Cliffe Pools 19/5/14

Had a fantastic hour or so birding yesterday evening at Cliffe RSPB, our main target was to hopefully catch up with the Black-Winged Stilts that have been around since last week.

Arriving just after 7pm myself and Blowmonkey jam in on the immature SPOONBILL that flies over the car heading towards the Thames just as we were approaching the viewing mound. Further on towards the Coastguards pool we find no stilts but the 1st summer LITTLE GULL, two Cuckoo and a family party of Stonechat.

Scanning the pool again, and just when we were about to give up we just catch glimpse of one of the BLACK WINGED STILT wading around in the vegetation, and after several minutes gave us good scope views.

Back to the viewing mound and we pick up a drake GARGANEY and two WOOD SANDPIPER as well as three overhead calling common sands.

A distant calling Tawny Owl was also heard.