The Stour Valley list for 2018 stands at 156(+1) species so far.
July 29th
The weekend at Grove Ferry saw three species of "white" Egret with 4 Little Egrets, 1 Great-white Egret and 1 Cattle Egret, all three together briefly at Harrison's on Saturday morning. This morning the Cattle Egret flew in from the Stodmarsh end! and dropped into the back pool from the Ramp then, 10 minutes later flew out towards Preston marshes and appeared to drop down in that area. Also noted were 3 Turtle Doves, 3 juvenile Marsh Harriers, 2 Garganey, 8 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper and 5 Water Rails including 3 juveniles. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull past by the Ramp this morning while off the 70+ Black-headed Gulls 75% were youngsters. A Hobby was hunting the reed beds early this morning and a single Kestrel was seen both days with a Barn Owl hunting on Saturday and a Tawny Owl heard both days. Off the 34 Greylag Geese present one un-flighted juvenile remained while the others left for grazing pastures. Still a few Reed and Sedge Warblers dotted around the reserve but, still no Cetti's Warblers since the cold snap before spring! Mallard numbers building up, Teal less so but Gadwall remain around 10 -12 mark and just one Shelduck. Very few hirrundines with one Swallow today plus 6 Sand Martins and 66+ Swifts. No Lapwings at all Saturday morning but, 29 of the Ramp today. Also today on a mammalian note, an Otter was seen briefly in what used to be the old dipping pool. Now much larger pool.