Return Visit to Cliffe Pools.

We are taking the camping trailer back to North Kent early tomorrow morning for further repairs. I'm not sure yet where we will end up birding but here are some images from our previous trip just over a fortnight ago to Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve. Over 230 hectares, the reserve is a complex mix of saline lagoons and brackish pools created by old clay diggings and river dredgings plus large areas of grassland.  

My last visit was about 6 years ago and whilst the site hasn't changed much at least they now have a proper car park where our first songsters were several Nightingales. Despite patiently waiting they never appeared from their dense undergrowth perches to be photographed. Throughout our walk we heard at least 6 more individuals singing plus lots of Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Garden Warbler.

Chaffinch.

My first sighting of a Wall butterfly this year...pity it had to perch on a piece of discarded rubbish!

Remains of the tramway supports from when the site was dug out for clay.

Many Shelducks were seen but Mrs Mallard came the closest. 

Noteable sightings throughout the day were a pair of Cuckoo, Whimbrel, 7 Avocet, Cetti's Warbler, Little Egrets, at least 6 Little Grebe, Common Terns, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Hobby, Swifts, Swallows plus the expected Reed and Sedge Warblers.

The Meadway forms part of the northern boundary and chemical plants are located close by. 

We eventually returned to the car park after spending 5 hours strolling slowly around the reserve and only passed a handful of other walkers. A Common Whitethroat perched on a wire for a final photo call. I doubt I'll have time to post when we get back tomorrow so wishing everyone a splendid weekend.  FAB.