Sunday 16 September 2012

Status Quo


 

 

Last weekend in the “Valley” was pretty dire so I couldn’t be bothered to write about it although, to be fair, 4 Ringed Plovers dropped in briefly on Saturday and 2 Spotted Redshanks flew out towards Reculver after the fog had lifted but otherwise it was very mundane. This weekend was enlivened slightly by a Tawny Owl calling as I walked to the Ramp and the sounds of 26 Wigeon calling from the pool. Joined by Sue Morton we wandered the circuit noting 7 Grey Herons, 6 Cetti’s Warblers, 5 Water Rails, 8 Marsh Harriers, 1 Ruff and 2 Dunlin. There were 8 Black-tailed Godwits from the Ramp but they left towards Stodmarsh while at Harrison’s Drove hide there were 2 Spotted Redshanks (1 adult & 1 juvenile), 1 Wood Sandpiper and a Garganey.
Drake Garganey at Harrison's Drove hide
A few Swallows were moving west, there were 3 Little Egrets, 9 Snipe and 1 Common Buzzard that landed in a bush in the Oxbow area while several parties of Bearded Tit were seen totalling about 60 birds. On Friday Steve Ashton had seen 3 Great-white Egrets from Reedbed hide so we hoped to catch up with them as we walked round. Leaving an empty Marsh hide we saw our first Great-white in flight over the reed bed heading towards the Alder Wood/Fishing Ponds and when we reached the Lampen Wall our second flew across the back of the lake and dropped in the reeds to the left of Reedbed hide. A large flock of House Martins were feeding over the lake but just 3 or 4 Sand Martins were with them and on the lake were, 24 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Pintail, 5 Tufted Ducks, 76 Pochards and 5 Great-crested Grebes while 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Green Sandpiper fed around the edges plus a Great Black-backed Gull was on the Tern raft. The third Great-white Egret was seen as we walked the river as it flew overhead as if it had come from the Chislet direction.
Great-white Egret
Not much else to report other than a Hobby near Stodmarsh Court Farm as I drove out. Sunday was much the same except only 2 Wigeon, no Spotted Redshanks and just 1 Great-white but, along with Bernie Weight we added 2 Stonechats along Harrison’s Drove and the Black-tailed Godwits had increased to twelve. While in the Reedbed hide with Steve Ashton and Tim Gutsell a Kingfisher came in for a short while but not on the close perches.
Kingfisher from Reedbed hide at Stodmarsh
Instead off visiting Restharrow on the way home on Saturday I took the long walk to Backsand Scrape at Sandwich to see if the Pectoral Sandpiper was still present. I set myself up in the photo hide but there was no sign but was sure it was still present so started chomping on my lunch when I looked up and there it was in front of me, 500 photos later I was heading home well pleased.
Great Black-backed Gull at Backsand Scrape

Little-ringed Plover at Backsand Scrape

Little-ringed Plover at Backsand Scrape

Pectoral Sandpiper at Backsand Scrape

Pectoral Sandpiper at Backsand Scrape

Pectoral Sandpiper at Backsand Scrape

Pectoral Sandpiper at Backsand Scrape

Pectoral Sandpiper at Backsand Scrape
Greenshank at Backsand
Sunday was the usual visit to Restharrow where the only change was there were 4 Little Egrets instead of the usual two.
Little Egret with Migrant Hawker at Restharrow Scrape

Little Egret at Restharrow

Green Sandpiper at Restharrow

Green Sandpiper at Restharrow