPB wetlands offering a wide range of birds, and at this time of year the prospect of incoming migrants. We started at the Manor Farm end with several pairs of Corn and Reed Buntings on territory along with many more Skylarks, a few Linnets, two Yellow Wagtails and five pairs of Lapwings on a stony field. At the back of Hookers, after a lengthy wait, I eventually obtained brief views of a Garden Warbler singing from a willow thicket while Sedge Warblers were plentiful around the wetlands and where more Reed Warblers had moved in and Lesser Whitethroats remained in the ascendency over Whitethroats. From the ramp a Bittern `boomed`, a pair of Marsh Harriers displayed over the reedbed, several Bearded Tits flitted around the grit tray, a drake Garganey showed on a nearby pool and two Hobbies overhead were my first of the spring. A pair of Avocets remained on hayfield 2 while hayfield 3 held 12 Shelducks, a pair of Gadwall and several Redshanks and Lapwings. Also noted during the circuit a Great White Egret, two Ravens, two Common Buzzards, a Kestrel, six Whimbrels and two Curlews over.
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