A free afternoon and a chance to visit Sutcliffe Park Local Nature Reserve in Eltham. The reserve consists of the course of the River Quaggy and a large lake. The river is designed to flood the surrounding fields when there is a lot of water and thus prevent flooding in nearby residential areas.
I started at the place where the river emerges from its underground path into the reserve. this can often be a good place for seeing Grey Wagtail, but it was clear that recent rain had caused a significant rise in water levels and so there was little bank to be seen.
The recent flooding was also seen on the path that runs alongside the marshy area, so I had to proceed along the top of the grass bank instead.
A group of Blue and Great Tits flitted through the trees and amongst them was a single Chiffchaff and a Long-tailed Tit. Dunnock, Goldfinch, Redwing and Robin were also present. A few Mallard were seen on the water. A little diversion was required from my normal route to the Lake, because of flooding, but House Sparrow, Moorhen and Coot were seen along the way.
A large flock of Canada Geese were feeding on the grass bank.
The lake held Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Moorhen. A Little Grebe was heard and then located at the far end of the lake and was beginning to show the first signs of its breeding plumage.
I continued to follow the river course until the point where it goes back underground. This can be a good place for seeing small birds in the trees, but it was strangely silent this day. From here I looped round across the parkland to my starting point but added little to my day’s sightings.
An hours walk, 30 species of bird recorded and a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
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