March 2008
Trenley woods and Grove ferry
09/03/08
A Coal Tit, seen this morning in Trenley Woods at Stodmarsh.
Another dull morning with low cloud cover as I entered the Grove ferry reserve, early this morning at 07.00 a.m. The viewing ramp was already occupied by Martyn Wilson, Marc Heath and Allan Ashdown, whom all had seen a hunting Barn Owl behind the Harrison’s Drove hide earlier, and a Ring tailed Harrier which left the reserve as I entered, and flew East towards Sarre. I caught up with the Spotted Redshank, showing well from the ramp, the 1st sighting this year for me. We left soon after, to check out the Trenley woods for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which Marc heard, but being deaf as a post, it escaped my hearing. Several Coal Tits were seen however, and an estimated 10 + were counted in the part of the wood we were looking for the Lesser Spot. Great and Blue Tits were seen, several Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard and a singing Mistle Thrush enlightened me to how much like a Blackbird they sound, this being the first Mistle Thrush I have heard singing. Nothing much else was seen at the woods, apart from a Kestrel, a Sparrow-hawk, and at least 100 + Redwings were gathering in the trees, noisy and making for a spectacle, as they readied thereselves to leave for foreign shores. Back to Grove ferry, where we picked up Mike Gould en route to the Harrison’s Drove hide, noting 1 Water Pipit, along with a few Meadow Pipits, Sky Larks and a solitary Pied Wagtail. There were also 2 Shell Duck on the main pool. The Turf field hide had a single Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, along with Teal and Mallard. 2 Mute Swans arrived, as did 4 Greylag Geese, allowing a few flight shots as they arrived. A final stop at the viewing ramp revealed 1 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, and the Spotted Redshank, 5 Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, and several Common Snipe, Lapwing and Golden Plover. Mallard, Teal and Shoveller made up the wildfowl count. Left for home at 11.30 a.m, mentally noting a return to Trenley in the sunshine would be in order, where the Coal Tits will be a bit easier to capture on camera.