Today I joined forces with Peter Alfrey for an excursion into
Kent to visit Oare Marsh and Isle of Sheppey. High tide at Oare was at around
mid-day therefore the start to the day was at a reasonable hour. he water
levels on the marsh seemed high with the incoming shorebirds huddling on
exposed areas of mud that were reasonably close to the road that leads to
Visitor Centre.
Many of the interesting migrants only offered scope views
with a couple of juvenile Garganey see Pete’s blog for pictures. The Bonepartes
Gull was also present with Med and Common Gull. The shorebirds were represented by Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Knot, Green Sand, Dunlin,
Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Avocet, and Black Tailed Godwit.
At high tide we stopped for lunch and then tackled Shellness
on the Isle of Sheppey to catch the shorebirds on a falling tide. Terns were
well represented by Little, Common and Sandwich Tern that had joined the
Oystercatcher to shelter from the wind that with the heat haze was making shorebird
identification somewhat tricky! Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar Tailed Godwit and
Sanderling were added to the day list from this side of The Swale.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at Capel Fleet where a
Corn Bunting broke into song from a nearby telegraph wire and a few passerines
made it onto the day list.
The final stop of the day was at Elmley where several Marsh
Harrier including a juvenile (note cream cap and fresh plumage with no signs of
wear or moult in the wings or tail feathers).
Eighty species were recorded during the day sadly many
regular passerines were missing probably due to the windy conditions! Tomorrow I
will be banding at Queen Mother Reservoir!
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