Driving along the Ancient Highway between Deal and Sandwich the road crosses the grazing marsh of Worth. It is often worth scanning and today was no exception. Although I was some what disappointed not to find any waders there were compensations.
A scattering of Wheatears were obvious when they flew and showed their "White Arses", a name used for the bird in previous times in Cornwall. Not all were males, although, as is usual at this time of year, the majority were, the females arriving a little later.
A long way off in the field there was a loose flock of some 20 or so White Wagtails, none were close enough for a proper picture but this is a Photoshop picture, of part of the group, I've brought them closer together than they were, because they were so spread out. The area is large and I may well have underestimated the total number.
At the farm yard a couple of Stock Doves were getting quite friendly. It seemed to me that the above shows an invitation to start a family. Although I think of Stock Doves as nesters in tree holes they are quite prepared to use suitable nooks and crannies in buildings.
I did hear a couple of Corn Buntings singing but there was still a flock of about 20 birds feeding in the farmyard. I think that there are six above, but they easily disappear in the piles of hay. I don't know whether they carry on this community feeding once they started nesting, but I rather doubt it.
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