September 23rd 2006

A visit between 07.30 and 08.45 this morning. It was quite misty first thing but warmed up quickly.

The scrape is now looking a little bit more like a scrape with some exposed muddy fringes - looks promising.....but nothing of note there this morning. I flushed a Sparrowhawk from the ground in the open apart from that not much of note there apart from a flypast calling Kingfisher, a loose flock of c15 Long Tailed Tit and 6 Juv Goldfinch feeding on Teasels.

ABBEY MEAD PIT

Over to Abbey Mead I was pleased to find that the Black Necked Grebe was still present. It has been around for about 10 days but I haven't been able to get over. c8 Wigeon and good numbers of Pochard and Tufted Duck also present. 2 Little Grebe, 7 GC Grebe and 4 Gadwall also there. A few Migrant Hawkers buzzing around as I was leaving as well as a both Green and Great Spot Woodpeckers by the Water Works entrance.

Late PM I had a fleeting glimpse of a large raptor near Trottiscliffe, 99% certain it was a Red Kite......