4th June:
After some frantic arrangements down the bar last night, I
met Steve Bacon outside the front door at 5am for a trundle south to try and
see the Thrush Nightingale at Dungeness. I had previously dipped one at
Salthouse in September ’92 and he had already dipped this bird once and with it
being a bitterly cold, wet June morning neither of us were hopeful. Only fifteen people had turned up but
thankfully it only took me ten minutes to find this singing bird and over the
next two hours superb views of this notoriously elusive species sometimes down
to only a few feet as it moved around the trapping area Willows. A distinctive bird and more obviously ‘different’
than I expected. The song was loud and
powerful but lacked the overlapping note effect achieved by Nightingale. With the weather deteriorating we came home.
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| Thrush Nightingale #403 |
19th June:
St Margaret’s was the first stop for Pete, Ted and I [Eds:
Ted was one of Pete’s cycling friends and I remember he had proper milk bottle think
glasses] and although several Marsh Warblers were in fine song in their usual
valley, they were quite tricky to see in the windy conditions but with patience
some good views were had. We wanted to see the Peregrines and a leisurely walk
along the cliff top gave great views as a juvenile male cruised past the
onlookers at head height. Absolutely magnificent. [Eds: Peregrines were only
just getting a toe hold back in the south east at this point and it was a real
treat to see them so well]. Over the next hour the adult male and a juvenile
were seen and we watched the latter plucking a Pigeon. The Kittiwakes did not seem too disturbed by
their presence. [Eds: not sure that they are there anymore?]
After lunch we headed up to Elmley where Montagu’s Harriers
and Great Reed Warbler were the targets. The pair of Harriers were viewable
from about half way to the farm and quite a crowd were parked along the
entrance road. At least one female showed very well along with several Marsh
Harriers.
The real bonus was not a bird but an amphibian and it was
not until someone told me what the weird grouse-like noises were that I started
to look for Marsh Frogs in the ditches.
I crept up on them and got one in the scope and watched this impressive
beast inflating its cheek pouches like two HubbaBubba bubbles!
On to the end a brisk stroll to the patch of Reedmace
inhabited by the Great Reed Warbler. Could it be the same bird that we saw here
last year? It could be heard a long way before we reached the spot but we only
got a couple of glimpses but it was just great to hear that wonderful voice. It was otherwise quiet with a pair of alarming
Black-tailed Godwits and a Lapwing that got up off four eggs being the
highlights.
On the way out the male Montagu’s Harrier decided to choose
that moment to cruise across the road.
What a way to end the day.
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| Montagu’s Harrier |
