As I am spending a few days with family in Kent, it seemed an ideal opportunity to visit the rspb site Cliffe Pools which is only half an hour away, especially as a grey phalarope has been reported there for the past few days.
It was a straightforward trip to get there although I did have to ask instructions for the exact location of the car park once I was almost there. Having found it and parked up I donned coat and hat - yes there was a cool breeze blowing - and followed the track leading to the trails.
I didn't see anyone for a while, though a group of birders were just arriving as I set out on my walk. I had a trail map and followed it, in the general direction of the Flamingo pool where I read the phalarope was seen yesterday. Meeting another birder I asked if he'd seen it, but he said no and was about to ask me the same question. Whilst stopped to talk, the group of birders I'd noticed in the car park approached, they hadn't seen it either; they were a group of RSPB members/volunteers and we ended up joining them as they showed us where the phalarope might be and told us some of the history of the site. It appears that there were once great plans to develop the reserve with a large 360 degree hide, but sadly the money wasn't forthcoming and all that was achieved was an improved car park and a central path through the reserve. Sadly we were unable to find the phalarope, despite scanning with binoculars and telescopes. Being such a small bird makes it very difficult to spot especially if the water is churning and it wasn't possible to see the whole perimeter of each area of water due to a lot of overgrown areas. Great for the wildlife but not so good for birders! There were, however, plenty of birds of interest, albeit mostly distant. I understand that in the winter months bird numbers increase and as high tide approaches more birds move from the creek into the lakes. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to stay for that today.
Birds seen included; litte egret, marsh harrier, kestrel, ringed plover, lapwing, lesser black backed gull ,pochard, wigeon, little grebe, great crested grebe, tufted duck, mallard, pied wagtail, shelduck, shoveler, dunlin, golden plover, redshank, curlew.
Today was another sunny day, and I arranged to meet some friends at Haysden Country park, Tonbridge. After enjoying a cup of coffee from the cafe, we started our walk around one of the lakes where we found tufted ducks and mallards and a pochard, mute swans, canada geese and an individual which appeared to be a cross canada/greylag. I also spotted a grey wagtail flying low across the shoreline. We then ventured into one of the woodland areas. Here we spent time checking the trees for woodland species, and found nuthatch, tree creeper, blue and great tits, goldcrest and jays. Our walk then continued alongside the river, and under the railway line before returning to the original lake which then gave us sightings of little egret and heron, and a chaffinch feeding under the picnic tables.
Birds seen here: wood pigeon, crow, jay, unidentified bird of prey ( buzzard/sparrow hawk?). grey wagtail, moorhen, coot, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, mute swan, canada goose, heron, little egret, black headed gull, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, robin, blackbird, goldcrest, nuthatch, tree creeper, chaffinch, cormorant, great crested grebe.
Canada goose
mute swan
tufted duck
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