Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

(April 2006)

29th April

Two Wood Sandpipers on the west flood during the afternoon (Geoff Burton)

27th April

A Lesser Whitethroat near the reserve at Uplees was a new species for the spring.  Single Greenshank on the East Flood and another in Faversham Creek, 4 Whimbrel on the mudflats and 9 at Uplees just west of the reserve, 1 duck Pintail still, 4-6 Little Ringed Plovers, 4-5 Cetti's Warblers near the west side, Barn Owl hunting on the reserve early morning. (A Swandale)

26th April

The first movement of Swifts this spring was noted as 22 were counted flying west along the Swale in about an hour this morning from nearby South Swale reserve (A Swandale)

25th April

On the East Flood this afternoon:  70 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 6 Avocets and 1 Little Ringed Plover (A Swandale)

24th April

4 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Whimbrel on West Flood plus 4 on adjacent mudflats, 1 Turtle Dove flying over, 1 Snipe east side, 50+ Sand Martins feeding over the reserve (A Swandale)

21st April

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen in Faversham Creek this morning before it flew off south down the creek  (photo above) - a surprisingly long awaited first for the reserve

(G Burton)

Also today single Greenshank and Common Sandpiper again (both on the East Flood), 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 1 Green Sandpiper, the latter flying north over the reserve.  Whimbrel were very much in evidence with a group of 4 in Faversham Creek and a flock of 17 feeding on the grassland just outside the west boundary.  Other migrants included 2 White Wagtails and at least 2 Wheatears.  The Barn Owl was out hunting again and a Little Owl was visible from the reserve at Uplees.  A Peregrine also put in an appearance at first light.  There were 3 Common and 2 Sandwich Terns on the Swale.  Two recently arrived Turtle Doves were calling from a hedge to the south.

(A Swandale)

18th April

Single Greenshank East Flood, Common Sandpiper & Little Ringed Plover West Flood, Whimbrel in Faversham Creek

On the east side 1 Reed Warbler, 3 or more Sedge Warblers and 3 Wheatears

Single Corn Bunting flying over, 4+ Sand Martins, 4 Avocets and 3 Black-tailed Godwits

On adjacent land and audible from the west side of the reserve:  1 Cuckoo, 2+ Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Cetti's Warblers

(A Swandale)

17th April

Pair of Garganey south-east scrape, 3 Ruddy Ducks, Tree Pipit

(K Cornish)

13th April

Hobby, pair of Ruddy Ducks, male Ruff, 25 Curlew, Little Owl near west side (JL Bartlett)

23 Avocets on adjacent mudflats, 2 Canada Goose

10th April

Single Sedge Warbler singing near the car park.  Other migrants included a Wheatear, small numbers of hirundines heading west and 16 Yellow & 3+ White Wagtails feeding on the West Flood, the latter not welcomed by resident Pied Wagtails.  Single Little Ringed Plover and Ruff still on the west side.  On the East Flood at high tide; 12 Avocets, 1 Turnstone, 86 Redshanks and 5 Black-tailed Godwits.  Barn Owl hunting on rough ground to the south of the reserve at 0700, Peregrine, 1 Eider, 4 Bearded Reedlings, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers on the south boundary. A few Lapwings are now sitting on nests at last.

(A Swandale)

9th April

Water Pipit, 19 Yellow Wagtails (C Bond)

Barn Owl hunting east side 07.15 (K Cornish)

8th April

2 Water Pipits, 10 Yellow Wagtails and an Eider (Mike Tuckey)

6th April

15 Common Seals hauled out on Horse Sands

5th April

A single Little Ringed Plover was a new arrival.  Also on the West Flood, one Ruff and 2 Water Pipits again.  One Barn Owl on the reserve and a pair of Little Owls just west of the reserve at Uplees.  (Geoff Burton)

6 Yellow Wagtails and 4 White Wagtails (Phil King & John Hinton).  An Osprey was reported flying up the Swale and the first Whimbrel of the spring.

On the East Flood 5 Canada Geese for the first time this year and 12 Avocets.

4th April

Ruff, 2 Water Pipits, 2 White Wagtails and 5 Yellow Wagtails reported today

3rd April

The passage of Swallows continues with 5 observed flying west in an hour this afternoon.  Also 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Water Rails and 2+ Bearded reedlings on the east side, 58 Avocets on the mudflats and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers off Faversham Creek

(A Swandale)

2nd April

A pair of Garganey and 4 Ruddy Ducks on the East Flood, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, Merlin, 2 Water Pipits on the West Flood.  A Rough-legged Buzzard flew across Faversham Creek from the Swale NNR and back towards Sheppy at 6 p.m. (Geoff Burton)

1st April

Male Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Swallows (Murray Wright)