Two trips to Cliffe

Whitethroat

Our Wednesday walk on the 3rd August took us to Cliffe where there had recently been some interesting sightings - little stint, curlew sandpiper, bar-tailed godwit, wood sandpiper, green sandpiper and spotted redshank - to name but a few.   Armed with this information, we set off on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year.

Leaving our cars in the village car park we wandered down towards the reserve seeing house sparrow, wood pigeon, collared dove and heard a jay along the way.   The first pool gave great crested grebe, several little egret, an eclipse drake wigeon, ruff, redshank, lapwing, and many coot.   Along the track towards the black barn there were great tit, black-headed gull, starling, avocet, goldfinch, and as we continued along a kingfisher flew straight towards Sally and I and veered off over the fields at the last minute - leaving a memory of bright blue, rufous and bright white as it passed. 

Lichen on the sea wall

At the Black Barn pools there were more avocet along with black-tailed godwit and ringed plover.   A sedge warbler flew around in the reeds, as we identified greenshank and linnet nearby.   As we continued along the track towards the first viewing mound reed warbler and whitethroat were evident.   Whilst watching more linnet flying between the hawthorn bushes, we spotted a redstart - unfortunately not everyone saw the bird as it was hiding in the bush and left only its red tail bobbing before it flew off not to be seen again.

One of the Black Barn Pools

Keen to find a lunch-stop, we moved off the main track and utilised one of the farm tracks where the trees along the edge of the fields provided some much needed shade.   Little grebe, yellow wagtail, meadow pipit and kestrel were our main additions as we moved towards the sea wall.   From here we saw hobby, peregrine, green woodpecker, common tern and grey heron.

By now we were well and truly "warmed" so made a gentle return journey up to Cliffe village, finishing all our water supplies.   Back at the cars we shared the remining two bottles of water and then repaired to the pub for a cooling drink. 

Common Sandpiper

I returned to Cliffe Pools on Friday 5th August as it was the Gravesend RSPB Group's evening meeting venue.   With several new members we had 17 for the walk.   Our first views were of goldfinch, wood pigeon, cormorant, and house martin.   Over 20 great crested grebe were on the pool by the car park, along with lapwing and oystercatcher.   A couple of common sandpiper were feeding on the edge of the pool, common tern were diving for fish and pochard, starling, coot and little egret were all utilising the water and its surrounds.

As we moved along the Saxon Shore Way we spotted more little egret and also a group of about 7 common sandpiper.   Mallard, grey heron, more redshank, turnstone, ringed plover, great black-backed and lesser black-backed gull, greenshank, little grebe, over 100 black-tailed godwit, and a family of shelduck with 9 young were all present as we continued towards Cliffe Creek.   A kestrel hovered on the far side of the pool, a green woodpecker flew passed us calling as it went, and black-headed gull were moving to their roost site.   Just as one of our party was describing where kingfishers were often seen previously one of these brilliantly coloured birds flew out from the side of the pool and continued along the whole width of the water to finally disappear out of view.   Grey plover were also seen near the sea.

Sunset over Cliffe Creek

Our walk back along the side of the creek was uneventful, even though we were willing an owl to show.   All in all a great evening walk, with lots to see and enjoy.