May 2008
25 + Hobbies this morning at Grove ferry.
25/05/08
Hobby.
I awoke this morning to find the predicted heavy rain had arrived, but not being able to get out for a week, I decided to go to Grove ferry, and hope that the weather improved, which by 8 o clock, it certainly had. I spent the first 30 minutes after arriving, in the car park, because as I was getting out of the car, I noticed a small black and white bird fly over my head, from the Paddock bushes into the tall Horse Chestnut trees in front of the Grove Ferry Inn. I was sure it was a Pied Fly Catcher, but it was only a fleeting glance that I got, so could not be certain. After looking for half an hour, with the help of Martyn Wilson, who was already on the ramp, the bird could not be found. We both returned to the ramp, where the high number of Ring Plover became immediately obvious, with at least 23 birds seen on the two pools. 2 Little Ring Plovers were seen, as were 2 Common Sandpipers, a Drake Garganey , heavily into moult, 2 Redshank, 5 Dunlin and a solitary Ruff. Along with Steve Ray, Martyn and I decided to walk to the Middle Drove, to see if yesterday’s Red Footed Falcon was still in the area. It was not long before Hobbies were being seen, with at least 14 birds in the air together, but alas no Red Footed Falcon was seen. Two Foxes were noted, One from behind the Oxbow and the other from the ramp, and despite the damp start, a warm sunny morning developed, with a creditable 57 species being noted.
Day List. (57).Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, Turtle Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Mallard, Starling, Cuckoo, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Tit, Swallow, Swift, Ring Plover, Garganey, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Black-headed Gull, Common Sandpiper, Gadwall, Shoveller, Blue Tit, Teal, Common Tern, Ruff, Coot, Lapwing, Greylag Geese, Little Egret, Redshank, Moorhen, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Tufted Duck, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Little Ring Plover, Sparrow Hawk, Skylark, Hobby, Linnet, Pheasant, Mute Swan, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Greenfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Dunlin.
Fox (2)
Probable Pied Fly Catcher.