A Marsh Sandpiper had been reported at Cliffe Pools in Kent late on Wednesday evening, and with several positive reports today, we decided to make the trip.
Kent has recorded an impressive 22 records of Marsh Sandpiper (more than any other British County) but this is the first Kent record since August 2009 when a juvenile appeared at Bough Beech Reservoir and that individual stayed for just a single day.
Kent has recorded an impressive 22 records of Marsh Sandpiper (more than any other British County) but this is the first Kent record since August 2009 when a juvenile appeared at Bough Beech Reservoir and that individual stayed for just a single day.
Brian having taken his wife's 4x4 decided to drive the track down past the Black Barn towards the second viewing mound. The track is very uneven and deeply pot-holed in places but with care can be driven along. If not you can park in the Salt Lane car park and walk to the viewing mound. A walk of maybe 30-40 minutes.
The Marsh Sandpiper remained distant throughout our visit, preferring the back edge of Black Barn Pool 4. Viewing was made more difficult with the heat haze, but once the sun disappeared behind clouds the viewing improved allowing some nice scope views of the bird. It would feed along the back edge of the pool but favoured the far corner and would disappear out of view frequently. As well as the Marsh sandpiper the Black-winged Stilt adults and youngsters were showing superbly. A Barn Owl hunting the rough grassland in front of us was a nice ending to the evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment