The Stour Valley list for 2018 stands at 89 species so far.
January 6th
After a week of heavy rain falls there is now very high water levels at Stodmarsh and Grove Ferry which, not only reduced the duck numbers but also pushed out the Harriers. There was no sign of any Hen Harriers today and only 6 Marsh Harriers were seen. A Barn Owl was quartering the reeds in front of the Ramp early morning before moving to the Water Meadows, the Great-white Egret dropped into the Ramp pool and later moved to the back pools while 12 Linnets were in the Ramp bushes. Moving on to Stodmarsh where the water is almost breaching the Lampen Wall we had a group of 18 Goldfinch and 12 Siskin in the Alder Wood that also included 2 Lesser Redpolls and a very smart Mealy Redpoll. In the Orchard above Stodmarsh there were 450 plus Fieldfare and a dozen Redwings as well as 100 odd Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings.
Today (7th) we added the 'dodgy' Barnacle Goose to The year list and Pintail, with two pairs dropping on to Stodmarsh lake mid morning. The two male Hen Harriers came out of roost at Stodmarsh this morning with 17 Marsh Harriers and the Mealy Redpoll was still present in the company of 5 Lesser Redpolls.
Brendan was talking to a chap at Grove Ferry who had seen a Bittern (very scarce this winter) and Phil Smith had 7 White-fronted Geese east over Stodmarsh this afternoon.
Today (7th) we added the 'dodgy' Barnacle Goose to The year list and Pintail, with two pairs dropping on to Stodmarsh lake mid morning. The two male Hen Harriers came out of roost at Stodmarsh this morning with 17 Marsh Harriers and the Mealy Redpoll was still present in the company of 5 Lesser Redpolls.
Brendan was talking to a chap at Grove Ferry who had seen a Bittern (very scarce this winter) and Phil Smith had 7 White-fronted Geese east over Stodmarsh this afternoon.