Braving a cold strong north easterly with
lots of squalid showers, Chiddy and I made the best of a bad day to bird the
circuit. The Ramp was quiet except the Whitethroat holding territory in the
surrounding bushes and 2 drake Wigeon on the pool oh, and a Mallard with 4
ducklings. We took shelter in Harrison’s Drove hide with very little to look at
but 3 Whimbrel flew in after we been there an hour and during a break in the
rain we checked the other pools along the drove whilst getting better views of
the Whimbrel. Six Ringed Plovers flew past as we returned to the hide and then
we moved on to the river and down to the Water Meadows where there were. 5
Greenshank, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Redshank. Next stop was the Lake Tower
hide at Stodmarsh where we had to stay some considerable time during some heavy
downpours. While in the hide we had a small passage of Common Terns with a 17,
an 8, a 4 then a 6 and in between Chiddy picked out a Sandwich Tern. This being
the second Sandwich Tern in 9 days, a good record for this very scarce valley
species. Lots of Swallows, Martins and Swifts were feeding low over the lake
and over the Lampen Wall and 4 Marsh Harriers were encountered throughout the
morning. Joined by Brendan looking for the Sarnie, who carried on the opposite
way to us when the rain cleared. A
single Hobby was over the Alder Wood, the male Bittern was booming
intermittently while another flew from Grove to Stodmarsh whilst we were again
chatting with Brendan as we passed near Middle Drove where he had been Joined
by Phil Chantler. Apart from a few Ducks there was a Little Grebe From Marsh
hide where we also saw the 5 Greenshank plus, 3 Redshank and a Common Sandpiper
was from the Ramp before we departed.
