Cliffe Pools RSPB

Not allowing health issues to get the better of me, things felt calm - the sun was out and I was itching to get out of the flat.  So Kat and I headed over to Cliffe Pools, an RSPB reserve that I had never visited and less than an hours drive away from home.

On arrival the car park was pretty sparse, while a couple of retarded under-educated shit-kickers (Bryson, 1989) smeared their cheap shit-mobiles around the car park, it was a relief to make tracks onto the reserve.

The buddleia-lined paths were generously occupied by butterflies with Painted Lady, Peacock, Large and Small White, plenty of Gatekeeper, and Comma animated in the warm sun.

 Gatekeeper

The path coursed round bi-secting pools on either side, interspersed with areas from which to view the islands and the open areas of water.  There were loads of waders.  Around 300+ Black-Tailed Godwit were in community with 150+ Avocet, 15 Greenshank, 50+ Redshank, 15 Dunlin, three juvenile Little-Ringed Plover, at least a couple of Bar-Tailed Godwit, and the real prize of four moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper.  The islands weren't as close as I had hoped, and a scope was absolutely necessary to view.

Walking further along the path, five Whimbrel flew over calling before settling on the last pool before the seawall.  Five Ringed Plover were also present, along with rausous Oystercatcher.

A Peregrine flew low over that was observed chasing a passerine without success - an impressive sight.  A female Marsh Harrier quartered the marsh and a Hobby dashed through.

Whimbrel

The circular walk back to the car park takes roughly two hours, and there is plenty of scrub, open water, and scrape to make this an appealing autumn birding destination.