March 2008
Grove ferry
14/03/08
Marsh Harrier, over the Turf field hide this morning.
A couple of hours were spent at Grove ferry, this morning, and contrary to this mornings weather forecast, it was a calm bright sunny morning, with good photography light. Most of the morning was spent in the Turf field hide, where Allan Ashdown and Mike Gould were present, obviously taking advantage of the mid morning sunshine. Wren, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock and Robin was noted as I entered the reserve, with 2 Green Woodpeckers seen in the field opposite the Paddock. There were Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits in the Paddock area, and Cetti’s Warbler was seen and heard, as was 2 Bearded Tits. Redshank, Ruff and a single Dunlin was seen from the ramp, with 2 Mute Swans, 3 Shell Duck and the usual wildfowl. There were only a hand full of Lapwings present. 2 Cormorants passed over head as I made my way to the hide, and 5 Greylag Geese dropped into a hidden pool behind the Turf field pool. Allan had earlier seen 2 Ring-tailed Harriers and from the hide 2 Mute Swans were deep into their courtship ritual, giving a nice photo opportunity in the sun, but a complaint that we were mostly unfamiliar with, was that they were too close to the hide, but we managed some close up shots of there heads. A Little Grebe was seen, 1 Kingfisher was observed hovering to the rear of the pool, having perched on the reeds at the back, and 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Drake and 3 Duck, were also present. The usual Teal and Mallard were seen as well as the resident squabbling Coots. A male and Female Marsh Harrier was displaying over the reed bed in front of the hide, and the sound of Drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers were frequently heard from the trees along the river bank. A Mink was seen earlier, in front of the hide.