Back to the marsh

At the request of my neighbours John and Hanne we took an afternoon walk at the marsh at Capestang.  Almost as soon as we started walking 5 Squacco Herons flew up from a flooded meadow together with a few Little Egrets.  Initially the same species as seen and heard on previous visits were visible.

On reaching the bend in the track and looking right we noted a Spoonbill feeding amongst Shelducks and a large group of Black-winged Stilts.  By now were seeing large numbers of Swifts overhead and inevitably after a while there was a Hobby causing havoc amongst the flocks.

Black Kites and Marsh Harriers were evident and a single White Stork passed by high overhead.  A group of 15 Whiskered Terns moved north and were later found hawking for insects over a flooded meadow.  Purple Herons passed over every now and then and a Wood Sandpiper flew over uttering its "chiff chiff" call.

Great Reed, Reed and Cetti's Warblers were all in song and once again the marsh gave immense pleasure for a brief walk.

Heading home a male Woodchat Shrike perched on a dead branch in a hedgerow.

Finally thanks to Susan Wallis and Ken Hall for pointing our that my green beetle (April 17th posting) is a Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata