June 2008
Red Crested Pochard at Grove Ferry.
07/06/08
Little Egret.
Due to a Wedding this afternoon, I had an early start today, meeting Martyn Wilson and Marc Heath just after 4.00 am. I caught sight of a LONG-EARED OWL, which flew over a field by the reserve entrance, and a TAWNY OWL was heard somewhere along the river bank. Due to the constant drizzle, we made straight for the Harrisons hide, where nothing of note was seen, and then back to the new Turf Field hide, where a Kingfisher was as good as it got. A quick look from the ramp, en route to Cow Corner and Collard lake, produced a Drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD, my first in the Stour Valley. 2 Green Sandpipers were also seen, before I returned home to get a change of clothes, as I was uncomfortably wet by this time. I met up again with Martyn and Marc at Stodmarsh, and we were joined by Mike (Bee Eater) Gould, where we stood along the Lampern Wall, hoping for a glimpse of the Red Footed Falcons, seen earlier in the week. Alas no joy, but with a better weather forecast for tomorrow, perhaps the camera can get a trip out.
Day List. Blackbird, Cuckoo, Long-Eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Sedge Warbler, Mallard, Shoveller, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Sparrow-hawk, Herring Gull, Magpie, Great Crested Grebe, Common Tern, Reed Bunting, Coot, Mute Swan, Wren, Tufted Duck, Shell Duck, Pochard, Cormorant, Water Rail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sand Martin, Kingfisher, Black-headed Gull, Red Crested Pochard, Green Sandpiper, Greylag Geese, Teal, Chaffinch, Common Whitethroat, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, Rook, Jackdaw, Great Tit, Song thrush, House Martin, House Sparrow, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Swift, Starling, Collard Dove, Reed Warbler, Kestrel, Moorhen, Swallow.
55 Species.