Bearded Reedlings Up Close at Stodmarsh

It had been quite a while since I was able to visit a Nature Reserve over the summer months. I had visited Stodmarsh one brief Saturday afternoon in August but with hardly any wildlife about proved to be a blank session. Then on Sunday 20th September my friend at my camera Martin invited me along for a bright and early 6am pickup trip to Stodmarsh. We arrived about 6:45am just as the Sun was rising through a beautiful misty morning.

Mistified Cows

We headed to the Turf Fields hide near the Grove Ferry end of the reserve. This can be a prime spot for the Kingfisher. The elusive bird for Martin to yet capture on camera! We hadn't been there long and not only one but two of them flew towards us and split left and right! Doh!. There was mild activity from Mallards and Gadwall I believe. After 30 or so minutes it was evident there was not much going to happen there so we discussed moving on further, as in the distance we could hear and see a few Bearded Reedling. 

From previous trips and conversations with regular visitors I knew where we had a good chance of finally seeing "Beardies" up close. Given that they were always seen very early our chances were increased a lot. After leaving the hide we could hear more of them in front of us. Some further 100yds or so we could see some moving about close to the area I had been told about. A family of 4 people were the other side of this patch of Reeds and the Beardies were moving about undisturbed by their presence. So making our way to the exact location we were confronted by some 8 or so birds down in a Dyke area. 

It was really difficult to get clear unobstructed shots of the Beardies (seen below) then luckily they moved up to become beautifully backlit in the rising Sun. Some even made their way down onto the ground to eat grit for digestion.

We continued to wait around and suddenly there was an influx of about 40 to 50 birds. Having only ever seen two in the very distance at Dungeness Reserve, I was in awe of this magical sight. The next photos are from this showcasing the Bearded Reedlings in their natural behaviour.

The classic shot I was after

As you can see they are magnificent birds and we were so very lucky to experience these so close to us in almost perfect light too. This adds to a year that has provided so many firsts and lucky viewings. On a final note, the Kingfishers never made a close up appearance this day but my friend Martin had chance to return on the Wednesday after this and did finally break his duck with them and also returned another Sunday am to see these in even better light, the lucky sod...lol.

Third trip to Stodmarsh

November last year was the next time I was able to visit the reserve. Any previous chances I would have were be stifled by bad weather. Conditions were very similar to my previous trips, with glorious sunshine and again a slight breeze. The Reedbed hide was a given to head to first and also being the first from the car park. There was not much going on when I settled down, but eventually another first for me up close was a Male Shoveler Duck. He had flown in to the bay area. He swam around and then eventually came to rest on a post just showing right in the middle of the bay. The light was perfect, with stunning reflections in the water just as the time with the Grebe. Really showing the drakes plumage and colouring off at its best as can be seen below.

Splash Landing

Preening and token feather

Looking good!

After the Shoveler Duck there was no more visitors to the bay. My next port of call was to be the Marsh Hide. No longer had I sat down, opened the viewing hatch and turned on the camera, had a Grey Heron come into view and heading my way. I prepared to capture it landing and as can be seen I managed to freeze it just as the tips of its feet entered the water.

Landing

As soon as he landed, I believe it spotted me and proceeded to take off again with me freezing it a second time...

Bye bye

Some time later finally a Kingfisher turned up, however hidden in the bushes next to a feeder stream. It then flew off across the expanse of water and into the distance. Kingfisher 1, photo by me 0! At least I had proof that they really are inhabitants of Stodmarsh and not a myth. So with this, after some lunch I made my way to the Turf Fields hide where it does make regular passes and stop on the stumps placed for it by the Warden. A lady in the hide told me it had been showing regularly there and was a very good chance it would appear again. After more waiting, suddenly in the distance, some 150ft away, there was a blue flash. It was back. It landed down out of sight in the edges of the water. Camera at the ready, it suddenly rose up and hovered about 12ft above the water I would guess. I had never thought they could hover and this behaviour was completely new to me and I caught this in the following photos.

  

I must admit I had become tired of seeing Kingfishers in photos really really close up from sites that do photo experience days. So with this male (it has no red on the bill which females have) being so far away, gave me the opportunity I was after in capturing one in his general surroundings. By luck it was still a bright day which enabled me to use the fast enough shutter speed to not only get it sharp but freeze him while hovering. Third time lucky then for me to finally capture one at Stodmarsh. With this 3rd highlight of the trip I headed back to the Reedbed hide. 

By the time I got to the hide it would not be long before Sunset. There was the Marsh Harriers hunting in the distance on their normal routes and the odd Coot moving about in the bay and as always arguing with each other. Then about 10 minutes before the light faded hundreds of Starlings in a Murmoration decided to land in the reeds to the right of the hide. They had just settled, then suddenly they were up and away again. Initially there was no rhyme or reason to it. They came back in and settled again, and then there it was, a Sparrowhawk. Despite the low light I was able to catch the moment the Hawk made a second pass...

Attack

It is quite hard to make the Hawk out, but just above the reeds an inch in from the right, it can be seen with its wings swept back. I am not sure if it was successful and to what sex it was either as it was so quick. I guess it must have been as the Starlings made several circuits of the area again before a final settle down for the night. As they circuited and with the light being so low, I could try out a few ideas with creative shutter speeds. The following image is one such and I feel captivates the essence of a Murmoration by Starlings. I have yet to visit Stodmarsh after this climatic trip...

Second time at Stodmarsh

May 2014 was to be the next time I was able to visit Stodmarsh. This time with my father, as he had never been here before. The weather was good with only a slight breeze and light pockets of cloud. After my initial success in the Reedbed Hide, it was here I headed to first of all. Given how perfect conditions were and this bay being that bit more sheltered than elsewhere in the reserve. All looked good for providing some great activity. Upon settling down inside there were Mallards resting on a very prehistoric looking submerged tree stump. 

  

Rest time

Another solitary Drake was also swimming about not to far away. It was pretty nervous and I anticipated it taking off very soon. I managed to freeze the action of it doing so. It was great to see how much disturbence of the water there is created at take off. You get a real sense of the power needed from his wing beats to get airbourne. 

Take Off!

After his departure there was a quiet period of some 30 minutes. Then a Marsh Harrier appeared pretty close. Again as seen on my first trip it was hunting low over the reed beds, dropping down into them but again appearing unsuccessful. It gradually got closer and in range for me to capture this action finally. 

Dropping in

 

Keen eyed for prey

 A slight breeze had developed at this time as evident with the reeds above leaning to the left. Being such an open reserve down in a valley, this seems to be a common feature to the location, naturally channeling air movement over the water. Not long after the Harrier had moved on, a Grey Heron dropped in to the left of us into a patch of shallow water and grasses. Freezing for a while, it then moved to the left and proceeded to take off. I missed this with the camera, or rather the shots I got were blurred as too slow with the shutter speed. Next time then!

Typical Heron pose

 To the right of us little balls of black fluff with bright red heads and yellow bill tips appeared out of the reeds. Then mother popped out too. A family of Coots. They cheekily swam about patrolling the outer edges keeping a safe distance so as to vanish if the Harrier made its way over hunting. They are a prime source of prey food for them at Stodmarsh, along with Moorhen chicks too. What I find bizarre is that the Coot has chicks with the Moorhens colouring, but the Moorhens chicks also have these colours, but less prominent, as if they got mixed up at the nursery!

4 baby Coots

After an hour in the Reedbed Hide, we moved on further into the reserve where 2 paths create a crossroads. It is at this intersection where I had been told the Bearded Tits are regularly seen very close. After patrolling up and down for a while there were none to be seen. The breeze now had become a lot gustier too, which I would say is why there was no sign of them. We proceeded to go in both the Turf Field and Harrisons Grove hides further towards the Grove Ferry end. There was no activity at all. So after some hours at the reserve we headed back to the car.


 

A productive first time at Stodmarsh

Good Friday 2014 provided me with the opportunity to visit Stodmarsh Reserve for the first time. My good friend at my camera club, asked if I wanted to go with him for the afternoon. He has been many times before and could highlight to me the key hides or spots that prove successful for photography. The day was fairly calm, with some slight breeze disturbing the surrounding Reeds. Fluffy clouds like that of a Chocolate Box scene, filled the sky, giving that on/off lighting that proves a pain for photography. We headed for the Reedbed hide first, given that the Sun was behind us and could light up any wildlife about at this time.

At first there was not much activity, the odd Mallard here and there and Coot darting about in the edges of the Reed Bed to the right of us. In the distance Cetti's Warbler could be heard with there distinct chaotic, metallic like calls. After about 1 1/2 hours of pretty much nothing appearing in the bay, a Great Crested Grebe popped up out of nowhere in the channel leading into the bay. Camera's primed and ready for action, we pleaded for it to come this way. Our plea's worked! it dived and only popped up right in front of us, some 30ft or so away. 

Just arrived

At the time the Grebe appeared there was a stunning golden and blue reflection on the water. This has really enhanced the overall atmosphere of the photo. The vibrant orange/ gold in the head plumage and the bright red eye really jump out thanks to the background.

Light Change

This fantastic colour soon disappeared, as evident in the above photo. I had seen the Great Crested Grebe before at my local lake but never this close. It soon dived and appeared again further away near the outer reaches of the bay and then after some minutes later vanished altogether. We stayed for a while longer at the hide. During which, in the distance Marsh Harriers were patrolling the reeds, dropping down occasionally and reappearing empty handed.

We decided to move on further into the reserve, heading for the Turf Field Hide. This hide provides a good chance of getting the Kingfisher on specially placed stumps. Upon arrival, some other visitors had informed us we had missed the Kingfisher by about 30 minutes! Oh well, more waiting then. In the end it never showed again.

What had made an appearance was a female Mute Swan tending to her nest to the left of the hide.  Several shots were taken until I got the above photo that I was looking to get. I wanted to catch the Swan with its arcing of the neck they do. The wind had really picked up at this time too, pushing cloud overhead fast, again given rise to tricky lighting. We decided to call it a day then, so in all, that trip did provide some action and I would definitely return soon to Stodmarsh.