I started this week with a trip to RSPB Elmley Marsh on the Isle of Sheppey. I’d heard a lot of good things about the site and news that several Spoonbills had dropped in during the week only added to the anticipation. Once I managed to find the site (um, memo to RSPB) I was impressed by the scale. The long meandering drive in was made longer with frequent stops to watch Marsh Harriers patrolling the ditches but otherwise it was fairly quiet. Mid-July is generally a quiet time for bird watching; return wader passage is yet to peak and most passerines are quietly recovering from the breeding season and/or building up reserves for movement in the coming months. A Common Sandpiper flew in to join Avocet, Blackwits and a lone Ruddy Duck on one of the pools. Elsewhere a variety of warblers and Meadow Pipits were cheerily singing from the reeds and scrub. But the talk in the hides was of Spoonbills and unfortunately the word was that they had flown the previous day. Nevermind, that’s one I’ll have to wait for.
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| Hedgehog - a rare daylight sighting! Elmley, 10/7/11 |
Back at Northward Hill, my birding pick of the week came in the form of several Bearded Tits ‘pinging’ back and forth on a blustery reed bed way out in the marsh. Despite the wind, the little gingery-black jobs clambered and flew about, making use of the shelter afforded by the vegetation. It is thought that the population may have suffered as a result of the heavy snow in winter crushing a large section of the reeds but whether this has pushed the birds further up, increasing densities in the surviving areas, I’m not sure. Still, a great bird to see and another lifer for me.
While watching the Beardies, a Buzzard appeared from beyond the fleet giving a decent, if only momentary, view. This was the second sighting of the week after 4 birds caused a minor staff twitch when they flew over the office on Monday afternoon. Rounding off a good week for birds beginning with ‘B’ are the Barn Owls. Several evenings this week I’ve watched them hunting from the viewpoint near the car park. One evening with particularly good light I watched an owl approach from a fair distance away; as it neared my position it clocked me and kept my gaze for several seconds while maintaining direction. I was struck by its total grace in the air and its pale, bewitching features. Watching it, two questions came to mind; one, how can you tell a male and female Barn Owl apart? And two, for a bird that is crepuscular and nocturnal, why is it so pale in comparison to other owl species? I’ll have to get the book out on those and get back to you.
Work on the reserve this week has focused on maintenance and upkeep of the paths and barn. Reptile fences have been finished at Cliffe and these areas have been checked regularly through the week for sheltering lizards and snakes. The fences are in place to stop reptiles moving onto areas of land that may flood during large scale water re-distribution work later in the year. A Butterfly transect at Cliffe on Friday yielded 8 species with Small White and Gatekeeper recorded in large numbers. On that note, I thoroughly recommend reading Patrick Barkham’s ‘The Butterfly Isles’ – a personable and in-depth look at the history and ecology of British butterflies.  |
| Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Cliffe Pools 15/7/11 |
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| Yellow Wagtail (Montacilla flava), Northward Hill, 13/7/11 |
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