Page 8 - Out Birding Spring 2023

watching it and eventually it came closer to us allowing some good views.
Walking out to the sea there were a couple of surprise Sandwich Tern working their way along the shoreline occasionally diving for fish. Otherwise, the sea was quiet in terms of birds (although the waves were crashing on the pebbles,) but we chose to sit here for lunch.
Refreshed, we worked our way back the way we had come, but this 􏰀me higher up on the sea defence wall. The area has grown up well with gorse and scrub since I last visited soon a􏰁er it was landscaped a few years ago, and we stopped to watch Yellow- hammer, more Stonechat, and a couple of Corn Bun􏰀ng in the hedgerows. We then heard a churring call from the gorse and, a􏰁er retracing our steps a li􏰂le, managed some flee􏰀ng glimpses of a Dar􏰃ord Warbler fli􏰄ng around in the undergrowth.
Clouds of Golden Plover occasionally took to the air in a spectacular and shimmering flying display as we made our way round the reserve.
Our last stop was the viewpoint overlooking ‘Ruth’s Marsh.’ This proved to be a very produc􏰀ve area - a large group of Stock Dove flew around in the fields, and we saw more Teal and Wigeon and a small group of Shelduck. There were Redshank and a couple of Curlew in a distant pool. A Kingfisher appeared briefly then disappeared again. A Grey Heron landed in a tree. Suddenly the ducks all took to the air and a Marsh Harrier glided into view, hun􏰀ng low over the reeds for a few minutes. We watched another tern flying and diving to catch fish and there was some debate as to its iden􏰀ty. It was smaller compared to the previous Sandwich Terns and had a black head. We later learned from various reports that this was probably the first winter Arc􏰀c Tern that had been seen in the area.
We heard a couple of Ce􏰄’s Warbler and a Wren calling on our way round. Gulls were well represented with Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed all seen. Of course, there were the usual common birds: Robin, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.
All in all we had experienced a fantas􏰀c day, with a few surprises, and we set off for home happy birders with a total of 56 species seen and two heard. Many thanks to Peter for pu􏰄ng this event in the calendar and leading on the day.
Malcolm
Lee Valley Fishers Green, Essex 26/11/2022
Another great GBC day out in the Lee Valley Park. We were greeted in the car park
by Ring-necked Parakeets calling around us, and a Long-tailed Tit flock traversing the tree tops. We made our way towards Seventy Acres Lake, glimpsing a few other 􏰀t species along the path, and admiring a Mute Swan from the bridge.
From the viewing pla􏰃orm we caught up with some of the ducks: Mallard, Gadwall, Tu􏰁ed, a sleeping Shoveler, Pochard and 3 white Aylsbury. There were plenty of
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