Spring in the Stour Valley

 A fairly productive couple of weeks at Stodmarsh with the first arrival of migrants, accompanied with some half decent Spring weather. Four Garganey were seen on the pool in front of the Reed bed hide at the Stodmarsh end of the reserve with another pair seen at the Marsh hide and a single Drake on the Oxbow although the Marsh hide and the Oxbow birds could be part of the four at the Reed bed hide.

There is a lot of Bittern activity around the reserve at the moment with three booming males that I have heard and several sightings as they take to flight to get to another part of the reed bed.

Other bits caught with the camera include a drake Garganey flying into the Feast hide pool at Grove

Little Grebes, also on the pool in front of the Feast hide

A fairly low Common Buzzard by the metal bridge on the way down to the Marsh hide from the Grove end

and finally, Marsh Harriers, with a pair nest building in the reed bed both from the Reed bed hide and the Feast hide, giving superb photo opportunities.