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Birding
London trip 15 February 2004
Stodmarsh
and Grove Ferry, Oare Marshes and Elmley, Kent with
John Farely and Catherine Cannan – led by Jack Fearnside
Itinerary
and weather
Jack picked up
Catherine and John near their Marble Arch hotel and we
left southwards out of London to pick up the
A2 to Canterbury.
Our first stop was a Stodmarsh, south of Canterbury in the
River Stour valley. This is a mixed habitat of fresh
marshes, reedbeds,
riparian woodland and wet open fields. We walked a circular
(and muddy!) route down to Grove Ferry then back along
the riverbank
to
the Lampern Wall and Stodmarsh village.
Just after midday
we left and, after a short stop to admire the cathedral at
Canterbury, and to visit a 16 Century public
house
for some liquid
refreshment, we spent the afternoon at Oare Marshes on
the banks of the Swale, overlooking the Thames estuary and the
Isle of
Sheppey. This is saltmarsh and estuarine habitat with plenty
of wet pools
behind the sea wall.
On our homeward journey we detoured
to Elmley RSPB reserve to look for birds around Kingshill Farm.
The
weather was kind to us for the time of year, with light, if
cold, winds, overcast skies but little rain.
Species
Little
Grebe – Seen on the river Stour and Stodmarsh
lake and at Oare Marshes on the main lagoon.
Great
Crested Grebe – A pair or two were
on the main lake at Stodmarsh.
Great Cormorant – Birds
were first seen flying up and down the Stour
valley and many were roosting
in dead trees
at the
lake at Stodmarsh. Also seen on the sandbanks
in the Swale at low tide.
Little Egret – Two
were seen at Faversham Creek with another
hiding in the sedges on Oare
Marshes.
Mute Swan – Our first were
noisy fighting males at Stodmarsh with
others elsewhere.
Greylag Goose – Common in the Stour
valley with flocks of up to 30 birds quite approachable.
Also at Oare Marshes.
Common Shelduck – The
first of these large ducks were seen
from the viewing ramp at Grove
Ferry. There were also
good numbers
at Oare Marshes.
Eurasian Wigeon – Small
numbers were seen from the Marsh
Hide at Stodmarsh and elsewhere
in the
Stour valley.
Present
at Oare Marshes,
the largest numbers were on the fields
at Elmley where their whistling calls
filled the air.
Gadwall – Common
at Stodmarsh, Grove Ferry and Oare
Marshes.
Common Teal – Probably
the commonest duck. Good numbers
in the Stour valley.
Mallard – Seen
at all sites.
Northern Pintail – Good
views of males and females
at Stodmarsh and Oare Marshes.
Northern
Shoveler – Common in the Stour Valley
and Oare Marshes.
Common
Pochard – The first were sleeping
birds at Grove Ferry
with more on the lake at Stodmarsh and Oare Marshes.
Tufted
Duck – Seen with Pochards in the same
locations.
Smew – A
single 'redhead'
(female or immature male) was
on the lake at Stodmarsh.
Marsh
Harrier – Some good views of birds
in the Stour valley,
particularly one with a very white
head. Also seen
in the distance
at Oare Marshes.
(Eurasian)
Kestrel - One sat on a
gate at
Elmley
and was
later seen
at close
quarters on the
farm buildings.
Common
Pheasant – One of the first birds
of the day,
including a few 'road runners' on the way
to Stodmarsh.
Water
Rail – Heard frequently squealing from
the reeds
at Stodmarsh, none were willing to show themselves.
Moorhen – Common.
(Eurasian)
Coot – Common
at all
sites.
Oystercatcher – A
few
flew down
Faversham
Creek
while
we
enjoyed a drink
at
the Shipwrights
Alms.
(Eurasian)
Golden
Plover – Good
numbers
were
with
Lapwings
at
Grove
Ferry.
Grey
(Black-bellied) Plover – Seen
on the
shore at
Oare Marshes.
(Northern)
Lapwing – Common at all sites.
Dunlin – Good numbers
fed on the tide line of the Swale.
Common
Snipe – One sleeping bird was seen from the hide
at Grove Ferry. This species is now separated from the
North American
Wilson’s Snipe.
Black-tailed
Godwit – Five birds in winter
plumage were wading off the viewing ramp at Grove
Ferry.
Common
Redshank – Common in Faversham Creek
and on the shore at Oare Marshes.
Black-headed
Gull – Common.
Common
(Mew) Gull – Seen in small numbers
at most sites.
Lesser
Black-backed Gull – Small numbers
of adults were seen during the day.
Herring
Gull – Noted for the day
offshore at Oare Marshes.
Great
Black-backed
Gull – At least two were
loafing on the exposed sandbanks
in the Swale.
Feral
Pigeon – Seen at various
places, such as Canterbury,
on our journey.
Stock
Dove – The whooping
call was heard on several
occasions and one was
scoped as it sat
on a barn roof at
Stodmarsh.
Woodpigeon – Very common!
Collared
Dove – Common in the villages, mostly
on wires.
(Eurasian)
Kingfisher – One showed well on
a fence at Oare Marshes.
Green
Woodpecker – The laughing call was
heard in woodland near the car park at Stodmarsh,
but our only view was of
a bird flying in front of the car as we entered
the village.
Great
Spotted
Woodpecker – Birds were drumming
well as we arrived at Stodmarsh as we had
good views of a female
in the tree
tops.
Skylark – A singing bird hovered
low over
an open field near Grove Ferry and one walked in front
of the hide at the same location.
Meadow
Pipit – A flock of around 25 birds
were in grassland and hedgerows near Grove Ferry.
Water
Pipit – One was feeding on the edge
of a pool in front of a hide at Grove Ferry.
Rock
Pipit – After some frustratingly brief
glimpses, this species final showed very well
on the rocky foreshore
at Oare Marshes.
Pied
Wagtail – Seen at Grove Ferry and, a
good black-backed male, at Oare Marshes.
(Winter)
Wren – Common in woodland and scrub
at Stodmarsh.
Dunnock – We had good views of a
bird which
fed on a track with a Reed Bunting at Grove Ferry.
(Eurasian)
Robin – Common in woodland at
Stodmarsh.
Stonechat – A pair of these attractive
chats
were seen near Grove Ferry.
Blackbird – Common.
Fieldfare – Good
numbers were seen in a field as we approached Stodmarsh village.
Song
Thrush – Singing well, one was seen
in woodland at Stodmarsh.
Redwing – This winter thrush
was seen well in a horse paddock at Grove Ferry.
Cetti’s
Warbler – How could we miss
seeing such a loud and close bird? Probably at least
20
heard during
our Stour valley
walk.
Chiffchaff – At least two of this
overwintering
warbler were seen at Stodmarsh.
Bearded
Tit – A pair were heard calling in
the reeds near the Marsh Hide at Stodmarsh.
Long-tailed
Tit – A good flock were in shrubs
along the Lampern Wall at Stodmarsh.
Blue
Tit – Common at Stodmarsh.
Great
Tit – As above.
(Common)
Magpie – Seen in small numbers
in the Stour valley.
Jackdaw – This
small crow was heard and seen
in flight at Stodmarsh and others fed
with Rooks
as we left the Stodmarsh area.
Rook – Common. Birds were
seen attending their rookeries as well as feeding in flocks.
Carrion
Crow – Common, seen at all sites.
Starling – Seen
at all sites.
House
Sparrow – Looked for and seen in a
hedge in Stodmarsh village and a female was seen on the
weather vane at Kingshill Farm, Elmley.
Chaffinch – Common
in woodland at Stodmarsh.
(European)
Goldfinch – A small flock was
seen as we approached Stodmarsh.
Reed
Bunting – Small numbers of this attractive
bunting were seen in the Stour valley and at Oare
Marshes.
Other
species
Rabbit
Grey
Squirrel
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