STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

My Diary

A walk around my local patch

I have not been to the Grove ferry end of the reserve for a few weeks, so I spent 2 hours there this morning. The majority of the time being spent along the entrance track, with a smart looking Bullfinch posing on a twig, enabling a few pleasing images, the first time I have been able to get any decent pictures of this species. It was chased off by a Common Whitethroat, which took its place on the perch, so I carried on taking photos of this bird, but in truth I wish it had not scared off the Bullfinch. A Female was also about, but it never showed well enough for a photo. I found I have been drawn into the same trap as my Flickr compatriots, and some Butterfly photos have now appeared. This started with me seeing a Comma, along the entrance track to the reserve. I would of not given it a second look normally, but I have never seen one of these before, and although I never knew what I was looking at, (Comma was an idea as I am sure I have seen photos from other photographers of this species) it was a smart looking Butterfly and drew my attention. It eventually landed on a flower allowing some photos, and I ended up taking photos of any Butterfly that moved for the next half hour. (I must get a full time job). The ramp was very unproductive, with a few Tufties, Mallard and Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets on the main pool, the right hand pool now hidden from view completely. There were a couple of Common Terns fishing, and a Female Marsh Harrier was hunting low over the reed bed to the right. A Cuckoo was watched, as it flew from bush to bush along the track up towards the Feast hide, eventually catching a huge Caterpillar and flying off West, lost to site over the Harrisons Drove. I walked up to the Feast hide, spent 2 minutes surveying the rampant reed beds, encroaching everywhere, and gave up. I think there were a few Mallard the other side of the Island, but all you can see is green reeds. It was rumoured that the old warden, Mr David Feast had retired, but I think he is still in the reed bed, looking for a way out. Also I have heard that the new warden has now found a new job, and he will not be replaced. Things do not look particularly bright for the reserve anymore, which is a shame. Up until a couple of years ago, this was one of the best reserves in Kent, second to none. It is a shame to see it run down to its present state, where once again even the paths are becoming impassable, due to overgrown vegetation. I retraced my tracks, and walked down to the river via the path below the ramp, with Hobby, Turtle Dove and Sparrow-hawk added to my mornings tally. The reed beds were alive with Reed and Sedge Warblers, Cettis were still vocal, and 5 Linnets were in the bushes below the ramp. I thought I heard a Grasshopper Warbler, but with my dodgy hearing I cannot be sure, probably was the same bird Martyn and Mark had on the weekend.