When we first pulled into the car park at Cliffe Pools it had just gone 9 o'clock, and it was a cool grey morning which is just typical weather for my birthday. The wind was proving to be quite strong and it almost felt like Autumn had come early. Upon stepping out of the car we were immediately made aware of the main residents on the reserve the Black Headed Gulls. They weren't just out on the islands sitting on nests, but they were up in the sky in place of the Swifts and catching insects effortlessly on the wing. We moved along and as we did a Female Cuckoo flew past and went towards, what I presume could have been chalk cliffs, or perhaps they were Limestone. We decided that we would take the outside loop of the reserve since we had never been here before and this was apparently the best route to take for the target species for this trip of Nightingale and also Turtle Dove, however both avoided us for the whole trip. We did however find Common Whitethroats, Cetti's Warblers, a couple of Blackcaps, and an interesting find of a Garden Warbler singing from quite dense cover, which was eventually seen briefly in flight. Above: Common Whitethroat We continued to move along and the sound of a Male Cuckoo could be heard in the distance and stayed with us for a little while. A steady stream of Little Egrets could also be seen coming across the pool in front of us. Over 40 Coot were out on the water in front of us and so too were at least 4 Avocet, 4 Tufted Ducks, and also a few Shelduck. A few Lesser Black Backed Gulls flew over alongside a Herring Gull. We then moved along to a small pond where croaking Marsh frogs could be heard and eventually seen by all after, about 10 minutes of frustrating searching by one individual. A Moorhen also swam along the back of the pond with at least one chick. Next 5: Marsh Frogs Below: Moorhen We then continued walking up the path to the sound of singing Skylarks. A pair of Pied Wagtails came over head as we headed out to a view point to get a better angle of the pool. This brought up a slightly higher count of Avocet and also a pair of Great Crested Grebes, and a flyby Mediterranean Gull. Above: Great Crested Grebe Below: Pair of Avocet and also Black Headed Gulls in the background... We then moved on to a view over the fields next to us. Here we had more Black Headed Gulls, a flock of Long-tailed Tits, Singing Skylark, a Stock Dove, and best of all a Male and Female Cuckoo flew right past us with the Male singing his heart out. Rather annoyingly he kept singing, but perched out of sight. A Mallard was also in the field as well. Below: Female Mallard (Is it me or does it seem to have a rather drawn out head and beak!?) We then moved on to another viewing area on the other side of the path and this time I was stopped in my tracks by a strange fly, which turns out to most likely be a Black Horned Cleg (Thanks James). Here we had a better view of the Coots and Avocet, as well as listening to the ever growing noise of the Marsh Frogs in the ditches running alongside the paths. Reed Warblers started to sing making us aware of their presence and also a singing Sedge Warbler sat in the same bush as a young Blue Tit. Collared Doves sat on the telephone wires above alongside Woodpigeons. A Common Whitethroat sat on a dead branch catching insects. Above: Juv Blue Tit Below: Collared Dove Above: Black Horned Cleg Below: Avocet and Coot Above: Coot, Shelduck, Mallard, I think that might be a Gadwall asleep!?, 2nd Coot Below: Tufted Duck, Black Headed Gull, Coot Above: Avocet Below: Coots Above: Marsh Frog Below: Common Whitethroat We then moved past a barn which appeared to have nesting House Sparrows in it as well as Goldfinches and Linnets around the outside. By this time the sun had come out and it was starting to become very warm, however the nagging Westerly Wind kept up at near gale speed and made photography very difficult, and my note book kept flapping in the wind. We arrived at the next pool and immediately saw the mass of sleeping (mainly Drake) Pochard and Tufted Ducks alongside a Grey Heron and a Little Egret. Whilst scanning through these, a Common Tern flew through followed by 4 more Med Gulls. The first Lapwings of the day were also picked up from here. Above: Goldfinch Below: Tufted Ducks and Pochard (In fact mostly Drake Pochard) I then decided to give the farm side another go, picking up more Skylarks. However I managed to add Carrion Crows and Rooks to the species list, as well as a fine Male Pheasant rummaging through the long grass. Above: Carrion Crow Below: Pheasant with a Rook in the background We then moved on to the viewing platform where it was more of the same, however some young Reed Warblers decided to come to the tops of the Reeds every now and then whilst the adults were still in full song, alongside the Cetti's Warblers. An Avocet also flew past presumably heading back to a nesting site. Above: Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Mallards and a Coot... Below: Unfortunately I wasn't quite quick enough so here is the rear end of an Avocet... We then carried on up to the Thames, but not before going past a field full of Sheep and Lambs, and also not before seeing Linnets, Reed Buntings, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, more Skylarks, a Pied Wagtail, and an elongated flock of 120 Shelduck coming in to roost during high tide. Above: Linnet Below: Little Egret, Grey Heron, and Shelduck Above: Pied Wagtail Next 2: Skylark in flight When we got to the Thames, Nicola was the first person to spot a total of 18 lumbering Seals on the muddy shoreline on the other side of the Thames. An Oystercatcher flew calling towards them as a Cormorant catapulted downstream and 4 Common Tern flew up stream (Very slowly due to the head winds). I decided that I would count how many Shelduck were still on the muddy bank on the other side. 54 was the total and that means in total there were 172 at least on site at Cliffe pools by the time it was high tide, and it was amazing to hear the strange noise they make when they are in flight. Above: Sleepy Seals We then headed round the sea wall to a tributary to the Thames. Here we found our first Shelduck ducklings of the year swimming with their proud parents out into the Thames. Then shortly after this instead of ordering a plane to fly over head wishing me a Happy Birthday it turns out that my Dad had organised for a boat labelled Sam Shipping to come past instead. (Coincidence I should think) Next 5: Shelduck Family We carried on a bit further finding our first Redshank of the day before turning our attention to the other side of the path and finding a flock of 52 Avocet, alongside most of the roosting Shelduck. Upon closer inspection we found some Avocets sitting on nests, and looking closer still we found Lapwings and the well spotted pair, of what I believe to be Little Ringed Plovers. A couple of Swallows decided to come down for a drink on the pools in front of us and the Swifts were happily screaming above us. Above: Avocet and Black Headed Gull Below: Shelduck and Avocet Above: nesting Avocet Below: I think Little Ringed Plover rather than Ringed Above and Below: Roosting Avocet and Shelduck We then continued and on the corner where we accidently took the wrong turn a Lesser Whitethroat could be heard singing from deep in the cover. A bit further along and another Lesser Whitethroat was singing, however this time it gave us all a very brief view of it, before disappearing in to the bush. A House Martin flew down the path heading towards us before making a very late move to miss my head. From the viewing point looking out towards the nesting islands, we could now make out some Black Headed Gull chicks and a Great Black Backed Gull sitting on a nearby island waiting for one to take a false move, or for them to be left unguarded by the parents. We then headed off to the car and to a local café situated on a Nature Reserve... Above: You can just about make out one of the chicks on the waters edge in the middle of the photo. At the café we sat outside enjoying our hydration brake. There was a Pied Wagtail sat on the fence post near us, and also a pair of Great Crest Grebes out on the lakes. No sign of any Black Headed Gulls meant peace at least, and I think that is just what these Azure Damselflies were thinking. (However I am not entirely sure that the second one is an Azure Damselfly!?) (This would be because they are Common Blue Damselflies, thank you David) Above and Below: Great Crested Grebe And so we headed back home, however the birding wasn't done there. Whilst on the A13 Nicola and I spotted a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby hunting over RSPB Rainham Marshes, all while my Dad was driving carefully and trying not to look out of the window as we were.
This rounded off an excellent day in Kent at Cliffe Pools where a total of 61 Species of birds were seen, although unfortunately no Lifers were obtained, and so my Life list for Britain still stays on 173 Species. I also have to apologise that this might be my last blog until July, partially because I am fully booked for the next few weeks and may not have time to get out and about birding, and also unfortunately school work sometimes has to come first...
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On Friday morning my Dad and I set off for Bournemouth, which was to be our stop off overnight on the way to visiting Exeter University. On the way I had a Pair of Buzzard and a Pair of Red Kite up over the M1 at Junction 5, and then the fun started when we were stuck in traffic on the M25. In this time I had 5 Red Kite, 8 Common Buzzard, a Swift, 2 Kestrel, a Hobby, a noisy Ring-necked Parakeet (yes you could hear it over the noise of the traffic trundling along in the opposite direction), 2 Black-headed Gull, a Cormorant, 2 Swallow, and a Shelduck - the plus side of getting stuck in traffic. Not many other people enjoy getting stuck in traffic, but for me it is almost a blessing. This list brought back memories of my best ever traffic sky watch and that session included my first ever Great White Egret and also the only one I have ever seen. I remember watching it near Junction 4a of the M3 flying gracefully over the main carriageway before dropping down over the tops of the trees never to be seen again. After a 2 or so hour drive my Dad announced that we were going to be stopping at Blashford Lakes, a place that I had only heard about via Birdguides. When we stepped out of the car, the car park was deserted and so too was the Tern hide. The first thing I saw when I stepped into the hide and sat down was a, you guessed it, female Wigeon which is even more barmy than the pair at Rainham because it was now into the month of June. I have absolutely no clue why there are still so many around this far south in the country, however something tells me that they might have had a bad year breeding wise and have started to filter back through the country early and returning to their usual winter haunts exceptionally early, however it is possible that these birds still around are non breeders anyway... I guess the only way to tell will be to wait and see what happens over the coming months. Other birds around included Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins, and tonnes of Swifts. There was also a total of 16 Great Crested Grebes out on the main pools in front of me alongside, 15 Egyptian Geese, lots of Greylags, Herring Gulls, Black headed Gulls, Common Terns, Coots and also Tufted Ducks. A pair of Lapwing were also down in front of the hide and an Oystercatcher was scared out of the long grass by a passing Roe Deer. Not a bad start for a place that I had never visited before. Above: Female Wigeon Below: 4 of the 16 Great Crested Grebes Above: Mostly Herring Gulls, 3 of the 15 Egyptian Geese (spot the 3rd... Hint it has a pure white head), and 3 Cormorants Below: Female Tufted Duck followed by Drake Tufted Duck Above: Lapwing Below: Egyptian Goose Above: Greylag disturbing the Black headed Gulls Next 2: Assuming this is a Roe Deer this would be only the third species that I have seen in the UK. (Muntjac and Sika I have also seen) Next 3: Common Tern As my Dad and I left the hide, the days first and only Mediterranean Gull flew over us calling loudly, and this just added to the noise with Common Whitethroats and Reed Buntings singing all around us. An Azure Damselfly also landed on the path in front of us as we headed towards the woodland. Above: Male Reed Bunting Below: Azure Damselfly We then carried on into the Woodland where Blackcap and Chiffchaff were singing strongly from their perches. It took a while for me to locate either, however I eventually pin pointed a Blackcap singing and some movement in the trees, however to my surprise a female popped up from behind the leaves. Rather frustratingly I couldn't locate the male and so we moved on. We then came to a dense patch of woodland, my attention was immediately drawn to 2 small birds moving through the foliage and the lower branches of the trees and to my surprise it was a pair of Bullfinch. Above: Male Bullfinch Below: Female Bullfinch We then went into the visitor centre for a quick stop and to look at the map. On the feeders outside were Blue Tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, and a Starling. We then carried on up towards Ivy hide South (I believe that was what it was called). Along the way we had a Song Thrush feeding its young on the path in front, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a chorus of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers, and also Cetti's Warblers. Some newly fledged Chiffchaffs were also about in the trees right next to the path. Above: Adult Song Thrush Below: Juv Song Thrush Once in the hide the first thing I saw was a Great Crested Grebe alongside a couple of Coots, and a Mute Swan on the left hand side and also 3 Great Crested Grebes, and some more Coots out on the right. In the middle of the lake were some rafts and islands and here sat nesting Black Headed Gulls, and Common Terns. A couple of other pairs of nesting Black Headed Gulls were dotted around the edge of the lake. A Gadwall suddenly appeared from nowhere and decided to sit right in front of the hide for some time and gave great views. I eventually picked out the first non motorway Common Buzzards of the day and they eventually came in closer. A Collared Dove also flew in to the top of one of the trees at the back of the lake. The main highlight for me though was when one of the other guys in the hide called me over, to show me a Grass Snake that had appeared right in front of the hide basking in the little amount of sun that was shinning. Next 3: Great Crested Grebe Next 2: Grass Snake Next 2: Common Terns on main part of raft, Black Headed Gull on the far right and centre on the buoy. Next 3: Drake Gadwall Above: Black Headed Gull on nest Below: Drake Gadwall With time running out we paid a very quick visit to the Woodland Hide and added Nuthatch, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, and Goldfinch to the list for the day, but with it being rather quiet we moved on quickly. Above: Collared Doves Below: Fox Gloves We then headed back to the Tern hide, where the female Wigeon was still showing really well. The first Swift was noted way up above the hide screaming its head off. Redshank were now visible and so too was a Little Ringed Plover, however both weren't there for long because in came the Lapwings to scare them off, and in their place were two cute little bundles of fluff. Lapwing chicks. Above: Lapwing Chick Below: Redshank Above: Coot, Lapwing, Redshank Below: Drake Gadwall, and 2 Drake Tufted Ducks Next 2: Lapwing Chicks Above: Female Wigeon Next 4: Egyptian Geese Next 2: Lapwing Chicks Above: female Wigeon Next 4: Common Tern And so this finished our time at Blashford Lakes. Not bad for a first visit. I think that this winter a trip might be in order, because this place in my opinion has great potential for Divers to turn up and also large amounts of winter wildfowl and hopefully Geese. My dad and I stopped for the night in Bournemoth. We went for a brief pre dinner walk along the beach and to the end of Boscombe pier however there wasn't any sea bird passage. There never seems to be anything moving past when I am there however others have petrels and Shearwaters. The best I have ever had here was a pair of Common Tern fishing off the end of the pier late one July. For now we just enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the view. The next day we set out bright and early to go to Exeter University. Along the way the main species of bird was again Buzzards. A few Kestrels were also seen as well. Once on campus there were Goldfinches, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, and Blackcaps everywhere. Most people were walking around oblivious to their presence. While at the University I learnt about the potential courses I could take and also that their campus in Cornwall would be a better place for me due to there being more Geographical and Environmental choices, and the course is based outside more, rather than being stuck in a lab. So at some point a trip to the other campus will have to be arranged. On the way home we stopped off at RSPB's Ham Wall in the hope of ticking off some much needed species, however the weather was against us for the most part. When we got to the bridge where the Red Footed Falcon had been seen it was empty bar a few Cormorants on the trees. An RSPB volunteer came with us to have a look, but just as I had thought the rain had sent it to seek shelter and despite his kind efforts we weren't able to find it. Much to my annoyance it reappeared the next morning and has been showing intermittently to this day. We moved on not letting this weigh us down. We got to the first viewing platform, where we were told to look for Great White Egrets, but none were to be found. A Grey Heron was some sort of consolation. We then moved on to the song of Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Reed Warblers, and Chiffchaffs. Since we didn't have much time and the weather was poor, we decided to skip the Avalon hide, and headed to the second view point. This was the best choice I have ever made, because as soon as we got there the Glossy Ibis was standing in front of us in all it's glory and took no notice of us at all as we got with a couple of metres of it. It was really dull and gloomy at this point however that didn't stop me enjoying my first encounter with this species. We watched it eating for some time gracefully putting its beak down into the water and coming up with something in its mouth almost every time. What a bird. Next 4: Glossy Ibis With other rarities needed we moved swiftly on. Just near the 3rd View point I stopped to check out a couple of pairs of Egrets that were flying over us. To my surprise the first pair was made up of Cattle Egrets and the second pair only Little Egrets. The Little Egrets eventually gave up pursuit of the Cattle Egrets and head back the way they had come, whereas the Cattle Egrets continued and landed in line with the Avalon Hide from where we were standing. We then moved on to the main path and then down towards where the Little Bittern had been. We stayed there for at least 30 minutes, but with no luck. We did however have a Booming Male Bittern, and a family of Pochards. Next 3: Pochard family We then moved along the path to the sound of yet another Booming Male Bittern, however not the Barking of the Little Bittern that we had hoped for. We then headed to the 3 view points on the way up to Tor View Hide. From here we saw a pair of Great Crested Grebes and their 2 young. I can't remember where I read it, but what I didn't realise was the fact that the Great Crested Grebe was nearly extinct from Britain as a breeding species in the 19th century, but has since been a bit of a conservation success story when the selling of their head feathers was banned. This led to there being no need to kill the birds any more and with careful monitoring the species now thrives in the UK with over 5,000 adults and also a wintering population of at least 23,000 birds. However it still remains as a Green listed bird. Other birds present from the view points included a singing Male Cuckoo which could be heard from all around the reserve, and was also my dad's first time hearing one, 2 more Booming Bitterns, 2 Grey Heron, and then a good mix of Wildfowl including: Tufted Ducks, Coots, Gadwall, and Pochards. A Marsh Harrier also came into view for a time and hunted over the reed beds, before drifting away. Above: Great Crested Grebe and chick Below: Drake Pochard Above: Great Crested Grebe with chick and a Drake Tufted Duck Below: This Coot was actually struggling to carry this bit of reed back to its nest and in the end gave up. Above: Cormorant, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Coots Below: Cormorant We then headed for the car with a brief stop to double check to see if the Red Footed Falcon was about, but as we did the heavens opened and so we rushed for the car. What I didn't tell you is that there were now 22 Cormorants sitting out on those trees in the distance and also a pair of Stock Dove which was new for the visit. And so I finished the trip away with only one lifer from a potential three, which isn't bad and that puts my life list up to 173 Species in Britain and 274 for the world. Both reserves were great places and I look forward to visiting them again in the future.
On the way back we couldn't resist, but take the scenic route home. This involved lots of Common Buzzards, but the main reason we did it was to sit in the traffic heading past Stonehenge and roll down the window and get the photos to say "I have been there". So here they are... My first visit to Stonehenge! |
AuthorI have been a birder since i was 8 however only really started to be able to go out to places by myself in Summer 2016 (Blame the parents) My blogs will be from all over the place, but mainly from RSPB Rainham Marshes and Totteridge Valley! Photography done by Samuel Levy aged 17. Archives |