The Stour Valley list for 2018 stands at 92 species so far.
January 13th
All very quiet at Stodmarsh this morning with just one, ringtail, Hen Harrier out of roost. No sign of the two males. Also 13 Marsh Harriers out and several hundred Fieldfare passing overhead towards the orchards. Cormorants passed over in large numbers, probably upwards of 2500 but, the lake had very few wildfowl. There were 2 Shoveler later joined by another 34, 3 flyover Gadwall, 1800 Teal and a fair few Mallards. The Alder Wood was very active with Finches, there were 20+ Goldfinch, 14 Siskin, 6+ Lesser Redpolls and one, possibly two Mealy Redpolls. There were 25 Corn Buntings around the farm in the village and a single male Greenfinch there was new for the year and 3 Little Egrets were with Cows at Collard's. At the Grove end Bryan East had the Great-white Egret fly up river and also at Grove Marc Heath saw a Bittern in flight heading towards Stodmarsh plus 1 Water Pipit, 3 Marsh Harriers and, also, new for the year a Redshank.
Grove Ferry 3.30-4.50pm, 2 male Hen Harriers, 1 roosted at Grove end, 5 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Heron, c1000 Fieldfare in area, c130 Lapwing, c120 Teal, 7 Snipe, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Cetti's Warbler. Strangely no Woodcock at all.
(Marc Heath)
Grove Ferry 3.30-4.50pm, 2 male Hen Harriers, 1 roosted at Grove end, 5 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Heron, c1000 Fieldfare in area, c130 Lapwing, c120 Teal, 7 Snipe, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Cetti's Warbler. Strangely no Woodcock at all.
(Marc Heath)