Luckily we managed to get all the cars parked for our walk to Seaton Pits – alway a tricky business. As we set off across the muddy field, 50 Fieldfares were spotted, ‘chuckling’ as they passed overhead, along with a few of the usual woodland birds. At the lake Great Crested Grebes in their breeding plumage were displaying and a good variety of ducks were seen, including a beautiful male Goosander with two beautiful females.
As we began our walk around the lake 100+ Greylags flew in, honking as they descended. A lovely male Goldeneye was seen & during the day at least 6 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, many drumming to signal their interest in breeding. This was a muddy walk (as the photographs included show), on a murky, misty, dull & pretty cold day. However, 17 folk saw 40 species here so it was well worth the suffering.
The group went on to Grove Ferry afterwards where we were joined by Sue & Ian. After lunch we visited the viewpoint & saw Lesser Black-backed Gulls with the Lapwing & ducks on the scrape. 35 Mute Swans flew over, one of which was decidedly odd, being black rather than white. A Water Rail was heard squealing in the reeds & a single Redshank was the only bird at the last hide we visited. Despite poor weather a total of 49 bird species were seen + 1 squirrel, showing there’s always something to be seen if you persevere.
The full list for the visit follows; Seaton robin, dunnock, fieldfare, blue tit, great tit, collared dove, song thrush, gadwall, greylag, wigeon, goosander, gt.c. grebe, tufted duck, mallard, coot, moorhen, wood pigeon, starling, l.t.tit, shovelar, pochard, goldcrest, treecreeper, lapwing, goldeneye, herring gull, b.h.gull, jackdaw, crow, canada goose, g.s.woodpecker, l.egret, grey heron, green woodpecker, jay, stock dove, blackbird, h. sparrow, mistle thrush, magpie. + Grove teal, l.b.b.gull, dunlin, mute swan, snipe, redshank, cettis, cormorant, water rail. 49 species.
Thanks to Paul for leading,
Sally