West Point – Cliffe

The “Sitting Ducks” Big Sit - 14th May 2006

The choice of date was determined by events, as the UK Birdwatch non-motorised event took place on the first weekend of May. Nigel Matthews is moving to a new job in Hampshire, so he wasn't available and neither was David Wilson, so Bob Davison introduced Mark Tomlins to the event and he proved a most welcome addition to our team. During the days beforehand, the weather looked decidedly unpromising, as a cold front moved south across the British Isles with the threat of cooler temperatures and rain – it had been exceptionally hot and dry, though the forecast on the 13th suggested far less rain and even some sunshine, with a southeast wind. Bob and Mark arrived in Loose well before 2am and we scrambled up to our precarious ‘circle' before 2.45am, having discovered that there had been thunderstorms at Cliffe during the night. The day commenced overcast with a light drizzle. When I sat in my chair, I reached for my binoculars, they weren't there, I had left them at home!! It's time I took the advice I frequently give to other ageing friends – make use of a checklist before leaving. Added to my deteriorating hearing, it meant that I was not the valuable team member that I would expect to be.

In spite of the damp, cool conditions several Nightingales are in good voice, as are numerous marsh frogs that almost provide competition for our ability to hear birds calling and singing. However, calls of Avocet and Shelduck are clearly heard and calls from Redshank , Greylag Geese , Cormorant , Mallard , Moorhen and GC Grebe quickly follow, as I shelter under my poncho – a most welcome addition to my equipment in the circumstances – and the first Woodpigeon is heard singing (number 10 at 3am). A distant Cuckoo calls and Bob, our waterfowl expert, identifies a low quack as that of a duck Gadwall . A lorry is driven into the quarry behind us at 3.15am and its engine is left running for some while. We had hopes that Sunday would be free of noises from the depot. Oystercatcher and Lapwing calls rise distantly from the marshes and Coots call from the pools below us. A distant Tawny Owl hoots at 3.45am – sadly the only owl calls heard. The dawn chorus commences with songs from a Blackbird , a Song Thrush and a Robin but under the dark sky dawn seems a long way off. The next species, a Mistle Thrush (number 20 at 4.26am) is a surprise early addition, based on struggles experienced in the previous two years, with none recorded in 2004 and just one at the end of the day in 2005. A Common Whitethroat starts singing at 4.30am and distant calls from Herring Gulls and a Pheasant follow. A Wren , a Blackcap and a Dunnock all sing but nothing is heard from a Water Rail, Barn or LE Owls, species we had hoped to add before dawn. As usual a Carrion Crow calls early in the day and then a surprise addition for this Big Sit site, the first time the song of Yellowhammer has been heard. As the sky begins to lighten a Grey Heron is heard, as are calls from a GBB Gull (number 30 at 4.47am), a Little Egret drops onto a small pool below us and BH Gulls fly overhead. By 5am a few species can be identified by sight on the various pools, including Canada Goose , Little Grebe and Tufted Duck , as the first Jackdaws fly over. A Goldfinch ‘twitters' and a flock of about 40 Black-tailed Godwits is silhouetted against one of the four Black Barn pools. Common Terns and a pair of Mute Swans (number 40 at 5.18am) are visible on the Alpha Pool, a Magpie drops into the hawthorn scrub below us, and two Starlings perch on one chimney top of Manor Farm. We hear the welcome ‘purring' of a Turtle Dove at 5.25am, the first Chaffinch is heard singing, three Pochard fly towards the North Quarry, a Swift – the first of a good number – flies over and a Green Woodpecker ‘yaffles'. Three Feral Pigeons fly over, a Stock Dove is seen in the quarry and a Great Tit calls from the hawthorn scrub (number 50 at 6am). Rooks can be seen flying to and fro across the Thames from Northward Hill by 6.10am, when it is time to create some inner warmth by partaking of our various breakfasts – the fresh southeast wind feels decidedly cold.

While replenishing ourselves a Blue Tit calls and a short while later a Pied Wagtail runs across one of the office roofs in the quarry, a Collared Dove is seen perching on a power line, a Swallow flies around the quarry and a Kestrel hovers over the reserve. Just after 7am a Jay flies over the hawthorn scrub below us, and two distant Skylarks , in the direction of the Alpha pool, hover low over the pasture. It is obviously a work morning for the construction workers in the quarry, which is extremely annoying from our point of view as the machinery makes a considerable noise – maybe it will be for the morning only; it proved to be so. Time slips by with additions being listed more slowly and it is approaching 8am when a pair of Shoveler swims into view on the Radar pool and a pair of Ruddy Duck is seen on one of the small pools below us. A Greenshank (number 60 at 8am) flies onto one of the Black Barn pools and, while searching for it so that others can enjoy the resplendent summer plumage, we enjoy another bonus when a Wood Sandpiper is discovered feeding rapidly – almost frantically judging by the amount of running – another first for these May Big Sits at Cliffe. A lone House Martin joins the feeding Swifts low over the Radar pool and two Linnets fly by as we wait for the weather to improve – the light is still dull at 9am. A Greenfinch calls from the scrub below and a pair of Wigeon flies by heading for the North Quarry – another addition to the May Big Sit list.

Having recently acquired a mobile phone, though still struggling with the learning process, I phoned Paul Larkin, who was watching from the first ramp during his monthly WeBS count of the pools. As I thought, he could see several Teal that were hidden from our view behind a bank and he was also able to confirm that we were seeing two Ruff on one of the Black Barn pools. High tide is due around 1.30pm and by 10am small flocks of Dunlin are beginning to fly in off the river, eventually settling to feed and roost on the Black Barn pools, a fair distance from West Point. At least three Sand Martins (number 70 at 10am) can be seen flying around Cliffe Creek and ten minutes later a distant Hobby flies S and while scanning the skies a Sparrowhawk (number 70 at 10.15am) is also found. Some thirty minutes later a distant flock of finches is seen flying amongst the white flowering hawthorns but proving difficult to see, let alone identify when perched among the flowers. A brief good view eventually enables us to confirm that they are Corn Buntings – another bonus species that wasn't really anticipated, though a flock had been discovered the previous week, nearer the coastguard cottages and probably too distant to identify from West Point. In the poor light we are having difficulties identifying distant small waders and while straining through our telescopes an adult Little Gull flies passed – another addition to the May Big Sit list. Eventually, around 12.45pm the identity of four Ringed Plovers is confirmed and a little later a LBB Gull is seen roosting on the Flamingo Pool. Shortly before 1pm as we are replenishing ourselves once again a RL Partridge calls from the ‘wild' part of the quarry. At the far end of the Flamingo Pool a number of waders are roosting and with a little help from Paul again we are able to confirm the identification of a flock of some 20 Whimbrel , about half as many Grey Plover and three or four Bar-tailed Godwits . While again concentrating on the waders roosting on the Black Barn pools, Mark's eyes glance skywards as ours do too when he calls Osprey (number 80 at 1.45pm). A worthy bonus species, which we are able to watch for several minutes as it flies low overhead and turns southwards. A flock of Curlew is now roosting on Black Barn pool and just before 2pm two Greenshank land by a small pool below us providing excellent reasonably close views. Over ninety minutes later a pair of Teal flies across the Radar Pool.

A look at our growing list is encouraging as we analyse what species we might yet add: neither Chiffchaff nor Lesser Whitethroat has been heard and both were present in the hawthorn scrub below us the previous spring; a possible House Sparrow has already been glimpsed on the roof of Manor Farm, so that species is a distinct possibility; a LT Tit or a GS Woodpecker could pass beneath us; Stonechats are present but very distant and the light remains poor; it ought to be possible to identify a Reed Bunting if one perches in view for long enough; we know Yellow Wagtails are out there, though distance makes it almost impossible to see them, unless they become very active; a Garganey might appear on the pools; there ought to be a Common Sandpiper somewhere and both Mediterranean and Common Gulls might be located; a Marsh Harrier is unlikely as few have been seen on the Hoo Peninsula this spring but a Peregrine ought to put in an appearance and if we stayed until dusk might we add a couple of owl species? This suggests that a total of 90 ought to be possible, but…………

Shortly before 3.15pm a flock of 14 Corn Buntings alights on the power lines below us and Mark reckons nearer 30 were present when this group joined others on the hawthorn flowers again, but the sky remains overcast and the fresh southeast wind feels stronger. At 4.15pm a Reed Bunting is seen sufficiently well to confirm identification, before it dives into thick cover by the Radar Pool. Diving into cover is what another Sparrowhawk did next, into the hawthorns below us. It is now after 5pm as we struggle to find additions, while listening to the calls of nestling Jackdaws in the cliff underneath us, until a House Sparrow flies over towards Manor Farm at 5.45pm. The 84th species, which equals our best May total, however, we are all feeling uncomfortably cold, even shivering and despite the perceived opportunities to set a new record we decide, after over fifteen hours listening and watching, to pack up and head home. If only it hadn't been wet before dawn and the weather had been marginally warmer, with patches of blue sky to improve visibility, we might have increased the total. On the other hand we had identified seven species not noted during the first two attempts and an Osprey was our reward for a lengthy Big Sit, which was enjoyed by all, even without my binoculars. Thanks to Bob and Mark for their company, their sharp eyes and Bob's acute hearing in particular.