Jason Anderson has been out and about at Cliffe today, and sent us this report:
An 8-hour visit to Cliffe Pools produced the following highlights:
1 Osprey flying south at 09:15 (seen by two other birders, I missed it!)2 Curlew Sandpipers (Black Barn)2 Spotted Redshanks (2 Black Barn)6-8 Green Sandpipers (both on Black Barn and drainage canals to sea wall)1 Whimbrel (on Thames at low tide)2 Wood Sandpipers (seen by another birder on Radar; missed by me)1 fem. Peregrine (seen by two other birders; I missed this one too!)est.250-300 Avocet at high tide (13:00) on Pontoonat least 1 Sparrowhawk (fem.) on reserve all dayat least 1 Kestrel (fem.) on reserve all daygood numbers of Linnets (incl. 1 flock of 15+ birds)est. 20+ Ruff on Black Barn and Radarest. 5-10 Greenshank on Radar, Pontoon and Flamingoonly 2 Ringed Plover seen (on Flamingo)est. 50+ Pochard on Conoco at 06:30est. 100+ Lapwing on Conoco and islands on Radarest. 50+ Black-tailed Godwit (mainly on islands on Radar)at least 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, perhaps more among Black-tailed (islands on Radar)est. 100+ Lapwing across reserveest. 100+ Redshank across reserve1 Wigeon (Radar)1 Common Tern (near Flamingo)1 Curlew (on Thames)
Good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins moving south. Warblers still around include Whitethroat (common), Blackcap (2), Willow Warbler (1, singing rather half-heartedly), Reed Warbler (2-3 calling near Black Barn).
Other birds included: Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater-spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Shelduck, and two very white-faced Tufted Duck/Scaup (I wasn’t sure due to eclipse plumage – presumed the former) on Conoco.Non-avian highlight: 1 Common Lizard (scurrying across path near Radar viewpoint).
thanks Jason