Having tried and failed to locate the Red-necked Grebe at Cliffe Pools on the 8th January, in what was very challenging conditions we decided to pay another visit this morning.
Picking Brian up at 7.30am we arrived at Cliffe an hour later. However, with the gates to the car park still locked we tried an alternative route. Following the public footpath, we eventually arrived at the Southern end of Alpha pool. The weather conditions were much calmer today and the early morning rain on route had now disappeared. A sizable flock of pochard was hugging the Western edge of the pool and after several scans, through them, the Red-necked Grebe was located. Also found among this flock was a superb looking Black-necked Grebe. Another scan of the water produced a group of three Black-necked Grebes. On the return walk, I finally managed to add Sparrowhawk to the year list when Brian spotted one overhead.
With no news of the Bonaparte's Gull at Erith, we decided to pay another visit to New Hythe GPs for the Ring-necked Duck as Brian still needed it for a year tick. Today we parked just off New Hythe Lane and took the footpath through the Country Park. This proved to be a much shorter walk than parking at Leybourne CP, as we had done on the previous visit. Arriving at Abbeymeads Lake the Ring-necked Duck could not be found at the Southern end of the lake. Brian headed off towards the Northern end and soon located the duck among a group of Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Coots.
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| Ring-necked Duck among Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Coots |
Just the two additions to the year list today, but it was another enjoyable morning's birding.
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