A few weeks ago I mentioned that willow flowers would provide an early source of food (pollen and nectar) for early flies and bumblebees, today at Castle Water I found several Common Bee-fly using this food source. Other highlights included Bittern in flight, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Grass Snake.
Common Bee-fly feeding at willow flower
Friday 18
Smew, bittern, penduline tit – Hanson-ARC site. Raven (2) – Denge Marsh
Saturday 19
Goldeneye, smew – ARC pit. Bittern, rock pipit – Hooker’s pits. Snipe, firecrest – Christmas Dell. Buzzard, spoonbill – flew over.
Sunday 20
Egyptian goose, garganey (3), goldeneye, avocet, glaucous gull – Burrowes pit. Black-necked grebe – ARC pit. Wheatear, black redstart – main car park area. Red kite – flew over at about 9.30. Merlin – near access track
The signs of Spring are finally arriving on the Romney Marsh, the water levels around Walland are encouraging this year for wet grassland species and a small number of lapwing and redshank are active in addition the ever elusive breeding bittern was booming on Walland Marsh on the 19-20th March.