Wandering to the Ramp at Grove just after
5.30 this morning listening to the dawn chorus I could see the sky becoming
clear and a bright sunny day was in store. The first of at least 6 Cetti’s
Warblers burst into song as I made my way along the entrance track with Song
Thrush, Blackbird, and Robin all in song plus the calls of Greylag Geese,
Wigeon and Teal all adding to the sound track. A couple of Fieldfare called and
later in the morning a flock of 30 were seen along Middle Drove. I was watching
one of 8 Marsh Harriers seen today when at 5.45am a Barn Owl appeared over
Baillon’s Pool and headed down the path towards me before turning back and
being lost to view behind the Feast Hide Bushes.
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| male Marsh Harrier |
Joined shortly after by Roger
Lawrence we could not re-locate the Owl. We managed to connect with the pair of
Garganey as they flew over the hidden pool and landed back on the pool in front
of the Ramp before settling down and going to sleep. Now joined by Chip Shop
Chris and Mark Chidwick we did a complete circuit of the reserve noting all the
usual suspects on the duck front with Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall as well
as 10 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck and 3 Tufted Ducks. Harrison’s Hide was fairly quiet
but looking good for a wader to drop by while Linnets are moving back on to
territories with at least 8 birds seen plus a couple of pairs of Long-tailed
Tit. A few snipe were on Harrison’s but the bulk, 12, were at Marsh Hide.
Highlight was when I located a cracking male Wheatear in the fields behind
Harrison’s then the 2nd calendar male Hen Harrier passed out of the
reserve towards Seaton, also a single Canada Goose took a similar path.
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| male Wheatear too fast for the shutter settings?? |
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| male Wheatear |
At
Marsh Hide there were the 3 Garganey still (2 drakes) as well as 1 Black-tailed
Godwit, 6 Ruff, 5 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets
and 4 Pied Wagtails. The only Bearded Tit of the day was a male on the corner
by Newbons Farm, a welcome sight anyway and other than several singing Song
Thrushes the Alder Wood was devoid of any migrants. Four Jays flew over the
lake at Stodmarsh near the Reedbed Hide whilst another two were along the
river. Seeing Norman McCanch along the Lampen Wall he informed us of a
Crossbill he’d had fly over and along the river there were at least 5 singing
Chiffchaffs. The two adult Glossy Ibises were again on the Water Meadows by the
river path but were into the sun making photography very hard work.
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| two adult Glossy Ibises |
Two
Kestrels were noted as were 2 Grey Herons and meeting Brendan along Harrison’s
Drove we re-located the Wheatear from earlier. Back at the Ramp a Bittern
dropped into the reeds in front of us while 3 Common Buzzards and 3
Sparrowhawks were also seen and on leaving there were 4 Greenfinches in the
Paddock ( a rather scarce bird these days!). Brendan and I had a quick stop at
Collard’s as we left hoping for a Sand Martin but, without success although we
did see a Common Crane, sadly though this was just a stuffed fluffy toy on
Barry Wright’s dash. No sign of any
Wheatears at Sandwich on the way home but, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were on
show and some close Starlings near the Chequers Pub.
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| Skylark Dickson's Corner |
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| Starling Ancient Highway |
And on arriving home my Turaco's were letting me know they were hungry by calling from thier "feed me" perch.
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| White-cheeked Turaco |
