Trip reports

Elmley

Sunday, 11 May 2008

It was a warm and sunny day that brought 16 of us to Elmley, complete with various sun hats and ample supplies of sun lotion. A slow cruise along the access track started the day's sightings. There were meadow pipits, yellow wagtails, lapwings, redshanks, pheasant and grey partridge. Two baby lapwings were a pleasant sighting. Starting the long walk from the reserve car park we realised that there were mediterranean gulls and avocets visible from the track. House sparrows and swallows were active around the farm, whilst a corn bunting was found near the track. The nice surprise was the presence of a pair of gargany, which showed well. The reeds along the roadside gulley were full of the song of reed warbler, sedge warbler and also reed buntings. The reed warblers were active and came into and out of view again allowing observation practice for the group. A common tern was seen fishing and both coots and moorhens with chicks were busy feeding in the channels. A great crested grebe, shoveler, little egret and mute swans were also found. After a leisurely stroll we at last reached the hides. Here we were treated to two rare sightings. A temminck's stint was showing well and was close enough to the hide for a close examination of the finer markings. A little gull was swimming on the water. It was not until a black-headed gull swam into view that the small size of the little gull could be fully appreciated. A number of avocets, black tailed godwits, mallard, redshank, ring plover and a solitary dunlin were also present. From the second hide we found a second temminck's stint, a greenshank and a common sandpiper. From the third hide we added cormorant, egyptian goose, tufted duck, pochard and grey plover. There were distant views of a marsh harrier and common buzzard through the heat haze. The day wound to a close and as we returned to the car park we were treated to a close up viewing of a male marsh harrier.