April sightings 2010

Did the Stodmarsh- Grove circuit before work this morning. Fortunately there were few birds to distract me so I arrive at work on time! Although the weather was good the birds were disappointing with Lapwing being the only wader species and not a single hirundines seen in three hours. Highlights of sorts took the form of 39 Carrion crows in a single flock along Harrison’s, one booming Bittern, 2 Cuckoos, 7 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 3 Nightingales.

I had a few hours in the valley today at various times, visiting Grove Ferry, Stodmarsh and Collards later on. I met up with Steve Ashton for a while and in lovely sunshine the following birds were noted: 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Marsh Harrier, 6 Grey Heron, 5 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 11 Greylag Geese, 2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 1 Ring necked Parakeet, 11 Common Tern, 1 Redshank and 1 Bittern booming. There were 15 Swallow, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 probable Great white Egret flew NE over the boathouse. I did not get a good view as it was flying away all the time but it seemed very big! Also 3 Bearded Tit, 10 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Great crested Grebe, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Nightingale, 2 Kestrel, c20 Swift, 1 Mistle Thrush and good numbers of Reed and Sedge Warbler. Steve also had 2 Common Buzzards earlier in the day. Plenty of butterfly activity with Peacock, Green veined White, Large White, Comma and Orange Tip seen.

I made a very brief visit after work to Grove Ferry at 4.30pm. A few bits of interest noted including 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Shelduck, 3 Cetti's Warbler, c100 Swift over the main pool with a few Swallow, Sand Martin and Swallow, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Common Tern over the Green hide. My first Turtle Dove of the year flew north over the boathouse, also 2 Little Egret, 1 Bullfinch, 1 drake Garganey from the ramp and 1 Green Woodpecker.

While sitting in the garden of the Fordwich Arms yesterday, 2.20 to 3pm I saw a Red Kite which drifted NW plus 14 House Martin, 1 Kingfisher and 1 or 2 Grey Wagtails on the river.
(Nick Lever)

It was a very early start this morning, meeting Mark Chidwick and Alan Ashdown at the Grove entrance at 4.45 to the wonderful sound of the dawn chorus. Choristers included Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Wren (numerous Wrens), Dunnock, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon plus many others including Booming Bittern and the ubiquitous call of the Marsh Frog. Cuckoo also made an appearance with, three encountered during the morning. Steve Ashton met us on the ramp and after an hour or so we made our way to green hide in the hope of seeing yesterdays Ruddy Duck (without success) and while here MC popped out for a smoke and with his amazing bionic ears picked up on the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler at least 350 yards away. We all made our way to the spot it was calling from and soon joined by Steve Ray and, we all enjoyed very good views of this insect mimicking locustella Warbler. A single male Bearded Tit was seen from green hide and a Water Rail called from behind us at the Gropper and a drake Garganey flew past and disappeared in the direction of marsh hide. There were 9 Common Terns at Stodmarsh, 1 Peregrine at marsh hide a second Grasshopper Warbler reeling near marsh hide plus, an immobile Grey Heron, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Ringed Plover and two more Herons seen in flight. A Nightingale was in full song at the back of the alder wood (just visible in the dense undergrowth), 6 Great-crested Grebes on the lake with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and on arrival at the ‘jungle’ (where Lampen Wall meets the river) we encountered a Garden Warbler. The water meadows had 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank and little else and from the ramp late morning the drake Garganey was on show for an hour while a large mixed flock of Swifts and Sand Martins descended as the rain came, a few Swallows and House Martins were also with them. Two Dunlin flew over the ramp and out over the boathouse while , 2 bullfinches, 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 7 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and a Kestrel were also enjoyed. Very little at Collard’s except for 4 Common Terns, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 1 drake Wigeon, 42 Tufted Ducks and a single Hobby.

First of all, many thanks to the visiting couple that found my phone and returned to me early afternoon, when we met up in Marsh Hide. Thank you.

While Alan made a start at Stodmarsh and, ultimately Marsh Hide, Steve Ray and I wandered down the river back in a thick fog to the water meadows, on through Stodmarsh, breakfast with Alan in Marsh Hide and then back to Grove via middle drove and the White House. An obvious influx of migrants as there were amongst the many singing Sedge Warblers were at least 28 Cetti’s Warblers and 20+ Reed Warblers. Still only 2 or 3 Lesser Whitethroats but at least 12 singing Common Whitethroats and half a dozen Blackcaps. There are two Blackbirds at Grove that like to mimic, one along the river near Grove entrance that gives a damn good burst of Golden Oriole and the second just past the oxbow near the ‘kennels’ that ends his song with a telephone ring off. The male Bittern was booming through out the morning from somewhere behind Marsh Hide and was later seen showing well from Marsh Hide and Alan had a ringtail Hen Harrier from the very same hide at 6.10am. On the water meadow were, 4 Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Pied Wagtail. Stodmarsh Lake had 2 Common Terns, at last, 5 Shelduck and 7 Great-crested Grebes and around the reserve 8 Marsh harriers were seen. Back at Grove Ferry there was a passage of 112 Common Swifts with a small number of Swallows and 7 House Martins, 1 Cuckoo was heard and a Little-ringed Plover flew over Harrison’s towards a back pool. The Green Hide had 2 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Greylag and 4 Tufted Ducks and Robin Blyth had a male Ruddy Duck here in the early hours during the fog. There were 7 Hobbies from Marsh Hide and the visiting couple that found my phone had a drake Garganey from the ramp. I went up to Collard’s for a short while but didn’t stay long as this is when I realised I had lost my phone but, there was 5 Common Terns, 8 Black-headed Gulls and 1 drake Wigeon here.

I had another 5 mile run around the valley this morning, taking in Fordwich and Westbere before returning back to school for the day. Not a great deal this morning but the following was noted: c11 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, a few Reed and Sedge Warbler singing and 4 Green Sandpiper flew from one of the fisherman's swims calling with a probable Common Sandpiper seen briefly afterwards but not good enough views were got as my eyes were stinging with sweat! Below Cow corner a group of Mute Swan and Greylag Geese were feeding.

A quick visit to the water meadows via Grove, before work this morning. En route I encountered 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Nightingales, a Cuckoo and the water meadows held 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, & 5 Dunlin. There was also 2 Greenshank from the ramp but I suspect they were the same birds that I had seen later. I had a quick look at Collard’s as I passed later in the afternoon. Still no terns but a drake Goldeneye still present.

I got to school this morning at 7.20am and went for a 5 mile run around Westbere lakes into Fordwich and back. In pleasant conditions birds noted were c15 Blackcap, c10 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Nightingale, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest singing, 2 Reed Warbler, a few Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Bullfinch. A Cuckoo was calling near Fordwich for a while as I ran by, also c40 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Canada Geese seen with others heard, 2 Swallow’s on wires at Westbere, a few Great crested Grebe and c13 Mute Swan.

With the prospect of good weather, I made a couple of visits into the valley today, both before and after uni. I spent an hour at the ramp this morning noting 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti;s Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Snipe, c40 Sand Martin in the reeds along the back pool, 2 Skylark, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Jay and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. 1 Little Owl was seen near Cow Corner as I drove past to uni and Steve Ashton had a male Wheatear on gorse bushes at Collards. Returning later in the day, I stopped off at Collards to see if anything had dropped in. Birds seen from here were 3 Marsh Harrier, the first Hobby of the year which was high over the lake hawking. Brendan passed by and duly added it to his year list as well, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel. I finished off with a walk at Grove to the water meadows and a look from the ramp. Birds seen were 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Black tailed Godwit, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 5 Yellow Wagtail including 1 Blue Headed Wagtail, 7 Shelduck, 3 Swift were high over Grove with Malcolm McVail probably seeing the same birds also. Malcolm also had a male Wheatear which was seen again later in the field near the entrance track. There were reports of Swift and Turtle Dove yesterday but these are not confirmed yet, I await details. Also c100 Sand Martin over the main pool, a few Swallows and 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, a few Sedge Warbler and Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler from the ramp.

Popped down to the valley after Swalecliffe this morning. Grove rather quiet but there was a Lesser Whitethroat singing below the ramp. More activity at the water meadows where there were three Black-tailed Godwits and five Green Sandpipers, a Peregrine flew low over head and an Avocet dropped in at 12.55 pm; still there 15 minutes later when I left. Also there, a male Yellow Wagtail and a Little Egret, a Reed Warbler was singing in the reedbed behind the seat and a Common Sandpiper flew upriver.

I visited Grove Ferry from 14.15 to 16.30 today and spent most of the time viewing the water meadows where the horses are grazing. Birds of note: - 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Avocet, 2 Yellow Wagtails and an immature Grey Heron. At long last the hirundines appear to have arrived, good numbers of mainly Swallows and House Martins over the water at the Feast Hide and from the ramp.

Meeting Alan and Marc Heath at Grove Ferry at 5.00 this morning in hope of relocating yesterday’s Grasshopper Warbler we made our way past the Paddock noting our first of 2 Lesser Whitethroats on the western edge. Passing the spot the gropper was yesterday with no sound we carried on to the water meadows listening out all the time. We had just passed the Oxbow when Mark Chidwick called to inform us he’d just heard 2 Grasshopper Warblers between the ramp and Harrison’s Drove. We headed straight back and caught up with one, which was seen a couple of times and heard several times, just past Baillon’s Pool on the path parallel to Harrison’s Drove. At the White House there was 1 Nightingale and 1 Wheatear and on the way to Marsh Hide there were 12 Fieldfares in the hawthorns. Marc, by this time, had left for home noting 3 Whimbrel on the entrance path fields on his way out, also a single Sand Martin. A Bittern was showing well at Marsh Hide standing out in the open for nearly 45mins and a pair of Bearded Tits were in courtship there too. The Reed Warbler from yesterday was still singing by the lifebouy along the Lampen Wall at Stodmarsh and 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Green Sandpipers were at the Water Meadows where we also met Brendan. Other bits included 5 Shelduck, 20 Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, the second Lesser Whitethroatand a Kestrel. Brendan, Mark Chidwick and I made our way to Collard’ where we noted 2 Goldeneye (1 drake), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 drake Wigeon, 49 Tufted Ducks and looking back towards Grove a Red Kite that drifted over to Seaton. Steve Ray, whom we’d seen earlier with Mr Ashton called to say he’d just had a the first Cuckoo land a few feet from him while watching the Godwits at the Water Meadows.

Arriving in thick fog at 5.30 this morning I wasn’t expecting much, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers all in song with a couple of Blackcaps and eventually Chiffchaffs joining in. At 5.40 as I approached the first bend in the river away from the railway I heard intermittent reeling and although the dawn singers were making it hard to hear , with my one ear, I eventually pinned it down to a Grasshopper Warbler but, after just a few minutes it was not heard again so I carried on up river towards the water meadows. There were 4 Wigeon on the Oxbow but little else, the fog becoming even worse so I headed off to marsh hide to sit it out with Alan Ashdown for the next 3 hours. Alan had located a Nightingale in the Alder Wood en-route and, the booming Bittern briefly. While sat in here Mike Gould phoned to say he had just had an Egyptian Goose on the roadside floods at Grove but after a few photos it flew inland. When the fog eventually lifted I left Alan in the hide and carried on birding. There was 1 Little Grebe at Harrison’s, 4 Black-tailed Godwits on the water meadows, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Shelduck. Also today there was 1 male Bullfinch, 2 Common Buzzards, a pair of Long-tailed Tits nest building, 1 swallow and 1 Kestrel. Later in the morning Alan, Mike and Steve Ashton had a Reed Warbler (the first this year) along the Lampen Wall at Stodmarsh. At Collard’s Brendan recorded 3 Goldeye, 1 drake Wigeon and 50 Tufted Ducks.

(Martyn Wilson)

I did a 5 hour trip around Grove Ferry yesterday with 60 species recorded.
Highlights of the day were a single Turtle Dove almost at the track entrance to Grove Ferry at 07:30 along with 4 Fieldfare in the paddocks before the Marsh Hide, 4 Black Tailed Godwit just before the ox bow on the way back and 2 Yellow Wagtail which flew over whilst in Stodmarsh.
(David Barnes)

After a couple of early sessions this week, I was dropped over to Grove Ferry at 11am where I spent a lovely 4 hours wandering the Grove/Stod circuit in lovely sunshine and an annoying Northerly wind. Birds noted were 7 Shelduck, 15 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Sand Martin, 9 Marsh Harrier, 2 Skylark, 2 Kestrel, 6 Snipe, 9 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Jay, 2 Bullfinch and 1 Bearded Tit. The water meadows held 4 Black tailed Godwit, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Little Egret. Other bits today were 6 Wigeon, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Great crested Grebe, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Swallow, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 13 Greylag Geese, 12 Tufted Duck, 23 Shoveler and 33 Gadwall. Butterflies included 1 Speckled Wood, 7 Peacock and 1 Comma.

After an early start yesterday, I arrived at Grove Ferry at 5.45am in cloudy conditions but without the wind howling. I spent a few hours wandering the Grove circuit and a trip to the water meadows. Birds noted today were 5 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 6 Marsh Harrier, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Shelduck, 14 Cetti's Warbler, 14 Sedge Warbler, 3 Green Woodpecker, 9 Yellow Wagtail, 8 out of roost, 1 Sparrowhawk, 19 Shoveler and 11 Wigeon. The bird of the day was the first Whimbrel of the year which was on the fields at the water meadow. It soon flew towards the fields from the Marsh hide where it spent some time before presumably flying east over the main pool at Grove when I was there later. This was my earliest record of Whimbrel, beating the previous earliest by one day which was seen on 15th April 2008. Other birds were 1 Spotted Redshank on the water meadows, 6 Greylag Geese, 4 Gadwall, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Jay, 11 Lapwing, c52 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 2 Swallow, 1 Kestrel, 1Snipe, 2 Skylark, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Long tailed Tit, 5 Linnet and 1 Whitethroat.

As an addition to Marc's sightings, there were 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Ruff on the water meadows this afternoon.

I was out at 4.45am this morning touring the valley in a pain of a wind which prevented much from being heard. I did manage to hear the Booming Bittern at Collards and a Nightingale in song there to. With a bit of time, I arrived at Grove Ferry and walked the Stodmarsh/Grove circuit. The sun was shining but the wind kept alot of birds down, however birds noted were 6 Marsh Harrier, 18 Chiffchaff, 39 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag Geese, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron, 14 Yellow Wagtail, 12 out of roost, 2 Shelduck, c80 Teal, 4 Skylark, c10 Sedge Warbler, 4 Linnet, 1 Kestrel, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker and 8 Blackcap. There were 4 Bullfinch, 3 Water Rail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 11 Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher, the first I have heard for ages, 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Pipit, 4 Great crested Grebe, 3 Green Woodpecker and a few Shoveler and Gadwall from the ramp.

Chris Gibbard had a brief visit to Stodmarsh this evening with the following noted amongst the commoner species: 5 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little ringed Plover heard and 1 Tawny Owl.

Arriving at the ramp at 5.30 I could hear a Grey Partridge calling from the fields to the immediate left (the first since Marc heard one back on January the 3rd) while Marc was at Collard's hearing a Booming Bittern, the 2nd & 3rd Nightingales of the year and 2 Little Owls. Sedge Warblers seem to be in nearly every corner of the reserve now and Cetti's Warblers seemed top have come through the cold snap with at least 28 singing males. There were 6 Shelduck, 9 Marsh harriers, 2 Common Whitethroats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Water Pipits, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Egret and 3 Bearded Tits. Several Snipe are in front of Marsh Hide plus 25-30 singing Chiffchaffs around the reserve. There were 20 Swallows, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Red Kites (one had by Steve A Alan & Richard Bartlet at Marsh Hide and I had one as I was driving out). Steve R and Pete missing it by a few minutes.

A very foggy start this morning birding was managed and it did break into a nice sunny day albiet a little cold with the north easterly. At the Grove/Stodmarsh/Collard's circuit today were, 4 Little Egrets, Cetti's, Sedge, Blackcap and Chiffchaff all competing to see who had the most singers and a pair of Bullfinch. The water meadows had 138 Teal but, no sign of Mark's Garganey and there was just 1 Pied Wagtail, no sign of any Water Pipits or Yellow Wagtails. There were, 6 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Bearded Tits, 2 Treecreepers, 3 Water Rail, 2 Redshanks and 3 Water Rails. Also seen were 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 7 Shelduck, 4 Grey Herons and 3 Sand Martins as we were leaving, while at Collard's there were, 9 Common Buzzads (one flock of 5), 68 Tufted Ducks (a high count for this time of year) and 4 Goldeneye.

The valley's first Nightingale of the year was discovered at Grove Ferry by Julie Childs today.

I arrived at Grove Ferry at 6.00am and had the first Common Whitethroat of the year by the paddocks at 6.20. a quick look from the ramp revealed a few Tufted Ducks and 4 Marsh Harriers while at Savi's pool there were 3 Sedge Warblers. Onward to the Oxbow where there were 5 Wigeon, 2 Chiffchaffs and 5 more Whitethroats. At the Water Meadows there were half a dozen Teal, 1 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets and a pair of Graganey close in, (I would have taken sone photos but, some idiot walked down the raised bank between Marsh Hide and Paddy's bench, no public accsess apparantly, and flushed them). After this I went to Trenleypark Woods where I encountered at least 1 Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps and 5 Common Buzzards.

I spent most of the morning at work so I did not arrive at Grove Ferry until 3pm where I spent an hour or so wandering around the Grove circuit. Birds noted were 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpecker, 12 Mute Swan, 12 Swallow, 2 Linnet, 1 Bullfinch, 23 Gadwall, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sedge Warbler and 4 Marsh Harrier. There were 2 Skylark, 4 Blackcap, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, c60 Teal, c15 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck and 3 Sand Martin.

With news of a rare bird for the area seen yesterday, Lesser spotted Woodpecker, I thought I would try early for one today. I had a brief drive around the valley this morning logging 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Tawny Owl and arriving at the 'usual' hotspot I noted Coal Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker but no target species. I then made a visit to Grove Ferry where I spent an hour noting 6 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Linnet, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Skylark, 4 Swallow and a few Shoveler and Teal from the ramp. Luckily for me, I bumbed in Chidders who informed me I had been looking in the wrong place for the Lesser Spots. I gave it another go arriving at another location in Trenley Park woods. I wandered around for a while listening to singing Blue and Great Tits, 2 Common Buzzard were in the area and Great and Green Woodpeckers were noted. I almost gave up and was starting to walk back when I heard a 'feeble' drumming close by. I eventually located the target species, a male Lesser spotted Woodpecker which for c15 minutes showed very well through binoculars but photos were a little harder to get due to every branch being in the way. I sat patiently and was at last rewarded with a clear shot when he flew closer to check me out. It continued to drum constantly and call occasionally which is hopeful! 4 Treecreepers were also in the area and I left very contented. As I passed back through Grove, 1 House Martin was above the White House.

Birdiing the valley today with Alan Ashdown, Steve Ray, Mark Chidwick, Steve Ashton & Brendan Ryan at various times during the morning. Between us we noted, 7 Marsh Harriers, 4 Little Egrets, 6 Shelduck, 17 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps (2 females), 3 Sedge Warblers and 2 Long-tailed Tits. There were 4 Bearded Tits, 7 Pochards, 3 Tufted Ducks, 3 Bullfinches, 7 Swallows, 16 Wigeon and 2 Sparrowhawks. On the flooded fields from Marsh hide were, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Redshanks, 9 Yellow Wagtails including one very dapper male Blue-headed Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtails and 4 White Wagtails, a fly over Little-ringed Plover and a dozen Water Pipits. Later a phone call from MC informing us he had just located 2 Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers at Trenleypark Wood, so Brendan, Steve A and I made our way there and although we did hear them we never managed to see them. Brendan and I had a look over Collard's where there were, 8 Goldeneye (3 drakes), 6 Canada Geese, 1 calling Little Owl and 1 Common Buzzard.

Mud mud glorious mud, nothing quite like it......in fact that is all you get. This reserve is now a joke, the only decent bit of footpath is from the gate to the ramp at Grove. The rest, is pretty much under water, visitors should bring their snorkels, except the river bank which is high enough not to get flooded but, with it being uneven, sloping towards the river, sloping towards the reserve and with divits and holes you're slipping, slidding and tripping all over the place and getting thoroughly covered in mud. What is the point of footpaths that, unless scuba gear is carried, are pretty much impassable. Approaching marsh hide from either end is deadly, some bright spark has decided to lay cut reeds over the flooded paths making it look dry and passable then, you step on it and bang! you drop three foot into a puddle that would support dehydrated Africans for a fortnight. Why is it that Natural England can spend vast amounts of money on silly 'bus shelters' at each end that, if you arrived and found it to be raining you'd stay in the car until it stopped, not make a few yards manoeuvre to a less warm and dry shelter. Money spent on a shed by the dipping pool that serves no purpose with the actual dipping platform sticking out in front, and no money is spent on upkeep of the footpaths. there is absolutly no accsess for disabled people and certainly extremely hard work for those who maybe a little infirm on their feet. More time is spent watching where you put your next step than is spent doing what you come here for, watching flora and fauna!!!!

As for the birds, seen or heard today despite the rather brisk cold northerly, dark grey skies and rather heavy rain and hail were, 1 Tawny Owl calling at the entrance at 5.35, 3 Sedge Warblers, 5 Marsh Harriers, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Tufted Ducks,, 3 Redshanks, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Pochards, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Swallows, 20 Water Pipits, 12 Wigeon, 7 Shelducks, 2 White Wagtails ad 3 Yellow Wagtails.

As I was driving in this morning I came across a 'mega' on the main road by the flooded fields, it was Marc Heath, a massive rarity in the valley at the weekend but, good to see all the same. Marc had heard 2 Redshanks in the dark near the back pools. We then made our way to the ramp where the Barn Owl once again showed well around the ramp for 5 minutes at 5.50am. We intended doing the whole cicuit counter clockwise but on arriving at Savi's corner the dark skies and few drops of rain forced us to Harrison's for an hour of shelter. After the rain cleared we carried on from where we left noting on route, 9 Marsh Harriers, 7 Shelducks, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, 18 Meadow Pipits, 4 Swallows, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Canada Geese, several singing Skylarks and 4 Blackcaps. As we reached Savi's Corner, though, Marc's astute hearing located the call of the Penduline Tit which after a few minutes showed well from 8.15-8.30 and the first Sedge Warbler of the year was singing and showed half way down Harrison's Drove. For those that don't know, Sav'is corver is the very north end of Harrison's Drove where, it bends right parallel to the river bank. Also today there were 7 Bullfinches, 4 Water rails, 4 Great-crested Grebes, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 19 Cetti's Warblers, and 22 Chiffchaffs. The Water meadows were almost birdless but, from Marsh hide there were, 20+ Water Pipits, 16 Pied Wagtails, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Blue-headed Wagtails and 4 White Wagtails. Plenty of common birds in song with many Greenfinches around the reserve. Marc and I left about 10.30 and I carried on to Collard's for an hour where I came across a smart adult Little Gull feeding over the lake. Also seen here were, 2 Swallows, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 5 Goldeneye (1 drake).

No sooner had Mark C and I arrived on the ramp this morning a Barn Owl flew across trhe pool over the back of the ramp and out towards the paddock where, it hunted for 5-10 minutes before flying right up the ramp over the reed bed then out towards the boathouse. All this at 6.15am, the two unfortunate things were (1) Alan had gone to Stodmarsh so missed it and (2) the light was that bad only a shutter speed of 1/40th at 3200 ISO was possible so, a 640 sutter speed on TV with a little lightening in photoshop produced the ghostly shot below. Otherwise this morning there were, 6 Marsh Harriers, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier at 6.25am, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Shelducks, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveller and 11 Chiffchaffs. The water meadows again seemed the most productive with, 9 Pied Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 White Wagtails, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Wigeon and 3 Little Egrets. Plenty of birds in song including Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and Song Thrush but, no sight or sound of any Sedge Warblers as yet and, still no Garganey. Alan had a single Swallow from marsh hide and from here we also noted 8+ Water Pipits with at least three in fantastic pink flushed summer plumage. A single Sparrowhawk seen here and on the route back to the ramp 6 Fieldfares were along the tree line by Newbons Farm.

I made a couple of visits to Grove today, one before work and as we finished at 12.30pm, another for 2 hours in the afternoon. Birds noted this morning were 5 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 36 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 1 Skylark, 1 Linnet, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Great crested Grebe, 1 Swallow and 12 Gadwall. In better conditions later in the day, birds seen were 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Long tailed Tit, 1 Swallow, 2 singing Blackcap along the river and 3 Bullfinch. The water meadow was quite productive with 5 White Wagtail, 15 Pied Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail including 1 Blue Headed Wagtail (flava), 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Pipit and 1 Little Egret.