Carlton Kite & half dozen Woodcock

Arriving at Carlton Marshes, I walked down with Richard W & James B, as we walked west, I saw a Woodcock fly north briefly and we joined Chris M, Jane & Paul F, Don & Gwen & Maurice B at Wilton's Wound on the raised area overlooking the new scrape. Not much seen here, but looking west, around 5 Marsh Harriers seen (4 males and 1 female) seen soaring up the distant sky, together with 3 Buzzards seen here. First one and then another Small Tortoiseshells flew west (my belated first butterflies of the year!) and east over Wilton's Wound. A further Woodcock flew a brief way east. A flock of 40 Redwing suddenly flew out from bushes behind us they flew south and around half their number doubled back and landed back in the bushes where we had seen fly out from originally. Suddenly passing overhead and soaring west, an excellent Red Kite soared over the fields and the suddenly circled around we could see the elegant rusty forked tail and dark and pale areas on the underside clearly seen as it circled around. It then took a beat of its wings and headed west. A male Reed Bunting flew in and settled in a bush. We were joined by Carl B and he spotted a distant adult Mediterranean Gull, a winter- plumaged adult flying west over Peto's fields. I also saw a Chinese Water Deer here. Just north of where we were standing, a Buzzard flew north. I walked back with Paul & Jane F and we saw a third Woodcock of the day fly east over the marsh. We also saw a further 3 Buzzards flying west in the distance. 9 Buzzards seen in total either over or from Carlton Marshes this morning. Back at home, I took a walk around Fallowfields and amazingly disturbed at least 6 Woodcock on 9 occasions with birds flushed from the middle (2), the south end (1), and 3 from the north end. By carefully following the Woodcocks in flight and where they flew to/ landed, I was able to work out that there were 6 different individuals. A record tally for Fallowfields. Walking back,a Small Tortoiseshell flew east. One bird even flew low over the garden and east over the pagoda. Back in the garden, a Small Tortoiseshell, flew east over the garden and over to next doors. Looking from the house, a male Reed Bunting flew south over Fallowfields (long overdue first sighting from the garden/ house!), a Heron flew south and 6 Fieldfare flew south but no sign of any raptor viz mig.