The Stour Valley list for 2018 stands at 96 species so far.
February 5th
A brief visit to Grove Ferry this morning and at the ramp the Great White Egret was showing well along with 2 Shelduck and 11 Lapwing. In the bushes were 5 Reed Bunting and 3 Chaffinch. Nothing at Harrisons and the usual at Feast hide. A stunning male Hen Harrier was hunting along the river by the oxbow. Also seen were 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 3 Cetti's warbler.
(Bryan East)
February 2nd
Heading along the grove road to Stodmarsh this morning and there were 97 Mute swan in the kale fields behind the boathouse .I went to the reed bed hide before it is closed tomorrow for a week or so and there were 27 Teal, 8 Mallard and 1 female Wigeon. very little else to report apart from a pair of Great Crested Grebe's displaying. Keep an eye on Countryfile in the next few weeks, Ben told me a film crew were here one evening earlier in the week filming the Cormorant's coming into roost.
(Bryan East)