November 2008
Fordwich and Westbere Lakes.
16/11/08
Mute Swan.
An intended trip to Dungeness by Allan Ashdown and myself was cancelled, due to a poor weather forecast, so I arrived at Grove Ferry at 8.00 am, thinking what a nice morning and why did I cancel my Dungeness trip. Although not sunny, it was calm and fairly bright, nothing like the dull and dismal morning forecasted the night previously. As I got out of the car, I met Allan and Martyn Wilson, whom had decided to take a drive to Fordwich and walk Eastward along the Stour towards Westbere. I followed them, parking by Finns, and we made our way down the River Stour path, immediately noting three Grey Wagtails, at one time being half heartedly harassed by a Sparrow-hawk. We followed the path, until we turned Northward, arriving at the Western end of Westbere lake, where two Great Crested Grebes were seen, along with numerous Coots. The lake held several Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Pochard with Mallard and Teal also seen. There were a large number of Gulls on the lake, all the normal species expected to be found, but Martyn picked out a Mediterranean Gull in amongst the several hundred Black-headed Gulls. We retraced our footsteps back to the car, noting several large Tit flocks, with Great, Blue and Long-tailed being seen, 8 Siskin’s were feeding in the Alders, a Mistle Thrush, and 1 Goldcrest. A Green Woodpecker was heard but not seen. We returned to the Feast hide at Grove Ferry for an hour, where we met Mike Gould, with a Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, Teal, Mallard and Lapwing being seen, but the four of us were chatting really as there was not a great deal of Avian wildlife on offer. A Kingfisher was observed, as was a Male Marsh Harrier, 2 Mute Swans and a few Cormorants. The forecasted gloom and drizzle finally arrived, so we left for home at 11.30 am.