Grove Ferry NNR and Reculver, 28th June 2017

An outing with Christian C and Magnus A in north Kent today saw us start by scouring the rolling countryside and woods away from the marshes for raptors but we had no success. A gentle saunter around Grove Ferry NNR started off quite slowly but we relocated the first-summer male Red-footed Falcon, last reported early on Monday morning, while other highlights included a spanking summer-plumage Spotted Redshank, at least four Turtle Doves and five Green Sandpipers, a Bittern and a number of Bearded Reedlings. After a pub lunch by the river, we headed for a quick trip to Reculver, which turned into a short seawatch with notables of a 20-strong Common Scoter raft, two Curlews and 12 Gannets logged.

2cy ♂ Red-footed Falcon at Grove/Stodmarsh

Spotted Redshank amid the moulting Mallards at Grove Ferry

one of five or so Green Sandpipers at Grove Ferry

♂ Cuckoo at Grove Ferry

Mistle Thrush at Grove Ferry

Curlews heading past Reculver

Down about an Eider

record shot of the Smew

The plan for today was to go for the Bewick's Swans at Cobham after college with Phil but seeing as they had moved off we decided to look for the Eider at a private site instead (I was glad, really, as the Eider was comfortably within my local listing area and a mega bird for it too).

The lake at the site looked brilliant for birds but there was no Eider. I had stumbled across the site on Google Maps before and thought it looked promising, looking at the lake infront of me I was even more convinced that several scarce and rare birds must have gone through unrecorded in the past. I found a redhead Smew (a local tick for me, so not a wasted trip - I thought it may be a London tick too but the border buts straight through the middle of the lake and the Smew was unfortunately just out of the circle!) and there were about 27 Wigeon present. 66 Lapwings were scattered over a reasonably sized sand spit and I daydreamed about the other species of wader that must have set foot there before. I did notice, however, the total lack of Grey Herons and any ducks other than Mallard, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and Smew. I'm tempted to, when I'm older and have a car, attempt to gain access rights and make occasional visits.

Yesterday, after spending the morning at the patch, I made a casual visit to Reculver with Phil. My main hope was Hooded Crow but we couldn't even find a Carrion Crow. 3 Shorelarks and several Red-throated Divers were very nice, though.

Two ticks one dip

Dad gratiously agreed to spend his free Saturday afternoon trucking Kev and I around Kent today, and we scored a 2/3 hit rate. First on the agenda was Walderslade for the male IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF which showed very well, revealing its subtle plumage differences, and sang its distinctive song; it was quite an easy twitch. If this, and others since 2008 are accepted, I think this would be something like the 18th record for Britain.
After enjoying this bird for about 40 minutes (would have liked more but the outing was later in the day than normal) we made our way to Lenham Heath for our next target. There was negative news upon arrival, after a false-alarm run-around the Hoopoe was eventually relocated and good views were had by all.

News of a Woodchat Shrike at Reculver broke and I persuaded dad to go, but we had to leave right then. After confusion in finding the right place, we eventually found the right area, it then took us a fair amount of time to work out exactly where the bird was meant to be (though there were some rumours going around that people were being a bit dodgy about the exact location for one reason or another).

We stayed a while and scanned with a handful of other birders but some had extensively searched the area over the past couple of hours and the bird had obviously moved on; we kept scanning though, just in case, and enjoyed a pair of Marsh Harriers and the songs of 2 Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler.

Two British ticks in one day is always good, and the Chiffchaff was a lifer full stop, so I can't complain; it was a good day. Thanks to my long-suffering dad for spending his free afternoon taking us around.