Pett Level
31st March 2008, Monday
First thing, evidence of successful Collared Dove nesting (up to a point) was provided by a scattering of squab’s feathers on our doormat.
Then, from the kitchen window, I saw a Buzzard circling northwards. I saw one last Sunday as well, my eye drawn to it on that occasion by the anxious upward glances of a grounded Peregrine which had just been persuaded to relinquish a living Teal by two public-spirited Crows.
There are still several hundred Common Scoters on the sea, but very few GC Grebes. Once the Scoters were flying, Pete & I were able to pick out the white wing-patches of a couple of Velvets.
There were two unexpected birds at the Pools. The first was a Pheasant, not a scarce species in the area but rarely seen out here on the marsh. In fact this may have been a new species for TQ91 C!
The second was a Jack Snipe which fluttered up and settled again under the bank nearest to the road. We hoped it might fly up again as a cavalcade of death-defying horse-riders passed, but typically it stayed put. Years ago, this secretive species used to turn up at Pett Level on quite a regular basis. Nowadays, there’s a lot more suitable habitat in which it can remain unseen.
Lastly, a pair of Ravens passed over northwards.
