On what appeared to be a slightly better
morning weather wise didn’t seem to impress the birds much, taking the same
early morning route as yesterday only produced 1 Nightingale, good job I did
the survey yesterday, but still enjoyed the songs of many a Blackbird, Song
Thrush, Robin & Dunnock creating the sound of the dawn chorus now including
the reed bed sound of Sedge Warblers s plenty, a few Reed Warblers, one or two
Whitethroats, a Couple of Cuckoo’s and several Collared Doves but, as yet, no
Turtle Doves. The first of 7 Marsh Harriers seen today was over the Ramp just
after 6.00am and amongst the small gathering of common Duck there were 4 Wigeon
and a single Shelduck.
 |
| Male Marsh Harrier displaying over the Ramp |
Five Grey Herons were seen around the reserve plus
several pairs of Linnet in most of the bushes. A Great-spotted Woodpecker flew
over as I approached the Harrison’s Drove hide but nothing of note was on the
pool in front although Skylarks were in full voice over the fields behind. Up
past ‘White House’ and on to the road where there were 2 Pied Wagtails, 8
Goldfinches, 4 Greenfinches and several Blackbirds. Back down through Middle
Drove towards Marsh hide hearing just the 1 Bittern today, calling more sporadically,
where 3 Bullfinches (2 males) flew out of the trees behind the hide heading
towards the Orchard. From the hide there were 3 Redshanks with the Lapwing but
little else so I carried on through the Alder Wood, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps
aside there was not lot else other than Tits and Chaffinches although a drake
Pochard was on the pool just before the Wood. On the lake at Stodmarsh there
were 3 drake Pochards, 16 Tufted Duck, 62 Mute Swans and 2 Great-crested Grebes
while a single House Martin and 2 Swallows passed over. As I was coming through
the ’Jungle’ I caught a snippet of a second Nightingale plus another 3 Bullfincehs were in their usual spot and when I got to the
Water Meadows a Kingfisher made three separate passes, up river, back over the
Water Meadows and then back up river.
 |
| elusive drake Bullfinch in 'the Jungle' |
The summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit
was once again back on the Meadows. Sir Chidwick joined me here after
completing his Nightingale survey at Westbere and with him I retraced my steps
adding a Canada Goose on the lake as we passed. A stop for a chat with Brendan
alongside the Alder Wood before carrying on to Marsh hide where we added 1
Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Garganey (2 drakes).
 |
| Marsh Frogs in the dyke alongside path between Marsh hide and Middle Drove |
After leaving the
hide we stopped briefly at the end of Middle Drove by the Konik Enclosure and
were lucky enough to see a pair of Toads in the dyke near to the gate, a first
for us both.
 |
| Toad obscure |
 |
| Toad a little obscured |
A quick look at Harrison’s was uneventful but there were 2
Wheatears in the field behind so we moved on to the Ramp where new birds, for
the day, included a Greenshank and a Little-ringed Plover plus 5 Common
Buzzards were either in the area or passing over.
 |
| distant Little-ringed Plover from the Ramp |
 |
| distant Little-ringed Plover from the Ramp |
