Oare Marshes Latest Sightings (December)
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Species currently present in the area include: Wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Brent Goose, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine, Water Rail, Avocet, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Reedling, Corn Bunting
To help keep this page up-to-date, please send your sightings to tony.swandale@kentwildlife.org.uk. Thank you.
29th December
In the late afternoon on the falling tide, 15 Tufted Duck, a single Gadwall and a Ruff were on the east flood. A Common Scoter was on the Swale, 20 Skylarks on the saltings along Faversham Creek, nine Bearded Tits in the reeds and 54 Corn Buntings could be seen in a bush on the Nagden side of the creek
28th December
Single Ruff, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 10+ Pintails and a few Grey Plovers on the East Flood, 1 Avocet near the causeway as the tide started to fall
24th December
There was a Black-throated Diver on the far bank of the Swale today
21st December
Merlin, 8 Ruff and 7 Pintails on the East Flood, 70 Avocets at the mouth of Faversham Creek, 2 Kingfishers, 1 probable Water Pipit and Bearded Reedling
15th December
The wintering flock of 11 Twite visited both the east and west side of the reserve. In addition there was a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, at least 3 different Marsh Harriers, 5 Pintails, a Kingfisher, 5 Bearded Reedlings, 5 Corn Buntings and 65 Avocets. There were 2 Red-breasted Mergansers on the far side of the Swale channel and 6 Common Seals on Horse Sands, the large sandbank exposed at low tide. A Water Rail came within a few feet of the roadside view point.
12th December
Single Common Scoter offshore, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Redpolls in willow trees just ouitside the south boundary of the reserve
11th December
A Black-throated Diver came fairly close to the shore today. It was confirmed there are in fact 2 Dartford Warblers on the reserve when one was seen in the north-west corner and another near the car park by a second observer around the same time. There was a single Water Pipit on the West Flood.
10th December
The Dartford Warbler was seen making it's way along the roadside vegetation. There was a single Greenshank on the adjacent mudflats along with 69 Avocets and a Red-throated Diver on the Swale. Other birds today included a distant Peregrine perched on a pylon, 6 Bearded Reedlings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Rock Pipits and 2 Water Pipits on the West Flood.
9th December
Thick fog this morning. A Green Sandpiper was heard.
6th December
A Red-throated Diver was seen on the Swale from the reserve today and there were 2 Bearded Reedlings and 7 Pintails on the east side along with similar numbers of waders to previous visits.
5th December
A Dartford Warbler was seen in roadside bushes before flying in to scrub to the south of the reserve. A flock of 11 Twite flew over the west side, only the second record so far this winter.
4th December
A Bittern was seen about 100m east of the car park today and the Dartford Warbler (present since November) was heard but not seen in the north west corner of the reserve near the sea wall. Also in this area a pair of Stonechats, 2 very probable Water Pipits and several Rock Pipits. There was a strikingly pale (?leucistic) Curlew about half a mile to the west of the reserve.
On the East Flood at high water in the afternoon there were at least 600 Black-tailed Godwits again plus 10 Grey Plovers, 9 Avocets and a single Turnstone. Other species recorded today included 2 Cetti's Warblers, a Bearded Reedling and 4 Corn Buntings.
3rd December
Barn Owl hunting along the road as it got dark
2nd December
On the East Flood at high water late this morning: 34 Avocets, 600+ Black-tailed Godwits, single Golden Plover and several Grey Plovers.