CROYDON RSPB MEMBERS' GROUP - TRIP REPORT

Today we realised that the wet summer has actually brought some benefits for birders - for one thing, the 'Flood' on the Elmley reserve is living up to its name for the first time in several summers. Also, several new pools have appeared in the rough grazing alongside the access road to the reserve : stopping the cars beside one of these, we sighted ruffs, snipe, common sandpipers, ringed plovers and dunlin - easing ourselves into wader identification mind-set in readiness for what was to come later.

Before leaving the farm, we were able to study a magnificent long-eared owl at roost in an exposed position among fruit trees in the orchard, so near that each individual filament of its feathers could be discerned through scopes. During the walk to the hides, we were treated to several views of a hobby dashing past nearby and also of female and young male marsh harriers floating bouyantly over the open marshes in the distance. Yellow wagtails were plentiful, mainly rather drab females and juveniles but with occasional brilliant eye-catching males, too. Reaching some more permanent trackside pools, we noted family groups of little grebes and pochards on the water and reed and sedge warblers and reed buntings around the margins. A clouded yellow butterfly was also a welcome find. From a high point overlooking the Swale, there was a brief view of a little egret before it disappeared behind the seawall.

Of four hides visited, the first (Wellmarsh) proved the most productive, the Flood in front of it being packed with birds. Most immediately striking because of their size and bright brick-red coloration were the 100-plus black-tailed godwits, while the many avocets, including a high proportion of juveniles, also caught the eye. About 50 spotted redshanks were present, in various stages of moulting from their breeding plumage - a few of these were truly 'spotted', with just odd near-black feathers remaining among fresh pale grey. Later on in the season, curlew sandpipers can easily be confused with dunlins but today the half dozen present were still predominantly red in colour (early-returning adults) and stood out clearly among the numerous dunlins, mainly grey-brown with prominent dark-brown belly patches. Careful scrutiny of the smaller waders revealed the presence of two little stints, but perhaps the best bird of all, a wood sandpiper, was feeding so close to the hide that we almost overlooked it.

From the Swale Hide, looking across towards mainland Kent, we picked out two rusty-brown common seals basking on a sandbank, with curlews and grey plovers in close attendance and common terns fishing beyond. On the narrow strip of mud exposed beside the hide, greenshanks and redshanks were feeding together, giving good size and colour comparisons. Our long walk back to the farm was enlivened by the appearance of grey partridges, the regular little owl, a family of ruddy ducks (on an RSPB reserve!) and a corn bunting. Finally, as we headed for the main road, a green sandpiper was seen from the car window.