WITTERSHAM

An enjoyable birding walk on a former ‘island’

THE VILLAGE OF Wittersham is situated on the Isle of Oxney and surrounded by a combination of the River Rother and Shirley Moor, an ‘arm’ of the Romney Marsh. Before the marshes were drained it would have been an island at high tide accessible only by ferry, and although it is now linked by roads, something of the old island feel remains to this day. This is a walk of contrasting scenery, from the small fields and hedgerows around the village with its paddocks, orchards and old hop fields, typical of the High Weald, through arable farmland, woodland and, finally, beside the Rother watercourse complete with lush marginal herbaceous growth. The riverside section is best for warblers such as Reed (above), Sedge and Cetti’s, while Cuckoo and Turtle Dove are often noted here. Listen for Nightingales in College Wood and also check the sloping scrubland south of the ‘island’, for the likes of a passage Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Whinchat or Wheatear. Swifts and hirundines will be more obvious on cloudy days and there is always the chance of a migrant Yellow Wagtail or Tree Pipit calling overhead. This is one of my favourite spring walks as it often throws up surprises. PAUL TRODD