Ibis' At Dawn

This morning Dad and I went to Sandwich Bay for first light with news of the Glossy Ibis' still being there for the past couple of days. As we went in the hide at Restharrow, there seemed to be two geese on the island, so once we sat down we realised that they were Egyptian Geese! A welcomed addition to our year lists as they seem to be one of those birds you have to be in the right place at the right time unless you go to Sevenoaks. We then scanned the pool where the majority of the birds were Teal but there was a bird on the far side that looked like the bird we came to see and it was! After a little while the other bird appeared meaning the 2 Glossy Ibis' had stayed much to everyone's delight. The Egyptian Geese took off after trying to spook the Glossy's, they flew towards Sandwich and disappeared over the horizon. Other birds of note from the hide were Shelduck, Lapwing, Pheasant, Coot, Little Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Dunnock, Collared Dove, Starling, Herring, Black-Headed and Common Gull, Magpie, Crow, Wood Pigeon and Stock Dove.

From the scrape we joined Adam for a walk round as on his way to the hide he picked up on Merlin and Raven. On our way to the sea some Grey Partridge flew over the bank alongside that runs from the hide further towards the marshes but by the time Dad was looking in the right direction they had run from where they had just flown from! More gulls were present along the way plus a pair of Stonechats. Watching the sea for a while didn't produce too much but 100+ Great Crested Grebes, a couple of Red-Throated Divers and 5 Common Scoters brightened it up. Also seen were Great Black-Backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Cormorant. We then walked towards the estate and around the elms. 2 Mistle Thrushes in a garden were the first additions of the day from the walk. Further round a Song Thrush was singing away while Blue and Great Tits were keeping the trees busy. A pair of Chaffinches were about along with a lone Ring-Necked Parakeet.

After this we left Adam at the hide as we drove the road trying to find any further additions. We had 2 Corn Buntings, plenty of gulls, 24 Curlews, 6 Grey Partridge, Kestrel and Collared Dove. At the cow shed there were a good number of Stock Doves and Jackdaws, a Pied Wagtail was also seen.

Egyptian Goose

Both Ibis'

2 of each

Grey Partridge pretending to be mounds