I was joined by Ron Bubbins a few minutes
after 5.00 this morning and we and we spent the morning birding the area. The
Ruff was still on the spit from the ramp with a Greenshank and a Green
Sandpiper and was later joined by 3 Black-tailed Godwits. The first of 8 adult
Marsh Harriers left roost before 8.30 and a very small count of 3 Little Egrets
was scant compared to recent counts. Scanning through the Ducks, I’d just got
all 5 Garganey when everything flushed and looking up saw the juvenile Purple
Heron coming towards us from the left hand back pool before turning north and
heading on its usual path. Checking through the Ducks again a female Mandarin
swam past 2 of the Garganey and disappeared behind the reeds while 3 Grey
Herons were playing chase. Four Sand Martins flew out of the reeds and small
parties of hirrundines were seen throughout the morning. A Sparrowhawk, 1
Kestrel and a Snipe were seen and along the river by the bots a mixed Tit flock
held several Chiffchaffs, 6+ Willow Warblers as well as several juvenile Blue
Tits and a few Great and Long-tailed. At the Water Meadows we met Norman
McCanch who was busy drawing a Spotted Redshank that had 1 Greenshank, 1 Common
Sandpiper and 9 Green Sandpipers for company. The three of us made our way to
the lake at Stodmarsh where the Great-white Egret was instantly seen roosting
in one of the dead ‘Cormorant’ trees. Other than 1 female Pochard, 1 drake
Tufted Duck, 1 Great-crested Grebe and the lone Great Black-backed Gull on the
Tern raft there was little else of note. A Kingfisher showed well from Reed Bed
hide and a Green Sandpiper fed around the edge.
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| Kingfisher at reed bed hide |
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| Kingfisher at reed bed hide |
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| Great-white Egret roosting with the Cormorants |
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| Great-white Egret and cousin |
