11 members enjoyed a pleasant morning led by Toni Goodley, an interlude before some more rain fell about lunch time. The tide was far out so we looked over the estuary and St Helen’s mill pond where we saw Teal, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and Mallard. We then looked up the eastern Yar from St Helen’s road bridge and saw Coot and in the distance a Great Crested Grebe. Cormorant were sitting in the trees where they nest. A Cetti’s warbler was calling, the first of 11 heard during the morning. It was not long before we had our first sighting of a Marsh Harrier. We then moved on to the old railway line and looking over the first gate we saw a pair of Gadwall and in the pool we had good views of a pair of Great Crested Grebe. Looking over the RSPB reserve we noted a Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. Near some Canada Geese, a lone Brent Goose was spotted. In a copse at the beginning of the old railway line we had good views of Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren and also Dunnock, Robin, Great Tit and Blue Tit. One of the lagoons held 12 Tufted Ducks, six of male, and six of female and in the opposite field six Pochard. Two Water Rails were heard and three of our members at the front were fortunate to see two Kingfishers together. On the return to our cars we looked over the estuary between the house boats and checked through the flocks of gulls and were able to add to our species list with Common Gull and Great Black Backed Gull. In all we noted 34 species. Jackie Hart
