Field Meeting - Sunday 4th December 2005

Capel Fleet and Shellness

I was joined by eight KOS members at the new Raptor Watch Point by Capel Fleet, where we spent the first hour. The weather was kind, as there was little, if any wind to drive in the chill. This hour produced two Common Buzzards, two sightings of a Merlin hunting, two Hen Harriers, several Kestrels and many Marsh Harriers. On leaving the watch point and driving back along the fleet, a Sparrowhawk flew across the road. We stopped at the corner and soon found the Rough-legged Buzzard, preening as it perched some two kilometres away, near the prison wall. As we left for our walk between Leysdown and Shellness. we all felt pretty pleased at having seen seven raptor species.

On our arrival at Shellness, the incoming tide was pushing the feeding waders and gulls up the beach, making for easy identification. As the quite high tide crept nearer, we settled down for a well earned lunch, watching the ever increasing numbers at the wader roost. We estimated some 2,000 Oystercatchers, 2,500 Knot, 1,000 Dunlin and smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Ringed and Grey Plovers, Turnstone and Sanderling. An impressive sight indeed. Our number also increased, with the late arrival of two waifs – they hadn’t phoned to find out where we were to meet!! On the return walk to Leysdown, we spotted a sparrow in one of the gardens, that caused some discussion, as it had many characteristics of Spanish Sparrow, but did not quite fit that species. The conclusion was that it might well have been a hybrid, but on a return visit the next day there was no sign of the bird in question. A return visit to Capel Fleet produced views of several Short-eared Owls, plus another look at the Rough-legged Buzzard. Our species total finally reached 69, which included most of the expected wintering birds. My thanks go to the members who came along to support me and make it such an enjoyable day’s birdwatching. 

Bob Bland