Barn Owls!

One of this evenings Barn Owls at Scotney

 Commom Terns at Dengemarsh

After being tied up with domestic stuff for the best part of a month it was good to get out today and return to some semblance of normality.

First thing this morning I walked from Springfield Bridge around the hay fields to Dengemarsh and Hookers. Among the Cows on Dengemarsh Flood, 30+ Yellow Wagtails mostly juveniles were busy feeding along with a few Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Reed Buntings. A family of Bearded Tits were in the adjacent ditch. No sign of the Glossy Ibis or Cattle Egret but 4+ Little Egrets in hay field 3 with regular pulses of Sand Martins heading into the NW wind. On Dengemarsh the Common terns were busy feeding chicks, while over the reed bed 2 Marsh Harriers were hunting. From the viewing ramp another party of Bearded Tits, lots of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, also a couple of Cetti's Warblers could be heard chacking as could a couple of squealing Water Rails.

Goldfinches taking advantage of fresh water at Plodland

 2nd year Great Black Backed Gull with an anglers discard.

Another uneventful sea awtch this afternoon 15.00-16.15 from the fishing boats,
Common Scoter: 12W
Gannet: 17E       8W
Cormorant: 7 around
Oystercatcher: 11W
Dunlin: 1E
Black-headed Gull: 23W
Common Gull: 4W
Herring Gull: N/C
Great Black Backed Gull: N/C
Sandwich Tern: 7W
Common Tern: 3W
Late afternoon at the ARC some islands are almost appearing so hopefully no rain in the near future. The Swalllows have started laying in the Screen Hide hopefully they will be successful again.

 This evening I decided to cycle to Scotney and around the tracks at the back of the lakes. Yellow Wagtails were every where, also a few Corn Buntings, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, a Curlew and a Whimbrel. 2 Barn Owls gave superb views and a Little Owl was in the usual spot. The island in the western back lake was bird less, I would like to think that all the Avocets, Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls have fledged there young, but in reality I believe the Badgers have swum out and taken them all as they did last year.

 Stunning views of the Barn Owls

 Corn Bunting

 Little Owl

Whimbrel coming in to roost at last light