July 2008
This morning in the Turf Field Hide at Grove Ferry.
27/07/08
A juvenile Water Rail, seen feeding outside of the Turf Field hide.
I spent 3 hours this morning in the Turf Field hide at Grove Ferry, and apart from two other visitors, I had the hide to myself for most of the morning. There was nothing out of the normal present, but I managed a count of 6 Green Sandpipers, and 2 Common Sandpipers, which flew in and landed on the island in front of the hide. Unfortunately, they were lost from view, as the reed fringe along the near edge of the Island is so high, it is impossible to see any thing on the island. 5 Little Egrets were at the pool, allowing photographs as they flew in and out during the morning, as did 2 Grey Herons. There was plenty of Reed activity early on, with Warblers and Bearded Tits passing through, as did a family of Blue Tits. A Cetti’s Warbler was seen and only 1 sighting of a Kingfisher, just before I left the hide, flying along the dyke towards the viewing ramp. The resident Marsh Harrier family was watched throughout the morning, with the 2 juveniles giving aerial displays over the reed beds. I left the hide, and spent 30 minutes on the ramp, where Martyn Wilson and Allan Ashdown were present, and Martyn connected me with a smart summer plumaged CURLEW SANDPIPER, my first for the year, and a bonus as my trip to Oare yesterday was to try and see the CURLEW SANDPIPERS that were seen there earlier in the week, which I did not manage.