The Stour Valley list for 2019 stands at 107 species so far.
March 16th
An extremely windy morning at Grove keeping small birds down plus not very much on the pools from the Ramp, Feast, Harrison's and Marsh hides, a scattering of Teal, 1 duck Pochard, 4 Shovelers and 30 Mute Swans were the best at the Ramp 2 Little Grebes and 2 Tufted Ducks at feast hide and 8 Snipe at Harrison's hide were the best there. A Green Sandpiper flew past at the Harrison's Drove crossover path and at Marsh hide there were 2 ringtail Hen Harriers performing well despite the wind often landing out of sight for long periods before resuming their acrobatics. Also here a marsh Harrier flushed 2 possibly 3 Redshank from near the river probably on the Water Meadow and 8 Water Pipits were on the flooded marsh outside the hide along with 3 pairs of Lapwing attempting to secure breeding area. Small birds were more noticeable around the Grove Ferry Inn with Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue and Great Tit, House Sparrow and a lovely male Grey Wagtail all performing. On the 13th Sue had seen two pairs of Egyptian Geese on the Westbere marshes and one one pair were today, on the fields at Collard's with 3 Mute Swans. On the lake were a pair of Goldeneye but little else while on Westbere marsh from Cow Corner the Russian White-fronted Goose was still with the Greylag flock.