Ray O’ Reilly, KOS Outdoor Field Trip leader,  writes:-

 "The KOS Outdoor Field Meeting took place on Sunday July 30th and I decided to hold it at my local patch, Cliffe Pools NR. 

 We were extremely lucky with the weather as on completing our walk the heavens opened for the remainder of daylight and it rained stair rods. We recorded a good total of 68 Species.

 The day was marked by Greenshank on many of the pools giving their tu-tu-tu calls as well as vocal Whimbrels.  We heard them both throughout the day. 

Wader passage is clearly beginning, as we saw a total of eleven Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, four Bar-tailed Godwits and four Ruff.  A brilliant flash of a pair of Kingfishers was, as always, a treat, and a cruising  Hobby that came obligingly close was a highlight.

Near the coastguards we had cracking views of a juvenile Common Cuckoo that was a plumage first for some members.

 A few Sand Martins, Barn Swallows and Common Swifts came in lower due to the cloud cover, a reminder of migration picking up pace. 

 Four Yellow-legged Gulls gave great views in exceptional light and we arrived at Higham Bight just as the tide was ebbing with Curlews bubbling over the mudflats. 

As we returned to our vehicle we recorded  my site highest count of Egyptian Geese with 33 birds.

 Thank you to all members that attended and to Bernie Weight and Barry Wright for their company albeit briefly and to Liz Ackroyd for the image of a juvenile Common Cuckoo.