Page 5 - Out Birding Issue 111 Summer 2023

The remaining five met at the cafe and had a long chat (very li􏰀le of this was about birdwatching). Two members did some birding while the rest of us had lunch. These two hardier members saw Goldcrest. By then the rain stopped, and we went birding. We saw Kestrel several 􏰁mes at different places during the a􏰂ernoon including very good views of it hovering close by. We also have good views of Snipe. In total we saw 36 species of birds. This was the first trip for a new member of the club - Ann K who said she was really glad she had come.
Mark
Lee Valley Fishers Green 28/01/2023
A well wrapped half dozen of us met at Fishers Green. An early bird amongst us reported that he'd seen the Bi􏰀ern from the hide, so we headed over there with a bit more focus and speed than usual... and were well rewarded! it was great to see the Bi􏰀ern so well, standing proud on top of the reeds... and equally great to later see it disappear in front of us, as its camouflaged plumage and the reeds mingled to become one. A couple of us also made it up into the tower of the new hide to look down on it amongst the reeds, ge􏰃ng different angles and views.
We made a full circuit of Seventy Acres Lake, des􏰁na􏰁on Smew, first heading south towards Hooks Marsh, then along the back of the lake parallel with and alongside the River Lee Naviga􏰁on, eventually making it back to where we started. We saw many of the usual waterfowl along our way, some sooner than others : Mallard, Tu􏰂ed Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall. Mute Swan and Canada Geese accounted for the larger waterbirds, with plen􏰁ful Cormorant and Grey Heron. Coot were numerous, and Moorhen a li􏰀le more shy. We heard the squeal of many a Water Rail, and several of us saw one that flew across the water and swi􏰂ly disappeared into undergrowth. Many of the Great Crested Grebe were sleeping, but we were delighted by one pair out on the water displaying.
We got into bother with some teenage gulls, especially some first-winter Common Gulls but we eventually worked out we'd definitely seen all of the likely 4 species over the course of the day - Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring making up the set. Overhead included Red Kite, the flap of a lone Lapwing, and the melodic call of Goldfinch. The trees and bushes held Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blue and Great and Long-tailed Tits.
It would have been a great walk without, but we did finally catch up with the hand- some male Smew we'd heard rumours about. We watched from various angles as he swam and fished... and then le􏰂 him tucked up for a nap under the low branches ex- tending from one of the lake’s many small islands. In the branches above us there was the cha􏰀er of Siskin, which some of us caught sight of before/as they flew on.
We headed back to the picnic tables for good food and conversa􏰁on, before wending our ways home. In total we saw about 40 species of bird, give or take a couple of
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