STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

May 2008

An hour on the viewing ramp at Grove ferry this morning.

An hour on the ramp this morning, in dreary and dull conditions, produced a varied and high quality list of waders, including 3 Temminck`s Stints that dropped in as I, along with Allan Ashdown, were leaving the reserve. Brendan Ryan telephoned me, and as a result we back tracked and had great views of the 3 birds, feeding on the mud in front of us. Also earlier, a Drake Garganey was seen, and a smart Summer plumaged Grey Plover. A wood Sandpiper was present, as was a solitary Common Sandpiper, along with 5 Ring Plovers and 3 Greenshank. A surprise came in the shape of 2 Turnstones, in itself not unordinary, but it is the first time I have ever seen this species at Grove ferry.

Day List, ( in 1 hour from the ramp)
Chaffinch, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Turtle Dove, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Garganey , Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Coot, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Cormorant, Lapwing, Teal, Ring Plover, Sedge Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Greylag Geese, Wood Sandpiper, Magpie, Great Crested Grebe, Reed Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, Shell Duck, Temminck`s Stint, Turnstone, Wood Pigeon.