It was an extremely warm day at Cliffe yesterday with little respite from the sun. Given the positively Mediterranean conditions it was perhaps fitting that two Mediterranean gulls were spotted flying north over Flamingo pool - their distinctive ‘yee-ah’ calls, giving them away. Also flying north was a single Lesser Redpoll, a departing winter migrant off in search of cooler climes. From the Thames viewpoint, a handsome male Stonechat was observed singing from a nearby patch of bramble. The area of scrub between the viewpoint and the coastguard fields is currently alive with the cheery sounds of meadow pipits, dunnocks and linnets. While the fields beyond offer good views of foraging and soaring skylarks, that quintessential bird of hot, spring days. There was no sign of last week’s wheatears, but it won’t be long before more migrants are passing through. In the coming weeks keep an eye out for swallows, whitethroats and nightingales appearing across the site.

On the pools, two Spotted Redshanks feeding in the northeastern corner of Radar pool were a good record for this scarce, passage wader. Alongside a larger flock of (Common) Redshank, some key differences were apparent; notably a longer bill and generally ‘muddier’ complexion. Several pairs of Great Crested Grebes were observed with some brief courtship displays. The mating rituals of this iconic bird are one of the highlights of spring and well worth seeing. Five Greenshank, spread across the pools was notable, as were a number of Avocet. Let’s hope it’s a good season for our breeding birds at Cliffe.

By Peter Beckenham