STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

February 2008

In search of the Lesser Spot.

I met Jim Johnson and Ray Clarrie at 8 o clock this morning, and we walked down the river bank of the Stour, the North side, from Fordwich to Westbere Lakes. We were looking for a glimpse of the elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but despite an extensive search, in particular the area behind Trenley woods, we never connected with the bird, nor did we even hear one. There were numerous Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen, in amongst the dead trees along the river bank. Nothing out of the ordinary was seen, but what we did see seemed to look that bit smarter in the bright sun light. Tree Creeper, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, as well as Robins and Dunnock were never far from view, and the lake held Great Crested and Little Grebes, Tufted Duck along with Mallard, Teal, and Pochard, the males looking smart, with the sun lighting up there red heads.
Canada and Grey lag Geese were seen in the water meadows adjacent to Cow Corner, and a Male Sparrow-hawk glided through, skilfully negotiating the trees as it flew into a copse. The trip back was largely uneventful, with an overhead Grey Heron taking the mornings list to 43. At the fisherman’s car park behind the Brett’s quarry, we met the bailiff, whom informed us that he spooked a Bittern earlier, which took off 10 feet from him, and flew East down the lake.
I left Jim and Ray, and spent a couple of hours around the Stodmarsh reserve, but only duplicated most of the mornings sightings. The majority of this time was engaged in conversation with the tattooed twosome, whom I can never tire of listening to.