May Sightings

Sightings are seen by the following birders unless stated:

Brendan Ryan, Marc Heath, Norman McCanch, John Cantelo, Martyn Wilson, Dave Dowell, Derek Smith.

30th May

An excellent day in the valley with some good raptors seen throughout the day. A Red Kite was seen heading East over Fordwich towards Stodmarsh at 1.50pm and 2 Buzzard species were seen going through high over the ramp at Grove Ferry. 22 Hobby were counted between Grove and Collards and a ringtail Montagu's Harrier was seen from the Green Hide at 3.30pm and was last seen heading off in the Sandwich direction. Other birds seen today included 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Kingfisher and a few Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck and Pochard, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 1000+ Swifts, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret and good numbers of Bearded Tit,Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warbler singing and showing well. a 1st Summer Little Gull was seen at Collards.

29th May

A very pleasant mornings birding at Grove Ferry with some good birds seen. The bird of the day was a Honey Buzzard seen flying West a Grove Ferry/ Stodmarsh between 12.30 - 12.45pm. Other birds seen today included 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Wigeon, 7 Pochard, 4 Ruddy Duck, 4 Shelduck, 31 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nightingale, 1 Turtle Dove, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10+ Hobby, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Grey Heron and a few Swifts, Sand and House Martins.

28th May

The bird of the day was a Red Kite heading West over Stodmarsh at 10.35am, other species seen today at Grove Ferry included 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 3 Common Tern, 2 Redshank, 7 Shelduck, 15 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 4 Ruddy Duck, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Legged Gull and a good scattering of Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warbler singing despite the strong wind. Bearded Tits were numerous and could be heard 'pinging' all over the reserve. Swift numbers remain in the hundreds and a few House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows were also around most of the morning. It was very pleasing to see a few groups of Mute Swans with cygnets.

22nd May

The highlight today was a White Stork high West over Grove Ferry at 10.40am. Other birds seen today included 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Hobby, 1 drake Garganey, 1 Dunlin. Swift numbers remain high and there was a steady passage of Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls throughout the morning.

21st May

A Honey Buzzard was seen by Martyn Wilson flying East over Grove Ferry at 7.55am this morning, also 2 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, and a few Shoveler, Gadwall and numbers of Swift remained in the hundreds.

20th May

A Temminck's Stint was seen briefly from the ramp at 8am.

18th May

Birds seen today at Grove and Stodmarsh included 2 Garganey, 1 from the ramp and 1 from Harrison's Drove hide. A Honey Buzzard was reported over Stodmarsh at 11.40am. 1 Hobby was also seen.

17th May

Not alot to report but the following birds were seen tonight at Grove: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret and 500 swifts.

16th May

16 Hobby were seen in the air together this morning at Grove Ferry.

15th May

 A few locals did a 'Big Sit' at Grove Ferry throughout the day and managed 75 species which included the following highlights: 3 Wigeon, 2 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, 1 Garganey, 1 Wood Sandpiper, Sparrowhawks, Marsh Harrier and 38 Hobby.

14th May

The following species were seen today at Grove Ferry in very windy conditions: 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Marsh Harrier, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Ruddy Duck, 3 Pochard, 1+ Whitethroat, a few singing Sedge and Reed Warblers, large numbers of hirundines and 4 Common Tern. 2 Little Egret, 1 dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, plus one Little Tern. There were 42 Common Terns over Collards.

12th May

Birds seen today at Grove Ferry included 2 Little Egret, 1 dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Little Tern.

10th May

Birds seen today at Grove Ferry included: 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Yellow wagtail, Grey Heron, Little Egret. A walk along the river bank to the oxbow lake held Cetti's, Sedge and Garden Warblers, cuckoos, 4 hobbies, 1 sparrowhawk and Long Tailed Tits. The Oxbow lake held Redshank, Shelduck and a solitary wigeon. 3 Hobbies were also seen. Also at Grove, 1 ringed plover, 6 little egrets, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 3 Wigeon. 6 Hobbys over Collard's at dusk.

9th May

Birds seen today at Grove Ferry in an hour or so included 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 2 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern and a good scattering of: Reed, Sedge and Cettis Warbler's. Also 1 Blackcap, many swifts, House Martins, Swallows and especially Sand Martins.

8th May

I had an early start this morning at 4.45am at Grove Ferry. It was just getting light on arrival and the following species were logged: 7 Nightingale, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Water Rail calling, 4 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cuckoo including 1 hepatic female and good numbers of Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warbler singing.

7th May

An Early start at 5am at Grove Ferry this morning for an hour produced the following species: 2 Hobby, 3 Cuckoo including 1 hepatic female, 4 Nightingale, 2 Common Tern, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 2 Ruddy Duck and good numbers of Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers. A visit to Collard's mid morning produced 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 400+ Swift, 50+ House Martin and 3 Hobby.

6th May

Birds seen today at Grove Ferry included 5 Hobby, 750 Swift and good numbers of Sedge and Reed Warblers singing.

5th May

Birds seen today at Grove Ferry, Stodmarsh and Collard's included 2 Gargeney, 2 wigeon from the ramp plus a drake wigeon at Collard's, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greenshank at Stodmarsh, 8 Nightingales singing between Stodmarsh and Grove. House martins still very much in evidence with 140 at Collard's and 40 at stodmarsh, 260 swifts at Collard's, plus 130 at Grove. Other birds seen at Grove: 12 Hobby, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 4 Pochard, 2 Common Tern, 3 Marsh Harrier's and a few Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers singing. 2 possible Honey Buzzards were reported West over Stodmarsh at 11.30am.

4th May

Not much coverage today as most of Kent descended on Dungeness to see the Gull Billed Tern and the Black Winged Stilt. 250 Sand Martins and 2 Garganey were seen at Grove Ferry and 120 House Martins over Collards in the afternoon.

3rd May

The following species were seen at Grove today: 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Garganey and 3 little Egrets, c 100 swift and 120 sand martins. House martins are still very thin on the ground with only 3 seen.

2nd May

Another quality day in the valley with some good birds seen at Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh. The highlight today was a Red Kite that was seen by the locals at 1.05pm for 15 minutes before heading off West. Hobby numbers continue to rise with a maximum count of 49 birds seen today and 2 Spoonbills were reported circling Stodmarsh before flying off North West in the early afternoon. Other birds reported were 2 Whimbrel and 2 Garganey, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 or 2 Whimbrel, 7 Yellow wagtail, 1 whinchat and 4 Little Egret. Collard's held 4 Wigeon ( 3 drakes) and 12 Tufted duck.

1st May

An Excellent start to the month with some good birds to be seen. The highlight today was a  ring tail Montagu's Harrier seen at Grove Ferry at 7.25am, it was seen to fly over Harrison's Drove hide and then towards the river before disappearing down the valley. Other species seen at Grove/ Stodmarsh today included 27 Hobby, 10+ Turtle Dove, 4 Common Sands, 1 Turnstone, 4 Little Egret, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 2 Wheatear, 2 Peregrine, 3 Sparrowhawk, 6 Marsh Harrier, 18+ Common Tern, 1 Dunlin, 6 Cuckoo, 7 Ruddy Duck, 1 Pochard, 2 Shelduck, 7+ Cetti's Warbler, 10 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Nightingale and many hirundines, Reed and Sedge Warbler. A Long Eared Owl was seen for a few minutes this afternoon at Grove Ferry perched on the perimeter fence of the paddock.