Reculver to Minnis Bay

In typical mid Autumn skulky warbler weather, I went over to the caravan bushes at Reculver on the morning of Monday the 13th, in hope of seeing the reported Radde's Warbler. In a fine drizzle I stood with a few other birders but alas, the Radde's was either skulking deeper in the bushes than normal or the bird had moved on which is the more likely scenario. All was not lost as Matt Hindle unearthed a Yellow-browed Warbler which was my first of the Autumn. No photos that were good enough to show but one of many Goldcrest's was a lot more obliging than any of the visiting migrants. 

I returned to Reculver, this time Chambers Wall, on Wednesday the 15th as a bird was reported there yesterday (14th). I found it, or one, in the bushes around the fisherman's car park and although the weather was just the same as previously, dull and overcast, I did manage a few record shots of the bird.

Along the eastern end of the area towards Minnis Bay, I had some success with a small Sanderling flock. Waiting behind one of the groynes, the dog walkers would continually flush the birds and they would fly past my vantage point.

Sanderling

Turnstone

Three Dotterel's

I managed to see the three Dotterel's back on the 1st of September, an adult male with two juvenile birds that spent a few days feeding on stubble in a harvested field on the side of the Dover Road by the St Margaret's junction near to the top of the Jubilee Way into Dover. It was quite hard to locate them but once found, they were a lot easier to keep tabs on as they fed amongst the cut stubble remains. They were very confiding and we found ourselves having to back off as they continually walked towards us as they searched for food.

Dotterel (Adult Male)

Dotterel (Juvenile)

I moved on to New Downs on the Sandwich Bay estate after, where looking directly into the sun I managed very distant views of a visiting Spotted Crake The light and distance mean't that no images were obtained but little did I know that a month later I would see a Spotted Crake out in the open and just four to five metres metres in front of me. 

More about that later.

Stomping the paths of HQ

I have spent the past few weeks or so, walking around the reserve from Grove Ferry to Stodmarsh and back to see what I could get with the camera. In fact, several opportunities have arisen and the weather has not been too unkind which is always a bonus.

Sunrise from the path between the Marsh hide and the Alder wood at the Stodmarsh end of the reserve.

The view early morning from the Reed bed hide with the Tern raft on the main lake at Stodmarsh.

Cattle Egret's are becoming more frequent and increasing in the size of the flocks with probably around 20 birds on the reserve in amongst the various cow herds grazing on the wet meadows. Standing at a gate using the cows on the other side as a shield, it was possible to get the birds to wander in fairly close with me being hidden by the cattle, but they are very wary.

The Bearded Tit's are starting to gather in the reed beds around the Marsh hide and can be heard pinging away, especially in the early morning sunshine. With the wind on a few occasions recently being near on non existent, the birds take the opportunity to climb the reed mace stems and feed on top, which is a result if you want to watch and photograph these charismatic little reed bed dwellers.

Whilst hidden behind the cows when photographing the Cattle Egrets, a male Marsh Harrier came towards me hunting a dyke at the side of the field. Unaware of my presence he flew over the top of me and very close.

I caught up with a Long-tailed Tit flock on the southern edge of the reserve which a few proved to be very obliging.

A not so dapper looking Garganey has spent a bit of time on the pool in front of the Feast hide, moulting, before his journey back south for the winter.

A few Waders have been seen now the water levels are dropping with Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit all being noted.

Black-tailed Godwit

Finally, there has been a fair bit of Bittern activity around the Feast hide at the Grove Ferry end of the reserve with probably three bird being seen during the time I have been there. Also, a Hobby has been hunting Dragonflies over the pool.

Bittern

Hobby

Hobby Food

Let's hope October will bring something a little exciting to the reserve.

A Very Unexpected Patch Tick

 I called in to the Grove Ferry end of the Stodmarsh reserve (HQ) for a chat.

Whinchat, one of four seen.

Stonechat, one of a pair seen

I did connect with Whinchats earlier, on the 31st August after being alerted to their presence by Martyn Wilson. Always good to get these returning migrants, re fueling at Grove before carrying on their journey back to Africa.

The day's biggest surprise for me and a patch tick to boot, was a very high juvenile Gannet flying from North to South over the viewing ramp on my way back to the car. That was most unexpected.

A record shot of the juvenile Gannet to mark the occasion. 

A juvenile Spoonbill at Grove Ferry.

 On the morning of the 28th August 2025, a juvenile Spoonbill spent most of the day on the pool in front of the Feast hide at the Grove Ferry end of the Stodmarsh reserve. This species is becoming more of a frequent visitor to the reserve now and always great to see. Just a pity that the reed and sedge along the dyke in front of the hide was not cut when they cut the grass, we would have been able to see it properly instead of waiting for a gust of wind to blow the reeds aside to grab a glimpse.

The view from the Feast hide at Grove Ferry after the grass in front has been cut. It's like opening the blinds but leaving the curtains drawn. A shame really as this hide has produced some good birds in the past, Spotted Crake comes to mind but would be really difficult to see if one was skulking in the back reed bed line.