2008
31
MAY
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Saturday, 31 May 2008 |
Stodmarsh Nature Reserve  | - Click on the image above to view gallery
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 A family of swans had decided the footpath was a good place to sit We are lucky enough to live near to Stodmarsh national nature reserve, a very large area of reed beds to the east of Canterbury where there are certain birds you just know you will see such as Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) and as ever we weren't disappointed. There is a very nice walk around the whole reserve and what we had planned was to do a circular one across the reed beds as far as Grove Ferry and back along the river to where we had parked. The footpaths however were really flooded and guess who had left their boots in the other car? The puddles actually weren't too bad at all in sandals, not really muddy and it actually felt very refreshing on a warm day but we did give up when the footpath turned to quagmire across a field full of cows. It was delightful walk though listening to the sounds of the Willow (Phylloscopus trochilus), Reed (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Cetti's (Cettia cetti) Warblers even a Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) too, and also the haunting sound of the Marsh Frogs (Rana ridibunda). If you have ever heard these you will know what I mean. We caught only glimpses of these birds today but the Marsh Frogs are always hiding in the reeds unless they become a Marsh Harrier's next meal.  Robin We did get good views of the Marsh Harriers as expected and also loads of Hobbies (Falco subbuteo) feeding on the dragonflies. Of course they hunt very high in the sky so binoculars and telescopes are required really to see them. We did get lovely clear views of Cuckoos and Turtle Doves (Streptopelia turtur) which I'm told are becoming a rare sight these days. Not fancying the muddy footpath we returned the way we had come to discover just why we had seen so many white feathers on the path earlier. A family of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) were just sitting on the narrow path and we wondered for a while just how we were going to get them to move as you don't exactly argue with a cob. It didn't seem to like my monopod, mind, and did plenty of hissing at it but really it was just a question of waiting patiently for them to get back in the water. It was either that or go back and have to tackle that muddy footpath in sandals LOL. It's a busy place so they must have to move plenty of times.  Reeds So all in all a good walk plenty to be seen and heard and just loads of damselflies too but sadly very few butterflies. I fear this recent bad weather has not been good for them at all. We visited a very nice pub in the village of Stodmash to sample some real ale, oh, and a piece of Banoffee pie too. We were on our way home when we spotted loads of people with their telescopes set up so we had to stop and ask. Soon we had ours set up and were watching a Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) which if they hadn't pointed it out I really wouldn't have noticed anything different about it. It's similar to a Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) only it has a dark chest. They were all waiting patiently for another sighting of a Red Footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) which had been seen earlier in the day. I don't think I would make a good twitcher though as we didn't hang about too long as the clouds were closing in once more and I felt sure it would be raining soon.
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