May 2008
Temminck`s Stint today at Grove ferry.
05/05/08
One of the Common Terns from the Turf field hide.
An early start today, as I had to be home by mid morning, so I decided to check Grove ferry, to try and catch up with the Temminck`s Stint seen yesterday. Once again there was an impressive Dawn chorus, with all of the songsters in action along the hedge rows as I walked into the reserve. The ramp was my first port of call, where straight away the Temminck`s Stint was seen feeding on the mud, with a Ring, and little Ring Plover keeping it company. There were 5 Greenshanks noted and along with Marc Heath, Allan Ashdown and Pete Solly, we walked to the Marsh hide, where super lugs caught a brief snatch of the Grasshopper Warbler reeling, but try as I did, all I heard was the constant chattering of Sedge Warblers, and Skylarks overhead. Martyn Wilson joined us at the Harrison’s Drove hide, and later we finished back on the ramp, via the Turf field hide, where we photographed some Common Terns, fishing on the pool. There were Great Crested and Little Grebe on the pool, as well as Pochard and Tufted Duck. At least 10 Hobbies were seen in the air together, 5 Marsh Harriers, and a Kestrel and 2 Sparrow hawks made up the rest of the raptor count. 55 species obtained throughout the morning, with a fox making up the non avian count.
Day List. 1 Fox.
Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpie, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Cormorant, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Cetti’s Warbler, Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Temminck`s Stint, Shell Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Coot, Little Ring Plover, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Greenshank (5), Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Little Egret, Blue Tit, Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Sparrow Hawk, Starling, Sedge Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler, Bearded Tit, Stock Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Bar headed Goose (esc), Dunnock, Sand Martin, House Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Robin, House Sparrow, Lesser Blackback Gull, Ring Plover.