March 2008
An hour this morning at Stodmarsh.
08/03/08
One of the displaying Marsh Harriers at Stodmarsh this morning.
Only an hour spent at Stodmarsh this morning, due to chores that needed to be done at home, with nothing out of the ordinary around the reserve. Blackbirds were evident in numbers around the car park, as I arrived at 07.30 a.m, and the usual Wren, Dunnock's, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits being seen as I made my way to the Alder Wood. There seemed to be several large flocks of Long-tailed Tits in the wood, with 2 Tree-creepers, and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers noted as well. I bumped into Allan Ashdown in the Alder wood, and we both watched a Sparrow-hawk glide over the tree tops, but that was about it. A walk down to the river and back added Tufted, Shoveller and Shell Duck, on the main lake, with Mallard and Teal sheltering from the westerly wind. Cormorants were on their roosting tree, and 5 Marsh Harriers were seen, but limited time saw me leaving for home early, and Allan going on to Grove ferry. Yesterday, as I travelled along the Stodmarsh Road adjacent to the Canterbury Golf Club, 3 Bramblings flew across my path into a garden, the 1st I have seen this year.