South East Bird Tours
The bird watching sites that we visit provide good bird watching all year round and all have an excellent reputation for turning up an occasional rarity, especially during the Spring and Autumn passage periods. On average our trips record between 50 to 60 species in Winter. In Spring and Autumn around 75 to 80 species and in the Summer around 65 species.
The following notes are brief descriptions of some of the sites we visit and the notable species encountered over the past few months.
Barnes - London
Barn Elms Reservoirs have been converted by the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust into an outstanding wetland reserve. It is a flat site and easy to get around on the well maintained pathways. Habitats include a number of lakes, various reedbeds, thickets and wet meadows. There are six hides including the Peacock Tower. The tower provides excellent views across a large part of the site. Notable sightings here have included White Stork (February 2010), Kittiwake (February 2010), Jack Snipe (March 2010), Caspian Gull (March 2010), Bittern (March 2010),Little Ringed Plover (April 2010), Whimbrel (April 2010), Pacific Golden Plover (May 2010), Blue-Headed Wagtail (May 2010), Buzzard (May 2010) and Honey Buzzard (May 2010), Garganey (June 2010), Red Kite (July 2010) and Black-Tailed Godwit (July 2010).
Rainham Marshes - Essex
Situated on the Eastern side of London, this site opened to the general public on the 13th of November 2006. Parts of the reserve can be viewed from the seawall pathway 24 hours a day. The rest of the scrapes and ponds can be viewed more closely from the 2 1/2 mile pathway which circles the reserve. Now one of the best sites in London, this site has been visited by some very rare birds including a Sociable Plover. Notable recent sightings have included Slavonian Grebe (February 2010), Glaucous Gull (March 2010), Caspian Gull (March 2010), Bewick's Swan (March 2010), Great White Egret (March 2010), Penduline Tit (March 2010), Little Ringed Plover (March 2010), Long-Eared Owl (March 2010), Osprey (March 2010), Ring Ouzel (April 2010), Hoopoe (April 2010), Alpine Swift (April 2010), Black-Winged Stilt (April 2010), Black Tern (May 2010), Red-Rumped Swallow (May 2010), Short-Eared Owl (May 2010), Spoonbill (May 2010), Red-Breasted Merganser (July 2010), Marsh Harrier (July 2010), White-Tailed Lapwing (July 2010), Whimbrel (July 2010) and Yellow-Legged Gull (July 2010).
Cliffe Pools - Kent
Close to the River Thames, this is an extensive area of worked clay pits. The majority of the pits are now disused. Some of the pits are water filled, some are overgrown and some are shallow flooded areas. The flooded pools contain either fresh water or saline water. There are currently no hides at Cliffe Pools but the RSPB are in the process of developing the area. Notable sightings have included White-Winged Black Tern (August 2009), Little Gull (September 2009), Curlew Sandpiper (September 2009), Pink-Footed Goose (October 2009), Hen Harrier (October 2009), Honey Buzzard (October 2009), Scaup (January 2010), Great Northern Diver (February 2010), Shore Lark (February 2010), Garganey (April 2010), Ring Ouzel (April 2010), Hobby (June 2010), Cuckoo (June 2010) and Spotted Redshank (June 2010).
Dungeness - Kent
This huge shingle spit forms an incredible habitat and although sparsely vegetated, it holds an amazing variety of birdlife. It is split into a number of sites with the two main areas being the area around the Dungeness Bird Observatory and the RSPB reserve. It is a flat site with little formal pathways, except at the RSPB reserve. However, it is still relatively easy to get around. Habitats include the English Channel, numerous flooded gravel pits, a number of very good marsh areas and the heavily vegetated moat area - where the observatory staff have their Heligoland traps. This has again been a very busy month and notable sightings have included Snow Bunting (February 2010), Great Skua (February 2010), Smew (March 2010), Garganey (March 2010), Iceland Gull (March 2010), Black Redstart (March 2010), Penduline Tit (April 2010), Pallid Swift (April 2010), Alpine Swift (April 2010), Firecrest (April 2010), Garganey (April 2010), Black-Necked Grebe (April 2010), Slavonian Grebe (May 2010), Black Tern (May 2010), Caspian Gull (May 2010), Whiskered Tern (May 2010), Pied Flycatcher (May 2010), Temminck's Stint (May 2010), Pomarine Skua (May 2010), Curlew Sandpiper (May 2010), Red-Footed Falcon (June 2010), Honey Buzzard (June 2010), Great White Egret (July 2010), Purple Heron (July 2010), Bittern (July 2010), Roseate Tern (July 2010), White-Tailed Lapwing (July 2010) and Wood Sandpiper (July 2010).
Isle of Sheppey - Kent
Found on the Eastern side of Kent, at the mouth of the River Thames, this is a premier site particularly in the Winter Months. Large parts are controlled by English Nature, Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. Its mixed habitats include a number of marshes, areas of farmland, areas of scrub covered cliffs and large expanses of mudflats. A raptor view point has been built and has vastly improved the viewing in the area of Harty Ferry Marshes. Notable sightings included Bittern (February 2010), Hooded Crow (February 2010), Bean Goose (March 2010), Marsh Harrier (March 2010), White-Fronted Goose (March 2010), Pink-Footed Goose (March 2010), Garganey (April 2010), Kentish Plover (April 2010), Hen Harrier (April 2010), Ring Ouzel (April 2010), Spoonbill (July 2010), Little Stint (July 2010) and Black Tern (July 2010).
Staines Reservoirs - Surrey
This well watched site comprises of two basins, which are divided by a causeway. A public footpath runs along this causeway. This pathway allows good observation of both basins and a walk along its full length can be a very rewarding experience. At certain times one or other of the basins are drained and this provides a very rich habitat for wading birds and dabbling ducks. During these periods almost anything can turn up. Notable sightings have included Smew (February 2010), Scaup (March 2010), Great Northern Diver (April 2010), Black-Necked Grebe (April 2010), Garganey (April 2010), Little Gull (May 2010), Black Tern (May 2010), Arctic Tern (May 2010) and Little Tern (May 2010).
Pulborough Brooks - Sussex
This RSPB reserve is found in the Arun Valley in West Sussex. It is one of the most important inland wetland sites in Southern England. The reserve has a wide mixture of habitats including wet and dry grassland, hedgerows and deciduous woodland. The trail around the reserve is easy to manage. There are 4 hides on the reserve and a raised view point that overlooks the main lake. Notable sightings have included Crossbill (February 2010), Brent Goose (March 2010), Little Gull (March 2010), Hen Harrier (March 2010), Common Crane (May 2010), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (May 2010), Nightingale (May 2010), Garganey (May 2010), Temminck's Stint (May 2010), Wood Sandpiper (May 2010), Purple Heron (May 2010), Spotted Redshank (June 2010), Green Sandpiper (June 2010) and Osprey (July 2010).
Rye Harbour - Sussex
Situated in East Sussex this reserve is run by the East Sussex County Council and is designated a SSSI. Recent reserve development has improved this site considerably. The habitat is primarily a large shingle beach which guards a number of water filled pits, marshes and scattered woodland. There are 4 hides around this relatively flat site and the pathways make it very easy to get around. This site has produced some very notable sightings over the last few months with recent sightings including Smew (February 2010), Scaup (February 2010), Great Skua (March 2010), Sandwich Tern (March 2010), Bonaparte's Gull (April 2010), Marsh Harrier (April 2010), Whimbrel (April 2010), Red-Rumped Swallow (May 2010), Roseate Tern (May 2010), Garganey (June 2010), Bittern (June 2010), Spoonbill (June 2010), Little Gull (June 2010), Roseate Tern (July 2010), Garganey (July 2010) and Black-Necked Grebe (July 2010).
Farlington Marshes - Hampshire
Situated in Hampshire (outside our normal area but worth a visit at any time of year) this reserve extends out into Langstone Harbour and is managed by the Hampshire Wildlife Trust. The habit is a mixture of rough grassland, low lying islands and extensive mud flats. From the sea wall, which surrounds the marshes, good views can be had of the marshes and the mudflats. There are also a number of shallow pools amongst the marshes, which are generally viewable from the seawall. There are no hides at this site. Notable sightings have included Greenshank (January 2010), Black Brant (January 2010), Pale-Bellied Brent Goose (March 2010), Merlin (March 2010), Bearded Tit (March 2010), Marsh Harrier (March 2010), Garganey (May 2010) and Spotted Redshank (July 2010).
Cley Marshes - Norfolk
Situated on the north coast of Norfolk, this site is managed by the NWT. A new visitors center is now open and displays all the recent sightings, as well as providing the services of an excellent tea room. This site has accumulated an amazing list of wading species over the years. The hides overlook reedbeds, grazing marshes and wader scrapes. A walk up the East Bank to the beach allows for a spot of sea - watching and when the wind is right, a good selection of skua's and shearwaters can be seen. Notable sightings have included Hen Harrier (February 2010), Water Pipit (March 2010), Glaucous Gull (March 2010), Black Redstart (March 2010), Lapland Bunting (March 2010), Pale-Bellied Brent Goose (April 2010), Short-Eared Owl (April 2010), Whooper Swan (April 2010), Stone Curlew (April 2010), Wood Sandpiper (May 2010), Garganey (May 2010), Temminck's Stint (May 2010), Trumpeter Finch (June 2010), Red-Backed Shrike (June 2010), Blue-Winged Teal (June 2010), Spoonbill (July 2010) and Spotted Redshank (July 2010).
Titchwell RSPB Reserve - Norfolk
One of the premier sites in Norfolk, this RSPB reserve is worth a visit at any time of year. A number of hides allow you to watch the scrapes closely, while the reedbeds and marshes are always worth checking. At the end of the main pathway, the sea can be watched for waders, sea ducks, skua's and shearwaters. Recent sightings have included Probable Pacific Diver (January 2010), Mealy Redpoll (February 2010), Bean Goose (February 2010), Black Throated Diver (March 2010), Red-Crested Pochard (March 2010), Lesser Redpoll (March 2010), Hen Harrier (March 2010), Twite (March 2010), Water Pipit (March 2010), Sand Martin (March 2010), Garganey (March 2010), Yellow Wagtail (April 2010), Alpine Swift (March 2010), Firecrest (April 2010), Little Gull (May 2010), Velvet Scoter (May 2010), Garganey (May 2010), Red-Necked Grebe (May 2010), Temminck's Stint (May 2010), Black-Winged Stilt (June 2010), Curlew Sandpiper (June 2010), Montagu's Harrier (June 2010), Buff-Breasted Sandpiper (July 2010) and Pectoral Sandpiper (July 2010).
Minsmere RSPB Reserve - Suffolk
The flagship reserve of the RSPB, this ia an excellent site found on the east coast of Suffolk. Home to breeding Bitterns, Avocets and Bearded Tits, the main habitats are reedbeds, mixed mature woodland, heathland and numerous wader scrapes. The well positioned hides allow you to get close to the birds. Recent sightings here have included Smew (March 2010), Jack Snipe (March 2010), Black Redstart (March 2010), Firecrest (March 2010), Lesser Kestrel (March 2010), Alpine Swift (March 2010), Penduline Tit (April 2010), Caspian Gull (April 2010), Glaucous Gull (April 2010), Montague's Harrier (May 2010), Temminck's Stint (May 2010), Curlew Sandpiper (May 2010), Red-Backed Shrike (May 2010), Marsh Warbler (June 2010), Purple Heron (June 2010), Roseate Tern (June 2010), Spoonbill (June 2010), Ferruginous Duck (July 2010), Great White Egret (July 2010) and Wood Sandpiper (July 2010).
