SWALLOW BY STROOD

An evening walk on Friday 2nd alongside the Strood Channel, provided a view of an early swallow hawking over the saltmarsh at the bottom of Strood Hill. This swallow maybe the same bird seen by Ian Black in the same area on Tuesday - the first report so far this spring on the Island.

Athough there was plenty of mud along the channel, wader numbers have dropped off except for 250+ redshank dotted across the mud. Other waders seen were 20 grey plover, 10 ringed plover, 25 curlew, black-tailed godwit, 5 knot, 20 dunlin, 10 oystercatcher, turnstone and 10 golden plover. Other than 25 shelduck there were a few teal and mallard, while in the distance 50 brent geese were noted. In the channel a male goldeneye swimming out with the tide seemed unusual for April.

A female marsh harrier flew south-west along one side of the the Feldy seawall as the sunset, while a barn owl flew in the opposite direction on the other side of the wall, passing within a few metres of each other.

Other birds noted were 2 little egrets, one singing corn bunting and also there was a small flock of 6 linnets roosting in bushes near the Dabchicks.

Andy Field and Richard Hull visited the army ranges of Langenhoe this morning and noted spoonbill, Cetti's warbler, hen harrier, 10 marsh harrier, peregrine, sparrowhawk and 2 common buzzard.


The only sightings of note at the country park in recent days have been a ringtail hen harrier over the car par on Thursday 31st while on Tuesday 5 adders were seen.