22nd August 2023: Thorney Island

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We joined Clive for the annual SDOS outing to Thorney Island. We started on the west side of the island, in rather cold and gloomy conditions for the time of year. We noted Cetti's and Sedge Warblers in the reedbeds, then a beautiful Kingfisher, a Kestrel hovering overhead and a motionless Greenshank. On the water at Little Deep we found several Gadwall, a Little Grebe, and a few Tufted Ducks and Coots. In the distance, we could just make out some Cattle Egret moving around the feet of the cattle, largely obscured by the long grass. However, generally it was pretty quiet, with far fewer birds than we have seen on previous visits.

Kestrel

After lunch, we set off along the eastern side, with much warmer conditions than we had experienced in the morning. Scanning the landing lights, we were rewarded with our primary target for the day - an Osprey perched on top. We enjoyed some decent scope views of this lovely bird. By the Great Deep and adjacent flooded fields we found good numbers of Redshanks, Black tailed Godwits, Little Egrets and Herons. A Great White Egret waded in the waters of the Deep. A Marsh Harrier  drifted over the bushes at the back, while in the closer vegetation were Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and a Stonechat.

Continuing along towards the security gate, we found a Common sandpiper on the margins of the deep, whilst on the channel we were treated to brilliant views of three beautiful Little Terns, diving for fish right in front of us. Five Common Terns were also over the channel, frequently settling on the moored sailing boats or buoys floating in the channel.

Around the muddy edges and on small islands good numbers of Curlew and a few Whimbrel were feeding, and a couple of Grey Plover were picked out, one with beautiful summer plumage. As the tide rose, it pushed all the birds off, and we witnessed the spectacular sight of flocks of waders coming overhead towards the Island roost.

We tallied around fifty species for the day, and enjoyed some excellent company.

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