STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

March 2008

Wheatear at Grove ferry this morning.

My first Spring migrants were seen this morning at Grove ferry, the first a smart Male Wheatear, seen by the Turf field hide, and later in the Harrison’s Drove hide area, and a Chiffchaff in bushes out side of the Harrison’s Drove hide. I would think that these 2 birds were wondering why bother, as a cloudy sky led to a constant drizzle throughout the morning, with a chilly North Easterly wind. Definitely colder than where these birds have arrived from.
A Ring Plover was seen over head, as were 2 Green Sandpipers, with Common Snipe, Ruff and 5 Redshank making up the Wader count around the reserve. Gadwall, Shoveller and Teal were all busy pairing up, and there were 3 Pochard and 5 Tufted Duck on the pool in front of the Turf field hide. There was also a Little Grebe, swimming close in, allowing photo’s in the morning gloom. 2 Little Egrets were noted, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Bearded Tits, Green finch, Chaffinch, several Reed Buntings, Blue and Great Tits, but only 3 Marsh Harriers were seen throughout my stay. 10 + Meadow Pipits were in the new scrapes behind the Harrison’s Hide, with 2 Linnets and 5 Skylarks. There was a solitary Water Pipit seen from the Harrison’s hide, and at least 4 Water rails were heard during the morning.