STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

My Diary

Catching up on my 2010 species list.

A morning at Grove ferry, starting from the reserve entrance at a rather early for me 07.45 a m. Not many photo opportunities today, but i was able to catch up on a few birds unseen by me this year. I walked down the river path, quickly noting Chaffinch, Wren, Bull and Green finch, with Blue and Great Tits in plentiful supply. I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker high in the tree tops on the other side of the river, and along with a Green and a Lesser Spotted that Mark Chidwick put us on to later at Trenley Woods, the Green seen and the Lesser heard on several Occasions, this meant that it was the second time this year that I have had all three Woodpeckers in one session. The Lesser would probably of been seen, but I left Mark, Martyn Wilson and Brendan Ryan all looking for it, as I had arranged for lunch out, being as it was Easter Monday. Blackcap and Long-tailed Tit, with 3 Chiffchaffs in full song were seen before meeting Steve Ray, Allan Ashdown, Martyn Wilson and Mark Chidwick on Savi's corner, obviously trying to locate the Penduline Tit. After a chat, I left, and joined by Allan Ashdown, we walked down to the Marsh hide, no mean feat, as the recent heavy rains have made the path ways extremely difficult to navigate. We eventually arrived at the hide, adding a singing Sedge Warbler to our list, and was immediately rewarded with a Spotted Redshank, feeding on the flooded grass in front of the hide. Too distant for a photo, but nice to see, and it was in the company of 3 Common Redshank. Also it was showing signs of moulting into its Summer attire, giving it a somewhat scruffy appearance at the moment. Several Common Snipe were hiding in the wet reed stubble, and my first Yellow Wagtails were noted, about 8 in total. A large flock of Pipits were present, seen when disturbed by the Lapwing, Snipe and Greylag Geese feeding on the Meadows, the majority being Water Pipits with a few Meadow Pipits as well. We left the hide and went back to the Feast hide, where we saw a couple of Marsh Harriers, and on the pool were a few Tufted Duck along with 8 Pochard, with a pair of Greylag dropping in whilst we were there. Martyn then got the call from Mark Chidwick, and we went up to Trenley woods where we immediately heard the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, before I then returned home, in time for lunch at the Fordwich Arms. (Highly recommended).