The week while I was working
was a very sunny time with some decent birds turning up in the valley then,
along comes Friday and the weather turns with cloud covered skies strong winds
and lots of rain typical, the weekend upon us and bird looks to be difficult. I
checked the BBC weather for the evening and, in contrast, it showed a very
clear night with full moon and wind speeds of no more than 7 mph so, with this
in mind I arrived at Grove Ferry five minutes past 1.00am and set about
wandering the marsh in the dark listening for Crakes (mainly), Warblers and
Owls. Now, those who know me might think how’s a deaf idiot like me supposed to
hear a Crake when I have trouble hearing conversation of those around me? Well,
as it so happens I come equipped with ‘The Atherstone Reflector MK3’ 20”
parabolic dish kindly given to me by the great Gambian birder Clive Barlow,
coupled with a directional microphone and minidisc recorder enabling me to hear
for quite some distance. Unfortunately no Crakes, Reelers or Owls (Long-eared specifically)
were heard although I had some great Nightingale and Sedge Warbler arias. As
well as Sedge and Nightingale there were tens, if not hundreds of Marsh Frogs
singing, Cuckoo, Redshank, Bittern and Water Rail as well as Thrushes, Wrens,
Lapwings and Skylarks all in fine voice. When dawn broke and I was joined by
Sue Morton we wandered the reserve noting 12 Cetti’s Warbler, 5 Shelduck, 5
Canada Geese, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Turtle Doves, 8 Marsh Harriers, 2 Grey
Herons, several Blackcaps and Whitethroats as well as 21 Mute Swans, A Wood
Sandpiper and a Ruff were on the field beside Harrison’s hide while at Marsh
hide there were 2 more Ruff and 2 Greenshank. A few Swallows and Sand Martins
were whizzing over the Water Meadows an on the lake at Stodmarsh there were 30
Tufted Ducks, 4 Pochards, 8 Great-crested Grebes, 1 1st summer Great
Black-backed Gull and 44 Shoveler. A single Reed Warbler was chortling
alongside the Lampen Wall, a Little Owl was on a fence post at Undertrees Farm
before flying into the barn and back at Harrison’s late morning with Mark
Chidwick and Adam Faiers at least 40 Swifts passed over, the Ruff and Wood
Sandpiper were still present and on the way out there were 2 adult Lesser
Black-backed Gulls on the Ramp pool and a Common Buzzard was over Stodmarsh.
Another (the usual) Little Owl was on the fallen stump at Stodmarsh Court Farm
as I passed towards Collard’s where several hirrundines were feeding low over
the lake with Swift, Swallow House and Sand Martin all present. Only managed to snap a Lesser Black-backed Gull today but have included some images from last week as well.
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull from the Ramp this morning |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull from the Ramp this morning |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull from the Ramp this morning |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull from the Ramp this morning |
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| Very high up Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier over the Ramp last Sunday(21st) |
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| Very high up Common Buzzards over the Ramp last Sunday(21st) |
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| Female Blackcap 'The Jungle' last Sunday (21st) |
