Alpha Pool !

Alpha pool, one of the Cliffe pools complex is not the easiest pool to access, but the chance to see all five species of Grebe on one pool has been tempting me since early December 1918, two Red Necked Grebes were reported back in November 2018, then a number of Black Necked Grebes up to four at one point were reported near the end of November, a Slavonian Grebe from mid December 2018, Little Grebes and Great Crested Grebes are resident birds throughout the year.

Now January, all the Grebes still in attendance, it was now or never. I parked up at the Cliffe pool RSPB car park and began the long trek down to the Alpha pool, loaded up with optical equipment I walked down past Flamingo Pool, a quick scan revealed Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shelduck, Coot, Little grebe, Lapwing,  plenty of Redwing in the Hawthorn beside the track, always wary.

Near the end of the Flamingo pool I joined the Saxon Shore Way which leads round to Higham bight on the River Thames,  I decided to ignore the Sign warning walkers that the path was closed due to erosion, not sure how long that was there or how relevant, I'd also come to far to turn around, I fought my way through the overgrown Hawthorn and bramble beside the sea wall and headed towards the gravel works, the footpath still in good order.

Back on the Saxon shore way  I approached Cliffe fort passing the old "Brennan Torpedo Launch site" looking decidingly neglected,

Brennan Torpedo Launch 

Installed in the late 19th century, the Cliffe Fort torpedo installation is one of only seven that were built in England.

I believe the original idea was to protect the upper reaches of the thames from enemy vessels.

These torpedoes were designed to be steered with trailing wires to their target

Had a range of about 1000 yards, the thames is relatively narrow here.

Never used in anger. removed in 1905

Cliffe Fort

Cliffe Fort is one of 5 surviving coastal forts in the Thames and Medway; the others are Coalhouse, Garrison Point, Hoo and Darnet. All of these are Royal Commission Coastal Forts, built in the same period 1860-70, and are casemented coastal batteries, it's a shame it cant be restored, still quite impressive.

Back on the Saxon Shore way the path was showing signs of erosion but still passable, I walked on past the old wreck of the 'Hans Egard', a large merchant ship grounded here back in the fifties, although battered daily by the Thames tides, still an impressive wreck, built in Denmark the ship had three masts in its heyday

Wreck of the ' Hans Egard '

Top end of Alpha Pool was now in view, there used to be a Boat club here in years gone by, couldn't see any signs of that now. I set up my scope as there were quite a few waterfowl close by, Tufted Duck, Pochard, unbelievably a Red Necked Grebe almost the first bird seen, and then the second Red necked grebe swam close by. The birds were quite distant and I couldn't resist trying for a photograph for that record shot.

Red-Necked Grebe

A good start, I walked on midway down the length of the pool, I was confronted with another sign warning me of the presence of  'Adders' I decided to take heed of this sign even though they would all be hibernating at this time of the year.

I set my scope up and scanned the waters, Three Black-Necked Grebes came into view, quite distant and staying in very close company to each other, could'nt find the fourth.

Black-Necked Grebes

Little Grebes were all around the pool, two Great Crested Grebes just starting to come into breeding plumage were seen. thats four species of Grebe just the Slavonian to find now.

I moved further down the pool and scanned towards the gravel workings at the far end of the pool,
more Little Grebes, the Slavonian Grebe finally surfaced among the Little Grebes where it flew a short distance before settling down on the water. To far for a photograph, with the cold wind effecting my ability to hold the binoculars still, I decided to head back.

But five species of Grebe on one pool was well worth the trek.