Doleham, Brede Valley
30th December 2007, Sunday
Habitat improvement work, in which stands of juncus were scraped off some fields, has paid off in the valley, where shallow flooded grassland is now crowded with ducks. Still difficult to count however, but roughly 200 Teal, 70 Mallard, 20 Shoveler and 10 each of Gadwall and Wigeon.
One corner of the flood seemed popular with Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, which were also running about among sheep at Doleham Farm, but 2 Water Pipits were with them, and another seen later could have been a third individual. Of particular interest nearby was a Cetti’s Warbler in song along a reedy ditch. This species first showed up at the site last winter, but this is the first singing male.
Some passerines, such as Blackbird, Wren and Reed Bunting were present in good numbers. 2 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats and a Buzzard were also in the area.
