Paul Collins
Well-known member
Hi,
I went to Cliffe Pools for 2 hours with my dad on Sunday morning. This being my first visit, I was surprised to see that it was very different from many RSPB reserves that I've been to - hardly any people, no hides, and yet still a vast variety of rare and interesting birds.
Driving along the track, I saw a juvenile pheasant with no tail, which when standing upright almost made my dad think that it was a corncrake (not quite). At the first lake that we walked to, I had a look across its expanse to the far island, where I saw about 7 little egrets, and a group of 50 odd little grebes on the water! This profusion of little grebes really surprised me, having usually seen them in ones or twos.
A closer look with the scope revealed a common sandpiper and a lovely greenshank, whilst an even closer look showed a little stint (my 2nd of the year)! Very happy with our finds, we wandered on.
The next lake had nothing except for a very conspicuous ruddy shelduck, which had apparently been around for a week or so. On our way to the third lake, we were startled by two doves flying across the path and landing in a bush next to us - two turtle doves, posing superbly on top of the bush! I could not believe my luck: a little stint, greenshanks, ruddy shelduck, and now this! I wished that I had the camera, and was kicking myself when a marsh harrier gave us some of the best views that I have ever seen in my life (I add that I regularly go to Minsmere and Cley Marshes, two of the best places for harriers).
Dad noticed some movement in the shrubberies, and to my delight I found 2 very impressive whitethroats. Dad, however, had not been looking at this - instead he had noticed a superb black redstart sitting in the grass. Also, a little further along with the whitethroats, there was a female stonechat.
The final leg of the walk was less bountiful, but there were still plenty of greenshanks, a few common sandpipers, kestrels, marsh harriers, and a different ruddy shelduck, plus 2 avocets. I shall definitely return in the winter - apparently it is a haven for skuas, shearwaters, divers and grebes!
I went to Cliffe Pools for 2 hours with my dad on Sunday morning. This being my first visit, I was surprised to see that it was very different from many RSPB reserves that I've been to - hardly any people, no hides, and yet still a vast variety of rare and interesting birds.
Driving along the track, I saw a juvenile pheasant with no tail, which when standing upright almost made my dad think that it was a corncrake (not quite). At the first lake that we walked to, I had a look across its expanse to the far island, where I saw about 7 little egrets, and a group of 50 odd little grebes on the water! This profusion of little grebes really surprised me, having usually seen them in ones or twos.
A closer look with the scope revealed a common sandpiper and a lovely greenshank, whilst an even closer look showed a little stint (my 2nd of the year)! Very happy with our finds, we wandered on.
The next lake had nothing except for a very conspicuous ruddy shelduck, which had apparently been around for a week or so. On our way to the third lake, we were startled by two doves flying across the path and landing in a bush next to us - two turtle doves, posing superbly on top of the bush! I could not believe my luck: a little stint, greenshanks, ruddy shelduck, and now this! I wished that I had the camera, and was kicking myself when a marsh harrier gave us some of the best views that I have ever seen in my life (I add that I regularly go to Minsmere and Cley Marshes, two of the best places for harriers).
Dad noticed some movement in the shrubberies, and to my delight I found 2 very impressive whitethroats. Dad, however, had not been looking at this - instead he had noticed a superb black redstart sitting in the grass. Also, a little further along with the whitethroats, there was a female stonechat.
The final leg of the walk was less bountiful, but there were still plenty of greenshanks, a few common sandpipers, kestrels, marsh harriers, and a different ruddy shelduck, plus 2 avocets. I shall definitely return in the winter - apparently it is a haven for skuas, shearwaters, divers and grebes!