A Trip Down Memory Lane - A Spotted Crake at Ingrebourne Valley......and an unexpected Guest!!

19th September 2017

So off to Ingrebourne Valley for the main quarry of the day, the Spotted Crake. The bird had been showing very well for short periods, but spent most of its time hidden in the reeds. So, the time was mainly spent staring at the reeds for the slightest movement of a reed or a miniscule ripple in the water. Eventually the bird did appear and worked its way across the reeds, sadly scurrying across the open water. It then disappeared into dense reeds to the left.

So, what about the unexpected guest? Well, I had gone back to reed-watch and was staring at the reeds where it was last seen when someone mentioned that "a Buzzard or something" was approaching , but I was so intent on finding the crake again that I didn't even bother to look up. At that moment Tom Bell shouted "Osprey", and from then on the Spotted Crake took second place as this magnificent bird circled for 3-4 laps just 30 yards above our heads before drifting south-west from whence it came.

I don't mind those sort of surprises!!