Stour Valley Sightings: Waxwings and Divers

Although Saturday was spent at Stodmarsh where it was all the usual subjects present although Water Pipit numbers have now increased to 27 and I had a look at the 23 Waxwings present on the Lake View Business Park overlooking Stodmarsh lake, Sunday I decided to spend the morning with the Black-throated Diver at Dover Harbour in Granville Dock that was found by Mark Chidwick last week. I Met Mark down there early doors and after an initial look to see if the Diver was present (it was) we had a wander around the other basins and along the Prince of Wales pier. While looking through the harbour opening at least 45 Red-throated Divers passed while Auks were going either way with one or two coming in to the harbour. Back at the Black-throat and it did the exact routine Mark had said it would and we all able to take loads of photos as this splendid bird swam by very close. While taking photos of the Diver a Grey Wagtail came in and landed beside us and one or two Rock Pipits were flitting about. In all my years of birding this has probably been the closest to a Black-throated Diver and would suggest that anyone who has been told that that distant speck on the horizon while sea watching is a Black-throat, to get down and have a good look at it while they can, you may not get another chance for many a year. Waxwings are always obliging and close when they arrive and, they are getting more regular so, ignore them and take the chance to see a true rarity while you get the chance.