Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

December 2008

Kent Wildlife Trust

KWT has an unmissable opportunity to achieve huge gains for wildlife by purchasing a 35 acre extension to this popular reserve. Click here to find out how you can help.

Reporting Your Sightings

To help keep this page as up-to-date and informative as possible, please send your sightings and any pictures taken onsite (please see 'Guidelines for submissions' on the KOS Photo Gallery for details of how to resize your pics etc.) to Murray Wright by clicking here.

Species List for 2008

To view the complete list of species recorded so far this year please click here.

182 species have been recorded in the area so far this year.

December 31st

(07:30-12:00) Grey and a bit misty with a light N-NW wind. A few degrees warmer than recently, but still very cold. A last effort to try and add something new to the Oare 2008 year list ended in failure! Not surprising as the last new species added (Shag) was way back on 14th November! The East Flood was still mostly frozen, however, 50 Mute Swans which roosted overnight had done their best to keep a reasonable sized patch of water free of ice. A Barn Owl was hunting over the paddocks, and 1 or 2 Fieldfares were heard there, but went unseen in the gloom. The pool in front of the West Hide held 4 pairs of Gadwall and around 75 Mallard. Another pair of Gadwall were amongst the Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon on the East Flood. 42 Avocets were spread over the mud either side of the mouth of Faversham Creek. I joined Julian Russell looking for the Twite along the sea wall down to Dan's Dock, but no joy. A couple of Rock Pipits were along the foreshore. A Corn Bunting was in Uplees copse, and 14 Skylarks were on the saltmarsh there. As I headed back towards the Watch House a male Hen Harrier put on a fine show over the West Flood. I joined Mike Roser back by the Sea Wall hide and we were joined by Steve Clinch. The Avocets were now roosting in a tight flock of 50+. A flock of circa 200 Brent Geese were moving restlessly to and fro between the foreshore and Nagden Marshes. 3 Red-breasted Mergansers flew west along the Swale and a fourth bird with them was with a female Goosander - they alighted mid-channel. Finally 6 Long-tailed Tits were in the lone elder on the west side. Roll on 2009!

(Murray Wright)

December 30th

(12:30-15:30) A cold, bright and still afternoon, but inceasingly misty. The East Flood was all but frozen solid, with just a small area of water in the middle being kept open by the wildfowl and Coots. Wildfowl numbers were well down, and there were no Tufted Ducks or Pochard, which doesn't bode well for January 1st. A male and a female Marsh Harrier were over the west side. A Kingfisher was along Faversham Creek. 2 Red-breasted Mergansers flew east along the Swale, and there were 8 Little Grebes on the creek and the Swale. A Cetti's Warbler was singing near the Sea Wall hide. A single Turnstone and a posing Grey Plover were on the slipway. Met and chatted with Mick Sinden at the pull-in. A Water Rail was showing well on and off close to the road, and a Little Grebe had no problem catching fish in a tiny unfrozen patch of water near the cattle bridge. A Barn Owl was hunting both sides of the road from 14:30 onwards. On the flood at high tide: 21 Dunlins, 24 Ringed Plovers, 33 Golden Plovers, circa 20 Lapwings, 10 Redshanks and 8 Black-tailed Godwits, plus 75 Wigeon out on the ice and 12 Pintail. A single Little Egret was around the frozen pool on the west side of the road.

(Murray Wright)

December 29th

(07:50-13:15) A superb cold, clear morning with almost no hint of a breeze. On my arrival, 20 Mute Swans took to the air from the East Flood leaving another 20 behind. A walk on the west side produced little of note: a couple of Green Woodpeckers, a Marsh Harrier and a fine male Sparrowhawk perched in the elder bush. I spent a while at the head of the slipway scanning around but saw little of interest. Moving west along the sea wall I noted a Common Buzzard in a bush on the side of Mocketts Hill. I met up with Steve Clinch who was returning from further west and had enjoyed considerably better fortune than I had to that point. He'd been watching the Rough-legged Buzzard for a couple of hours and had also had 2 or 3 ringtail Hen Harriers, a couple of Common Buzzards and a flock of 30 White-fronted Geese heading towards Elmley. As we chatted another Common Buzzard hoved into sight and things continued to get better, for very shortly after Steve left a male Hen Harrier made its way east along the Sheppey foreshore before being chased over the hill by a couple of crows. Not long after that a ringtail Hen Harrier appeared over Mocketts Hill and as I watched it disappear westward, the Rough-legged Buzzard flew into view and perched on a white post for some time before heading towards the hill. All the while Marsh Harriers had been toing and froing. A quick look at the East Flood (high tide) as I left, produced 35 Ringed Plovers, 1 Golden Plover, 44 Black-tailed Godwits, 62 Common Snipe and 6 Turnstones. Otherwise there was the usual assortment of wildfowl minus the Common Pochard seen in recent times.

(Mike Stevens)

(10:30-12:30) A brief couple of hours circuiting the East and West Floods in bright light, windless and minus 2 degrees. That said it was hazy towards Sheppey. 7 Bearded Tits well seen and 'pinging' in dyke close to car park. With the East Flood mostly iced the wildfowl were mostly concentrated in small areas of clear water. Common Snipe were scattered around the margins and a count of 90+ was conservative. 54 Avocets were below the Sea Wall hide and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers in the creek mouth. First of two highlights (for me) was the male Hen Harrier coming through the west marsh at midday and short circuiting the East Flood before returning west. Just off the path to West Hide 2 snipe were flushed close to - small, short billed, their heads downward (making the bills appear slightly decurved). They spiralled without calling and quickly dropped into the west marsh. I was confident they were Jack Snipe. Your note re Twite suggests the 12-14 small finches with deeply notched tails with bouncing flight seen in silhouette from a distance on 27th dropping into area of Dan's Dock may well have been these birds.

(Mike Roser)

December 28th

(07:20-11:45) Mostly bright and sunny with a strengthening E wind. 2 Barn Owls were seen first thing - one around the East Flood and the other over the scrub/paddocks. From the West Hide there were 2 pairs of Gadwall, 19 Mallard and circa 60 Wigeon. A Red-throated Diver was on the Swale off the slipway. I headed west to Uplees. There were 3 Linnets and several Song Thrushes along the seawall, plus 1 Corn Bunting and circa 12 Skylarks got up from the saltmarsh. A Kingfisher was fishing in the dyke at Dan's Dock. 65 Golden Plovers and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the mud at Uplees, plus a few Black-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers. A flock of 13 Twite flew east over the saltmarsh and appeared to head towards the West Flood - only my second record this year. I was joined by Geoff who'd seen 5 Canada Geese fly west over the West Flood, and a Common Buzzard and a ringtail Hen Harrier over Mocketts. Walking back towards the Watch House a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew east along the Swale. From the Sea Wall hide there were 3 more Mergs on the Swale, and a single Great Crested Grebe flew east. Not much else to report: 2 female Pochards, 30 Tufted Ducks and 24 Pintail were on the East Flood, plus as the tide rose: 1 Dunlin, 24 Ringed Plovers, 5 Grey Plovers and just 1 Black-tailed Godwit; and back at the slipway there were 5 Bar-tailed Godwits on the mud.

(Murray Wright)

December 27th

(07:30-11:30) A bright start but with plenty of cloud blowing in on the strong ENE wind. Hard going in the raw wind this morning, still it blew the cobwebs away after a couple of days over indulging! 2 Ruff were on the East Flood first thing. Male and female Marsh Harriers spent much of the morning spooking the Lapwings, Snipe and wildfowl on both floods. 8 Red-breasted Mergansers (four drakes and four ducks) were on the Swale, and around 100 Brent Geese were on the water to the east of Faversham Creek. 2 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the mud opposite the Sea Wall hide, and 30 Dunlins were east of the slipway. 121 Wigeon were on the West Scrape, and 23 Mallard were on the fleet to the west. I headed back to the shelter of East Hide and on the flood at around high tide noted: 1 Little Stint (my first since 22nd November), 1 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers, 1 Golden Plover, circa 75 Redshank and circa 50 Black-tailed Godwits, plus 21 Pintail, 1 female Pochard and 30 Tufted Ducks.

(Murray Wright)

December 24th

(07:30-12:30) A grey morning with a very light N wind. 38 Mute Swans had roosted on the East Flood overnight most having departed towards Nagden by 09:00. 2 Peregrines were on adjacent pylons east of Faversham Creek. On the East Flood at high tide: 1 Ruff, 13 Golden Plovers, circa 500 Lapwings, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 50 Redshanks, plus 19 Pintail, 1 drake Pochard, 51 Tufted Ducks, 6 Common Gulls and 1 Little Egret. 14 Corn Buntings flew over the flood and dropped into the bushes on the east side of the creek, plus 4 Fieldfares in one of the bushes. 4 Bearded Tits were showing well near the Sea Wall hide. Met up with Mike Stevens at the slipway. The 2 Red-throated Divers were on the Swale again, plus 6 Great Crested Grebes. We headed to Uplees where there was a single Corn Bunting in the copse, but not a lot else of note. A Common Buzzard was perched in a bush on the slope down from Mocketts, and we also noted 1 or 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and several Marsh Harriers there. Back at the slipway there were 3 Turnstones, and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and circa 40 Black-tailed Godwits were on the mud as the tide receded. At the cottages there were 4 Long-tailed Tits in the scrub to the west. 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and 3 pairs of Stonechat around the reserve this morning.

(Murray Wright)

December 23rd

(12:30-14:45) A grey and still afternoon. A short afternoon visit which didn't produce much. The highlight was 2 Red-throated Divers on the Swale - one near the mouth of Faversham Creek and the other off the slipway. A Bar-headed Goose flew in from Sheppey and alighted on the East Flood, plus 1 Ruff on the flood. 19 Avocets were on the mud at the mouth of the creek.

(Murray Wright)

December 22nd

(08:30-11:00) A productive two and half hours in initial good light before the weather closed in. At 13 degrees it seemed to put the Rooks in good heart with big gatherings around Graveney's rookery and also the small one at Bretts entrance gate at Oare. Greeted at the car park by two vocal Cetti's Warblers in the seawall dyke and later a vocal and very visible bird in the reedmace/ herbage at West Flood entrance. 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard and 2-3 Marsh Harriers over Mocketts Hill, and a Peregrine on a Nagden pylon. A Kingfisher at the creek sluice and a second bird(?) using a pondpole at side of West Hide. 3 pairs of Gadwall were on the West Flood and 2 pairs of Stonechats in the marsh, plus pair on the E side. Tufted Ducks on the East Flood numbered circa 45, but more impressive were the Common Snipe secreting themselves at the NW end of the flood and venturing onto the muddy margins - best guess at 80+ and short odds there's a Jack among them!! 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were in Faversham Creek.

(Mike Roser)

December 21st

(07:15-11:15) Mild and mostly cloudy again with a brisk SW wind. The Rough-legged Buzzard was showing well again west of Mocketts until late morning at least, joined at various times by 2 Common Buzzards, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, several Marsh Harriers and 2 Kestrels. Fairly quiet around the reserve this morning. A Barn Owl was perfoming well again early on. 19 Mute Swans were on the East Flood before dispersing to the east. 51 Tufted Ducks were on the flood, plus the drake Pochard still. 2 Fieldfares flew west over the scrub/paddocks. A female Red-breasted Merganser was in Faversham Creek, and 93 Avocets were on the mud at the mouth of the creek. 2 Rock Pipits were around the Sea Wall hide. A male Marsh Harrier was hunting around the West Flood.

(Murray Wright)

December 20th

(07:15-11:15) A mild and mostly cloudy morning with some brighter spells and a light W breeze. One of the Barn Owls was hunting just south of the West Hide. 2 Marsh Harriers were over the West Flood, and 46 Wigeon were on the pool in front of the hide. A Common Buzzard and a ringtail Hen Harrier were sparring over Mocketts. On the East Flood: 1 Ruff, 19 Golden Plovers, circa 500 Lapwings, 5 Gadwall, 30 Pintail, circa 250 each of Teal and Shoveler, 1 drake Pochard, 34 Tufted Ducks, 24 Greylag Geese, 19 Mute Swans and 1 Little Egret. 2 drake Red-breasted Mergansers were in the mouth of Faversham Creek, plus 4 more (two drakes and two ducks) flew west along the Swale. Exactly 100 Avocets were roosting on the mud in front of the Sea Wall hide. As I headed to Uplees there were 2 Peregrines soaring over Mocketts. The Red-throated Diver was on the Swale off Uplees again, plus 4 more Great Crested Grebes, and another drake Red-breasted Merganser flew west. 2 Corn Buntings were in the copse. Back at the car park there were circa 50 Greenfinches coming down to the seed, plus a couple of Chaffinches and several Reed Buntings.

(Murray Wright)

December 19th

(08:15-12:30) Briefly met up with Geoff in the car park, but started out for Conyer to see the wildfowl congregations. At Uplees circa 1500 Golden Plover were spooked by the two-man punt gun being paddled upstream along the nearside bank (not sure on the firearm certification of these vessels!) At Fowley Street buoy and beyond Golden Plover had amassed along three banks and I attempted counting using 10s, 50s and 100s as separate criteria - circa 5000 was a conservative figure which no doubt included the Uplees birds. The considerable legions of Wigeon I fear were the punt-gun's quarry and the wader flocks were later continually on the move. A Red-throated Diver was off the Uplees slipway (only the second record this year!) and a Common Buzzard hovered around Mocketts Hill, with sightings of 3-4 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk, but alas no Rough-legged Buzzard. 43+ Avocets were below the Sea Wall hide. Wonderful early morning light today and  gloveless too!

(Mike Roser)

A wonderful bright and sunny crisp winter's morning at Oare today. Between 12:00 and 13:00 standing on the ramp by the slipway we spotted the Rough-legged Buzzard perched in the trees on Sheppey on the down slope west of Mocketts and Harty Ferry. Also spotted a Marsh Harrier circling above and behind the buzzard. The Marsh Harrier moved off west and sent up flock of Lapwing. 20 Avocet were aslo spotted on the waters edge at low tide east of the Sea Wall hide
(Phil and Marion Thompson)

(13:00-15:00) I spent most of the day (and yesterday) d-i-y'ing, so what a relief it was to get away for just a couple of hours on a sunny and not too chill afternoon. Not much to report.  Ringtail Hen Harrier over Mocketts, 58 Avocet at the creek mouth, 21 Pintail cruising serenely about the East Flood and numerous Common Snipe - I counted about 40 but as ever there were undoubtedly more tucked away than there were on display. While scanning Mocketts a foregin lady photographer stopped to admire the size of my 'scope. She told me about an eagle she'd recently seen from her kitchen window in Uplees or thereabouts! Kevin immediately trumped this with his account of a call in the last few days advising him of the presence of an Emu at the reserve! We agreed that unfortunately neither claim seemed plausible but were we right to be so sceptical?

(Mike Stevens)

December 18th

(07:15-11:15) Mostly bright and sunny with a freshening SW wind. A Barn Owl was along the entrance road when I arrived and later two were hunting together over the scrub/paddocks. 35 Mute Swans were on the East Flood. 2 Sparrowhawks were circling over the fishing ponds. A ringtail Hen Harrier and male and female Marsh Harriers were around the west side. 2 Fieldfares and 4 Green Woodpeckers were around the scrub/paddocks. No sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard around Mocketts this morning, but there was a Common Buzzard, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, several Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk, and a Short-eared Owl was over the field to the east of the Ferry Inn. A Kingfisher was at Dan's Dock. 73+ Avocets were at the mouth of Faversham Creek, plus 3 Bar-tailed Godwits. A Peregrine was on the Oare Marshes pylon. 5 Ruff dropped onto the East Flood, and the drake Pochard was still present amongst 36 Tufted Ducks.

(Murray Wright)

There was a female Merlin perched in the tree on the West Flood this afternoon between 15:30 and 15:40. Also seen were 2 Marsh Harriers over the West Flood and a Knot by the slipway.

(Stuart Goodwin)
 

December 17th

(07:15-11:30) Clear, bright and sunny with a light NW breeze picking up later. 19 Mute Swans were on the East Flood first thing. A Barn Owl was hunting over the paddocks/scrub and was later seen flying south-east towards Ham Marshes. A male Marsh Harrier was over the West Flood, and a Sparrowhawk flew over the fishing ponds. 2 Fieldfares flew west over the paddocks/scrub. I headed to the sea wall and soon picked up the Rough-legged Buzzard showing well to the west of Mocketts on Sheppey, hovering occasionally, and seen perched in bushes on the downslope and on the sea wall - the first time I've seen it from Oare this winter. In the same area there were also 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 6+ Marsh  Harriers. Headed west to Uplees - 2 Corn Buntings were in the copse, and on the mud there was a flock of circa 500 Golden Plovers, plus 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and a single Knot. 75 Avocets were on the mud at the mouth of Faversham Creek. A single Redwing was in the trees east of the cottages. The drake Pochard was still on the East Flood amongst 32 Tufted Ducks, and there were 30 Pintail and 1 Little Egret. 3 pairs of Stonechat present this morning.

(Murray Wright)

December 16th

(07:30-11:45) A cold and misty start to the day which was improved no end by being escorted from Oare church to the cottages by a Barn Owl. An hour or more later another or more likely the same one was seen over the west side heading towards the cottages. A small party of Long-tailed Tits was also present near the paddocks As I arrived about 30 Mute Swans took to the air from the East Flood leaving another 8 or so on the flood. I counted 23 Pintail, mostly drakes, and slightly fewer Tufted Ducks. Also a drake Pochard. From the Sea Wall Hide: 5 Avocet on the west bank and 52 on the east bank of the creek, numerous Shelduck and a few Curlews. Bearded Tits could be heard but were not seen and the same was true of a Cetti's Warbler. As I stood at the head of the slipway talking to Kevin, a male Marsh Harrier crossed the East Flood before settling in the elder bush. A short while later another Marsh Harrier appeared from the west. Two more were seen beyond Mocketts towards the prison. No Short-eared Owl on the saltmarsh but from Dan's Dock I noted 2 Red-breasted Mergansers on the water and about 500 Golden Plover on the shore across the water. To round off the visit a Kingfisher alighted on a post overlooking the dyke running away from Dan's Dock. And then duty called.

(Mike Stevens)

December 15th

Two short excursions in a grey murky light. Circa 50 Common Snipe wheeling in a tight flock when the East Flood's wildfowl were spooked early morning. A male Sparrowhawk flew behind the East Hide and later a Merlin speedily undulating through the marsh and pausing on the elder on the West Flood as the light started to fade. Opposite the new aquisition over the creek the near ponds held a min of 25 Little Grebes, 2 Kingfishers used the moored yachts as vantage points and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls remain in winter residence.

(Mike Roser)

(12:30-15:00) A grey and murky afternoon with a light N wind. A short afternoon visit to coincide with high tide. Not a lot came onto the East Flood: 4 Dunlins, 22 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 21 Redshanks and 70 Black-tailed Godwits, plus around 100 Common Snipe and 1 Little Egret. A single drake Pochard (the first for some time) was sleeping amongst 26 Tufted Ducks, and there were 30 Pintail amongst the Teal and Shoveler. A male Sparrowhawk was perched on a gate post near the West Hide. Around 40 Fieldfares and 1 Corn Bunting were on the seawall and bushes on the east side of Faversham Creek. A drake Red-breasted Merganser flew up the creek before turning west and heading over the East Flood. Up to 12 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale, plus several hundred Wigeon. 8 Turnstones and 2 Rock Pipits were on the slipway. Heading back to the car the Short-eared Owl appeared over the west side and then performed very well along the entrance road passing within 20ft of me before flying off behind the East Hide.

(Murray Wright)

December 14th

(07:15-11:15) Grey, overcast and calm. 32 Mute Swans were on the East Flood before sunrise, and a Barn Owl was hunting around the East Hide. The Short-eared Owl was perched along the entrance road and showed well on the west side all morning. 3 Marsh Harriers (one male and two females) flew west with the male remaining around the West Flood all morning. A Water Rail was flushed along the path to the West Hide. 4 Gadwall (two drakes and two ducks) were on the East Flood, plus 19 Pintail, 16 Tufted Ducks and 1 Little Egret. 3 Fieldfares were in the bushes on the east side of Faversham Creek. 82 Avocets were at the mouth of the creek. A single Turnstone was on the slipway and 2 Rock Pipits were on the saltmarsh to the west. A duck Eider flew west along the Swale. A flock of circa 50 Greenfinches, plus several Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Reed Buntings were around JR's feeding station in the car park.

(Murray Wright)

December 11th

(08:00-11:45) Mostly cloudy to start with, but with pleasant sunshine later - wind was a light and chilly W. A single Fieldfare flew west over the scrub. A pair of Gadwall and 17 Mallard were on the pool in front of the West Hide, and a male Marsh Harrier was over the West Flood. On the East Flood at high tide: 1 Greenshank, 9 Dunlins, 4 Grey Plovers, 19 Ringed Plovers, circa 500 Lapwings, 50 Redshanks, 99 Black-tailed Godwits and 73 Snipe, plus 3 Gadwall, 24 Pintail, 12 Mallard and 13 Greyalgs. 9 Cormorants and 3 Little Grebes were in Faversham Creek. 4 Turnstones were on the slipway. 3 Rock Pipits were on the saltmarsh to the west, plus a dozen or so Skylarks and circa 30 Reed Buntings. Also, the leucistic (or partial albino?) Curlew was on the saltmarsh and I managed to get close enough for a record shot - it's usually very flighty. The general appearance of the plumage always puts me in mind of a juv/1st winter Iceland or Glaucous Gull. 2 ringtail Hen Harriers were around Mocketts all morning.

(Murray Wright)

(14:45-15:45) A brief walk today around the East Flood after yesterday`s excursion. Unseen Bearded Tits pinging from reed bed adjacent to Sea Wall hide. Minimum of 21 Corn Buntings watched from creek sluice, on South Swale side at 15:10. They were working along the hawthorns, pausing for a few minutes and finally dropping into herbage on the seaward side of the grassed seawall presumably to roost. Teal numbers have increased with margins again showing on the flood. 42 Greenfinches on the West side alder bush were joined by a Green Woodpecker. A male Marsh Harrier floated by as the temperature started to dip and the murky light dimmed further.

(Mike Roser)

December 10th

(08:00-14:15) A slightly chilly but beautifully bright morning with not a breath of wind until much later in the morning. A Barn Owl was hunting over the fields to the west as I arrived. I spent about three hours on the sea wall between the slipway and Dan's Dock in the hope of some raptor activity. In this I was not disappointed. Initially, I noted 2 Marsh Harriers over the west side and 2 over Mockett's. Backlit by the sun, Mike Roser appeared en route to Conyer. He mentioned the pale raptor he'd reported a few days ago and within seconds he'd picked it up again. It is indeed very pale! Unfortunately we had no flight views of the bird and it was a good kilometre distant. Mike suggests that it is a pale morph Common Buzzard and who am I to disagree with him? Slightly more easily identifiable were the 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, one of which was around almost all morning in the area of Mockett's Hill and it was possibly this bird or a third that I saw early afternoon well east of Harty church; the second bird having been seen in the vicinity of the prison while the first was still on the slopes of the hill. Also seen over Sheppey was the hoped-for Rough-legged Buzzard, a Common Buzzard, numerous Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and nearer 'home' a stunning male Hen Harrier moving at speed along the shore between Uplees and Dan's Dock. Later a Short-eared Owl was reported high over Sheppey being mobbed by corvids. At one stage, in my scope simultaneously, I had a ringtail Hen Harrier, the Rough-legged Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. I decided that I ought to make a token gesture of covering the rest of the reserve not least because shooting had started over Sheppey and birds from that quarter had suddenly become very scarce. Incidentally and on the subject of shooting, while scanning the water in the region of Uplees I picked out what I thought, rightly as it transpired, was a large bird mostly black but with some white plumage acting in a strange fashion. Was it the Great Northern Diver loafing? No - as it sped past on the ebbing tide it turned out to be a very dead Brent Goose. Returning to the slipway with tide ebbing, I counted 60 Dunlin, a couple of Curlew, 5 Turnstone and a dozen Redshank on the mudflats. En route to the Sea Wall hide about 60 Black-tailed Godwits headed out over the water, presumably the remnants of the high tide roost because scanning the East Flood there was no sign of any other waders apart from Lapwing. From the hide I noted a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers towards Castle Coote and moving on from the hide there was a Kingfisher perched on the the wreck along the creek. I continued on past the East Hide without any avian interruptions until I reached the cottages from where I could see a Great Spotted Woodpecker on trees immediately west and a small party of Long-tailed Tits. Finally, as I headed back to the car park there was a pair of Stonechats flitting to and fro across the access road and a Green Woodpecker flying away from the Watch House. I'm getting to quite enjoy this retirement business!

(Mike Stevens)

Highlights of a walk to Conyer were a group of 17 Red-breasted Mergansers, the 11 males displaying and posturing. Wildfowl numbers are impressive in the Deep alongside Fowley Island, with circa 3000 Wigeon and large numbers of Shelduck. Mixed wader roost of Knot, Dunlin and Oystercatchers were harrassed by 2 Peregrines hunting in tandem. 17 Bearded Tits exploded from a fleet and flew high SE. It's a fair stride but worth the effort close to Conyer. From Oare to Conyer I counted 5 pairs of Stonechats and 4-5 Rock Pipits.

(Mike Roser)

 
December 9th

(08:00-08:25, 09:25-13:10) A faltering start when summoned for emergency transport services. However, there were 22 Tufted Ducks (still no Pochard) and a drake Gadwall amongst the ducks on the east flood. It was high tide but there was only 30 Black-tailed Godwits, a few Ringed and Golden Plovers and two Dunlin - very high water levels. The copse and scrub areas were quiet but there was a Fieldfare along the western boundary hedge, five Long-tailed Tits along the road by the paddock and later a Little Owl calling unseen from the copse and a single Redwing. There was a Kingfisher in the usual place under the sluice, two Turnstones on the slipway and, over Mocketts Hill, there was a Buzzard, two ringtail Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk as well as Marsh Harriers and Kestrels. There were eight Greylag Geese by the new west scrape and a pair of Gadwall in the main dyke beyond.

(Geoff Burton)

At 15.30  I saw  a  Barn Owl  hunting on the  West side  then it flew towards  Dan's Dock and  quartered the adjacent sea wall. 

(Heather Silk)   

December 8th

(12:15-15:30) Walked to Uplees, returning via the East Flood and hides. A film of ice remained in dykes and partially covered the East Flood, where water levels remain high. Circa 80 Carrion Crows on the Sheppey slipway and tidal jetsam (no Hoodies!). 27 Avocets opposite Uplees and 51 Golden Plovers. Caught up with the Great Northern Diver snorkelling in the vicinity of the moored barge (the bird not me!). It was on a real fishing mission, coming up with both fish and crustacea. The latter took up to a dozen underwater dips to presumabably mutilate the  crab's carapace. Watched for a good half hour until attention was drawn to large raptor alighting on a hawthorn bush on Mocketts Hill. Frustratingly it refused to fly over a period of 35 mins save one drop into the herbage. The white upperparts from facial mask to chest and underbelly suggested I was looking at a Rough-legged Buzzard, but returning an hour later to find the bird still there I watched again in fading light. A ring-tail Hen Harrier drifted by and the buzzard took flight - no obvious white on underwing or any white on upper tail/rump. Now feel it could be light-phase Common Buzzard. Would appreciate any thoughts if bird seen by others!! A Kingfisher was searching for open, de-iced water on the East Flood and Avocets numbered 100 in three separate parties.

(Mike Roser)

December 7th

(07:30-11:15) Bright, sunny and calm after a hard overnight frost. A glorious December morning. A male Marsh Harrier was perched in the lone alder on the west side, and a Common Buzzard flew over the fishing ponds and headed north to Sheppey. 4 Green Woodpeckers were in the scrub/paddocks. The East Flood was two thirds frozen and I couldn't find anything different to yesterday, but I did count 57 Snipe around the edge. A Kingfisher flew from under the sluice. A Great Northern Diver was on the Swale looking towards Castle Coote, plus 3 Red-breasted Mergansers (two drakes) and 6 Great Crested Grebes. 70 Avocets were on the mud at the mouth of Faversham Creek. 3 Rock Pipits were along the foreshore east of the slipway, plus 2 Turnstones. A male Sparrowhawk was perched on a post by the West Flood. A Water Rail was performing well in the overflow car park. Two pairs of Stonechats this morning - one by the sluice and the other along the entrance road. As I was about to leave a fine male Hen Harrier appeared over the west side and drifted off south.

(Murray Wright)

December 6th

(07:15-11:15) Mostly bright and sunny with a brisk WNW wind. On the East Flood this morning: 1 Ruff, 5 Golden Plovers, circa 500 Lapwings, and amongst the many Teal and Shoveler there were 18 Pintail, circa 30 Wigeon, 7 Mallards and 32 Tufted Ducks. Just 3 Fieldfares over the paddocks and a single Goldcrest opposite the cottages. A Water Rail was flushed near the East Hide. 18 Greylags were on the new acquisition. 4 Little Grebes were on Faversham Creek. 4 Red-breasted Mergansers (two drakes and two ducks) were at the mouth of the creek, and 61 Avocets were on the mud there. Small flocks of 20-30 Brent Geese were flying west along the Swale most of the morning. A ringtail Hen Harrier was over Mocketts, plus several Marsh Harriers. The leucistic Curlew was on the saltmarsh near Dan's Dock again.

(Murray Wright)

Counting Avocets from the South Swale side of Faversham creek at the end of the concrete seawall at 14:45: main flock were roosting below Oare Sea Wall hide, but as tide edged in there was a general dispersal onto the South Swale creekside. With comings and goings I arrived at a mean count of 97 - that said two counts took me in excess of 100.

(Mike Roser)

December 5th

(11:00-16:30) We saw most of usual species before lunch. After lunch we decided to walk to Dan's Dock. As we left the car park  and went up to the ramp coming towards us was a Red Kite, which twisted and turned over us and wheeled out over the East Flood before  drifting off towards Faversham at 14:10. Later at about 15:45 near Dan's Dock we had a Short-eared Owl hunting, and moving up the Swale with the tide was a Great Northern Diver - a  great finish to the day.

(Mick Cotter)

(12:00-15:45) The weather was kind; a perfect afternoon at the Marshes was spoilt only by the lack of avian activity. East Flood - nothing to report save that as I left with the light rapidly fading and the tide coming in a large number of Lapwings, some Redshank and about 20 Golden Plovers arrived. Slipway - early afternoon I noted at least 10 Marsh Harriers over Sheppey; five in the air together over Mocketts, three further west and two beyond the church. In addition a ringtail Hen Harrier showed for prolonged periods and a Peregrine put in a brief appearance towards the Ferry Inn. On the mudflats there were circa 100 Dunlin, a few Grey Plovers and a couple of Curlew. Sea Wall hide - 56 Avocets at the point and opposite 21 Curlew and a Shag (year tick for me), which stuck around for about 15 minutes before flying downstream. West side - nothing from the hide and just one Green Woodpecker, a few Chaffinches, Greenfinches and a dozen or so Meadow Pipits seen along or from the path to the hide.

(Mike Stevens)

December 3rd

(07:15-12:00) A bright and frosty start, but it had clouded over by mid-morning with a cold WNW breeze. The Barn Owl was hunting over the west side first thing. The East Flood was about three quarters frozen - amongst the commoner wildfowl there were 16 Pintail (with 11 more flying over) and just 3 Tufted Ducks, plus 24 Mute Swans early on. There were also 2 Ruff and 7 Golden Plovers amongst the many Lapwings, 2 Little Egrets, and up to 50 Snipe flying around. Met Geoff on the sea wall. 4 Red-breasted Mergansers flew west along the Swale as did 4 Great Crested Grebes. A Water Pipit was feeding on the spoil from the ditch clearing along the southern edge of the reserve near the East Hide, plus 1 Rock Pipit, several Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats and several Song Thrushes taking advantage of the new habitat too. Small numbers of Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and a few Mistle Thrushes were much in evidence all around the patch this morning, including several Song Thrushes along the sea wall, however, no Redwings or Fieldfares were noted. A Bullfinch flew west over the scrub/paddocks. Bearded Tits were pinging at the east end of the East Flood, with a Kingfisher seen nearby, and a Cetti's Warbler singing near the Sea Wall hide. 26 Avocets were at the mouth of Faversham Creek, plus 4 Turnstones. Not a lot noted as we headed down to Dan's Dock and back - a pair or two of Stonechats, several Rock Pipits flying around, and the leucistic Curlew dropped onto the saltmarsh. Later on Geoff had a Short-eared Owl sitting on a post near the West Hide - bringing his morning's species count to a respectable 72.

(Murray Wright)

December 2nd

(08:15-11:30) Weatherwise, a splendid morning. On arrival a Cetti's Warbler greeted me in the car park. I spent some time at the top of the slipway hoping for sight of the Rough-legged Buzzard and/or the Cattle Egret. No such luck although around Mockett's there were a couple of Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier, while another Marsh Harrier put up circa 200 of what I took to be Golden Plover in the vicinity of Uplees. There were next to no waders on the mudflats even though the tide was low, however, 26 Avocet deigned to put in an appearance in front of the Sea Wall Hide. A couple of G Crested Grebes were on the water.  A stroll around the East Flood clearly indicated that neither species nor numbers present had changed in the last couple of days. Bird of the day - and why not? - was a Grey Wagtail feeding on the spoil excavated by the digger along the channel west of the East Hide. I watched it darting to and fro within a very circumscribed area for what seemed like ages; long enough to allow me to take several photos.

(Mike Stevens)

December 1st

(09:30-14:00) An eye-watering W/NW cold wind, murky at first then brightening as I left! Struggled to reach 60 species with passerines initially un-cooperative. Avocet count was 86 split between mouth of creek and Uplees. 8 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale. A Common Buzzard over Mocketts Hill with 2 Marsh Harriers - several sightings of the latter sp. including a male over the East Flood. Water levels again high after the rain and whilst Tufted Duck numbers were up, Teal were few compared to recently (although I picked up in excess of 260 at nearby TR06R yesterday on flooded pastures). 3 pairs of Stonechats were on the reserve east and west. And as Dave Perrin's eyes arrived, a Water Rail scuttled across the road!

(Mike Roser)