Jan08

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The gale force winds and driving rain this afternoon meant that I confined myself for the most part to the East and Sea Wall Hides. From the Sea Wall Hide there were 4 Dunlin on the flats and 12 Red-breasted Mergansers on the Swale. As the storm subsided another 20 Dunlin flew in along with 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank and 1 Grey Plover. Just after 15:00 the rain relented and enroute to the East Hide, I noted from the slipway 5 Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and about 50 Redshank. On the East Flood there were 700+ Lapwing, 56 Greylags, 79 Shoveler and 9 Ruff. Doubtless the weather was responsible for the relative dearth of birds including many fewer Pintail than of late. As the light faded c25 Golden Plover put in a brief appearence and a Barn Owl was quartering fields East of the Ferry Inn.

A beautiful, calm, sunny start to the day but cloud and light SW winds later. Two Jays and a pair of Bullfinches were in the scrub SW of the reserve. 48 Greylag Geese were on the west flood. Buzzard, Marsh and Hen Harriers, Peregrine and the Harris Hawk were over Mocketts Hill and beyond. A Barnacle Goose joined Brent Geese at the mouth of the creek, four Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore and three Little Grebes were in the creek. A Merlin was reported on the west flood.

(08:00 - 10:00) Bright and sunny again with a lighter W wind. Only time for a short visit this morning. 3 Common Buzzards were performing well over Mocketts, plus the Barn Owl again near the Harty Ferry Inn. A Fieldfare flew south over the cottages. There were still 112 Greylag Geese on the East Flood (plus at least six birds being taken by wildfowlers who were out in good numbers this morning), and they had been joined by a single Bar-headed Goose. A single Black-tailed Godwit, circa 25 Ruff, 1 Common Snipe, 39 Pintail, 4 Gadwall and 42 Tufted Duck were also on the East Flood. 3 Barnacle Geese flew north across the Swale with a flock of 28 Greylags, and a flock of 39 Cormorants flew east. A single Peregrine was on the pylons again. 15 Common Seals were on Horse Sands.

(Murray Wright)

(08:00 - 11:00) A clear, bright and sunny morning with some high cloud and a strong, chilly W wind. A fairly quiet morning. On the West Flood: 12 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck and 1 male Marsh Harrier. On the East Flood there were 17 Greylag Geese which were joined by a large flock flying in from the west to give a total of 199 birds - a good count for Oare. Also on the East Flood: 27 Ruff, 5 Gadwall, circa 40 Pintail, 48 Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes. A Corn Bunting flew SW over the cottages. A Greenshank was along the creek with two reported later, plus 2 Little Egrets and 1 Little Grebe. A Peregrine was on the pylons with another flying north across the Swale. A drake Red-breasted Merganser flew east along the Swale and 2 Black-tailed Godwits flew west. A Cetti's Warbler was singing near the car park with another between there and the Sea Wall hide. The Barn Owl was hunting over the field east of the Harty Ferry Inn again, and the Harris Hawk was over Mocketts.

(Murray Wright)

(07:50 - 12:00) Cloudy with a fresh SW wind. Ducks on the east flood included 63 Tufted Ducks, a Pochard, 44 Pintail (count courtesy of Mike Stevens) and seven Gadwall. Later in the morning, 19 Mute Swans arrived on the flood. As the tide came in a Greenshank appeared on the flood and, spooked by a Marsh Harrier, seven Snipe took to the air and 50-60 Ruff came off the main island where they had been roosting. Mike reported two Little Stints on the east flood later. There were 27 Greylag Geese on the west flood and seven Rock Pipits were on the saltmarsh by Dan's Dock. A lone Barnacle Goose flew off Sheppey west of Mockett's Hill and flew high down the Swale. Over Mockett's Hill, there was a Buzzard, Harris Hawk and several Marsh Harriers. Five Linnets were by the slipway, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the hedgerow behind the east hide and there were three Long-tailed Tits and six Goldfinches opposite the cottages.

(08:00 - 12:00) A mild, bright and breezy morning with cloud gathering from the SW later. A single Fieldfare was in the paddocks first thing. 6 Gadwall and 12 Tufted Ducks were infront of the West Hide and a male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the flood nearby. A Cetti's Warbler showed well in a ditch near the hide. 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, 2 Marsh Harriers and the Harris Hawk were hanging over Mocketts on Sheppey. On the East Flood: 2 Greenshank, 32 Ruff, 37 Pintail, 48 Tufted Duck, 15 Greylags and 1 Little Egret. 2 drake Goldeneyes were on the Swale until 10:27 when they flew east - the first ones I've seen at Oare for several years. 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were also on the Swale and a Merlin flew east. 3 Long-tailed Tits and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker were opposite the cottages. A Weasel zipped across the entrance road as I got back to my car.

(Murray Wright)

Mick Sinden reported a Bittern in flight on the east side over the reeds behind the sea wall which dropped in near the point.

(07:30 - 12:15) Mainly grey and overcast again (although a bit brighter later) with a strong SW wind. Still very mild. 3 Jays were in the scrub and trees around the fishing ponds and 3 Grey Partridges were flushed into the paddocks from the path to the West Hide. The Greenshank was roosting on the East Flood again, plus 12 Ruff. A Peregrine was on the pylons despite the strong wind. A Common Buzzard was over Mocketts. Geoff Burton had a Bittern flying over the West Flood mid-morning.

(Murray Wright)

Arrived just after 08:00 – on the way in 1 male Pheasant at the side of the road opposite the Old Rectory and 2 Red Legged Partridges in the open field just beyond. 1 Marsh Harrier quartering very low & close to the road on the west side. Walking back from the car park circa 8 00 lapwings intermittently on the wing, in various groups, from both east and west side. Nice pair of Stonechat working their area close to the road on the east side from the viewing area to the disabled car area and circa 11 Moorhens on the west side. From the hide, many of the usual suspects on the east marsh including Greylag and Canadian Geese, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Coot, Ruff, Redshank, Black-headed Gulls (BHGs) , 1 Lesser Black-backed, Herring Gull & a Little Egret. Shortly after arriving at the hide, a Green Woodpecker was heard and about 15 mins later landed just in front and to the right of the hide and spent the next few minutes looking around for insects. Later we moved on round to the sea wall hide. As the tide went out, a number of Curlew flew on to the mud on the far side of the creek, eventually totalling 14. Also, peacefully for some time, were two pair of Red Breasted Mergansers – they were later joined by another male and all hell broke loose! 3 Marsh Harriers quartered the reserve on the opposite side of the creek working their way off into the distance. These were followed some time later by a very nice male Marsh Harrier. In the distance, the very large flock of Brent Geese could just be made out as they landed just off Seasalter. 5 Seals hauled themselves onto the island, again as the tide receded. 1 Cormorant, Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, Shelduck, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatchers, BHGs, were also noted from the sea wall hide as well as a young Herring Gull attempting to obtain from an adult as the mud outside of the hide was exposed. Eventually, walking back to the slipway, 3 Turnstones were seen turning over seaweed on the boulders on the seaside from which a Reed Bunting flashed back over the seawall into the reeds on the east marsh. A Robin sat in the bushes by the car park singing to us as we drank our welcome warm soup. Driving back out at approx. 13:00, we stopped at the car viewing area to note the activity of 5 adult and 8 cygnet Mute Swans on the east side. Also, generally around the area were Carrion Crow, Rook, Starling, Blackbird and Woodpigeon on a very good morning out.

(08:00 - 11:15) Another grey and overcast morning with a strong SW wind, and still very mild for January. 8 Canada Geese circled over the reserve early morning dropping onto the East Flood briefly before heading off west - an Oare year tick for me!. The Barn Owl was hunting over the field to the east of the Harty Ferry Inn again until 09:30 at least. On the East Flood over high tide: 1 Greenshank, 14 Ruff, 6 Dunlin, circa 250 Redshank, 1 Golden Plover and circa 500 Lapwings, plus 26 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 49 Tufted Ducks, 6 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Little Egrets. 4 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale at the mouth of the creek. 6 Turnstones were roosting on the fishing boat Louise before returning to the slipway on the falling tide. A Cetti's Warbler was calling near the car park. At 10:15 a flock of 26 Barnacle Geese (plus one hybrid) crossed the Swale from Sheppey (they appeared to come from the direction of the Swale reserve) and headed west eventually disappearing behind Uplees copse - wild birds perhaps?.

(Murray Wright)

(08:00 - 13:30) After yesterday's deluge this morning was fine, bright and sunny with only a light SW wind. A Barn Owl was hunting over the field to the east of the Harty Ferry Inn circa 08:30. On the East Flood: 22 Ruff, 1 drake Pochard, 58 Tufted Ducks, 16 Pintail and 1 Little Egret. A Peregrine was on the the first pylon east of the creek. 83 Avocets were on the mud in front of the Sea Wall hide, 2 Rock Pipits were on the foreshore there, and several Bearded Tits were in the reeds behind the hide. 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Great Crested grebes were on the Swale. 2 Little Owls were on their regular perch near Dan's Dock, and 6 Grey Partridges on the sheepfields between the dock and Uplees copse were my first of the year. A flock of circa 750 Golden Plovers were roosting on the mud at Uplees. Looking across to Mocketts: 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, several Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine and the Harris Hawk. 3 pairs of Stonechat were around the reserve. Mike Stevens noted circa 300 Golden Plovers coming in to roost on the East Flood at dusk.

(Murray Wright)

January 15th
Being the intrepid chap that I am and more in hope than anticipation I ventured out in the wind and the rain confining viewing to the Sea Wall hide and,briefly, the East Hide. As if the weather wasn't bad enought the light was appalling, too. Sea Wall Hide - 83 Avocet, 2 Barwits, 2 Grey Plovers and 1 Turnstone. At 14:00 about 150 Dunlin flew in and at 15:00 a male Hen Harrier crossed the Swale and was last seen over Nagden heading towards the East Flood. Earlier a Marsh Harrier had crossed the Swale in the same direction. Just off the Horse Sands there was a Grebe species but the light was so poor, the water so rough and the bird so distant that I could not be sure that it was the Red Necked that I thought it was. Even a Great Crested would have been welcome since I've not seen one on the Swale since the turn of the year. As it was I was unable to 'tick' either. East Flood - the usual assortment of ducks with a number of Lapwings, Coots, Moorhens and a few Redshanks. However, 4 Pochards - 2m,2f - provided a year tick but I'm still 11 down on the on Murray's count for 1st January alone. Things can only get better - can't they?

Early rain and fresh southerly winds. I noted 54 Tufted Ducks on the east flood, ten Greylag Geese crossed the Swale and landed in the new west scrape pool and six Linnets were near the slipway.

(09.00-15.15) The lowpoint of the day was almost being blown off the sea wall on my bicycle; the highpoint? I don't think there was one but for the record : Mockett Hill area - Harris Hawk, Ringtail Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier x several and Sparrowhawk. Sea Wall Hide - 85 Avocet at the creek mouth, 3 Red Breasted Merganser. East Flood (at high tide) - the biggest Blackwit roost I've seen in the last few weeks, numbering in excess of 500. Also, 48 Avocet, 4 Ruff, 14 Gadwall, 25 Pintail, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Golden Plover, numerous Redshank (i.e. I couldn't be bothered to count them).

(Mike Stevens)

A mainly bright and breezy day after a dull start with a strengthening SW wind. I birded from 07:30 to 13:00 and was joined by Mike Stevens from 10:45 who stayed until late afternoon. Highlight of the morning was one of the Rough-legged Buzzards showing well over Mocketts on Sheppey mid to late morning at least, hanging in the wind and hovering occasionally, and later joined by 2 Common Buzzards, plus several Marsh Harriers, 1-2 ring-tailed Hen Harriers and the ever present Harris Hawk adding to the spectacle. A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was also hunting over the scrub and paddocks south of the path to the West Hide much of the morning. 6 Gadwall were on the West Flood. The Barn Owl was hunting over the field to the east of the Harty Ferry Inn until 09:30 at least. 82 Avocets were roosting on the mud at the mouth of Faversham Creek. A single Peregrine was on the pylons at Nagden. A Kingfisher was under the sea sluice. A juvenile/female Merlin was sitting on one of the islands in the East Flood around lunchtime, eventually flying quite slowly and taking a Common Snipe on the ground on the the edge of the flood close to the road. After much splashing it struggled to carry it circa 25 yards to pluck and eat it - and it was still doing so when I left! A little later Mike had 2 Merlins shoot past while on his way to the West Hide. Also on the East Flood today: 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff, circa 350 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 17 Avocets which circled over at high tide but didn't stay, 1 Little Egret 22 Pintail, 10 Gadwall and 48 Tufted Ducks. I caught up with Linnet at last(!) - 3 birds near the slipway at midday. At 15:50 from the Sea Wall hide Mike picked up a Hooded Crow at the front of a movement of circa 500 corvids crossing the Swale from Sheppey, presumably going to roost - the Hooded Crow with a dozen or so other corvids heading along Faversham Creek. An excellent day with 7 species of raptor recorded (not including Harris Hawk!).

(Mike Stevens and Murray Wright)

(09.00-12.00) Good visibility but in the very strong winds scope control was a bit of a problem which is why, for the most part, I confined myself to the Sea Wall and East Hides. On arrival there were, among other things, 89 Blackwits on the East Flood, 4 Gadwall and a Kingfisher zipping along towards the sluice. Later at high tide there were c180 Blackwits, 12 Barwits, 1 Little Stint, 1 Dunlin, 4 Ruff, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Golden Plover and 44 Tufted Ducks. From the slipway - 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover and about 40 Dunlin. The Harris Hawk was showing over Sheppey. From the Sea Wall Hide - 77 Avocets. From the cottages - an Oare year tick for me in the shape of a Dunnock! Still no chaffinches, goldfinches, woodpeckers, thrushes etc etc.

(14.30-16.00) Pair of Stonechat on seawall single Turnstone near slipway number of Redshank (one possible spotted Redshank) Knot and Sanderling possible Greenshank between 30 and 40 Avocet at the mouth of the creek Large flock of what appeared to be Brent geese flew up the creek and settled on the mud toward Seasalter. Single male Pheasant stalked by a Fox between seawall and east scrape. Large number of Lawpwing and few pairs of Teal on east scrape.

A fine, bright, frosty morning with little wind and excellent visibility. I walked west along the seawall to Uplees hoping to get a look at the Rough-legged Buzzards on Sheppey. No luck, however, looking across the Swale I did see 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, 20+ Marsh Harriers, 1 Peregrine and best of all a flock of circa 75 White-fronted Geese which came in from east of Mockett's at 09:45 circled around for 10 mins and then dropped out of view onto the marshes. A single Corn Bunting was in Uplees copse and 2 female Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale. The 2 Little Owls were enjoying the sun just inland from Dan's Dock. Earlier 8 Ruff were on the East Flood.

(Murray Wright)

A female Pochard amongst 42 Tufted Ducks on the the East Flood, and a ringtail Hen Harrier over Sheppey were Oare year ticks for me this morning.

A morning visit between 08:00 and 11:55. High tide but a very low one which did not cover the mud entirely and no waders, other than Lapwing, were roosting on the east flood. Ducks on the flood included four Gadwall, 16 Pintail and 38 Tufted Ducks. Four Turnstones were on the slipway at high tide and a Kingfisher fished from one of the poles. Later, four Linnets were seen here as well. The adult Bewick's Swan was on the shore at Castle Coote again and constantly preening, there were five Red-breasted Mergansers in the creek and, when the tide fell, a count of 77 Avocets was reported. Looking over to Sheppey, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard and the Harris Hawk were seen. A Green Sandpiper was present on the western pools and two Little Owls were by the concrete slab. A Cetti's Warbler showed well near the east hide and others were heard calling along the sea wall. A Merlin was seen on the east flood islands by David Freeman, amongst others, and two Foxes were seen on the edge of the flood.

(12.00-15.45) Peering through the encircling gloom I noted: E Flood: the solitary Gadwall, c 19 Pintail and 2 Ruff. Sea Wall Hide: 49 Avocet, very large number of Golden Plover on Horse Sands (well in excess of 1,000) Sea Wall: (scanning Sheppey) Harris Hawk, Common Buzzard, numerous Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk c400m beyond the West hide, 11 Linnets at top of slipway. Opposite cottages: Little Owl in tree above horse boxes. Not the best day I've had at the Marshes!

(09.00-15.45) A cold, wet and windy day with very poor visibility from mid-day onwards. From the Sea Wall Hide : 62 Avocet (Murray had 74 earlier), 7 Red Breasted Mergansers. From the Sea Wall : 5 Turnstones, 7 linnets (slipway), 2 Twite reported early afternoon from the same location, 2 Rock Pipits; otherwise 40 Dunlin, 2 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit with a few Redshank, Oystercatchers, Curlews and Grey Plovers. At about 15:00 hours a Barn Owl was seen quartering fields east of the Ferry Inn. On the west side as I arrived 2 Marsh Harriers were over the West 'Flood'. A Peregrine was seen crossing the Swale and Murray had noted 2 on the pylons in the morning. On the East Flood there were, among other things, 27 Pintails and a lone Gadwall. 2 Common Snipe were seen and a Kingfisher flashed across from west to east. Not quite what I'd hoped for on my first day's birding of the new year but given the conditions a reasonably satisfying day. Symptomatic of the conditions was that it was only as I was leaving that I saw my first Grey Heron of the day and save for the odd Blackbird, I encountered no thrush species at all nor any goldfinches, chaffinches, woodpeckers etc etc.

A dull morning with a strong, raw easterly wind and some sleet starting to fall as I was leaving. Between 08:00 and 11:30 I managed to add two species to my year list: a Common Snipe was flushed from the path to the West Hide; and 7 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen - 4 (2 drakes and 2 ducks) in the mouth of the creek before flying west along the Swale, and 3 (2 drakes and a duck) also flying west. On the East Flood: plenty of Wigeon, Teal and Shovelers, a lone drake Gadwall, 11 Pintail, 32 Tufted Ducks, 1 Ruff, 6 Golden Plovers, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher. 2 Peregrines were on the pylons east of the creek and one was watched hunting waders over the Swale. 74 Avocets were counted around the mouth of the creek on the falling tide. 2 Turnstones were on the rocks east of the slipway and a single Rock Pipit was on the slipway. 2 male Marsh Harriers were hunting over the West Flood. Circa 100 Wigeon were on the West Scrape.

(Murray Wright)

Birding from 07:15 to 16:30 I recorded 84 species (7 more than last year). The weather remained grey and murky all day, but very calm and quite mild for the time of year. Nothing too exciting was noted, but the highlights of my day were: 2 Goldcrests near the cottages early morning; an adult Bewick's Swan on the Swale at Castle Coote; a Greenshank along Faversham Creek; a Barn Owl over the field to the east of the Harty Ferry Inn (the last species added to the day's total at circa 14:50); a Barnacle Goose amongst circa 500 Brent Geese over Nagden; 6 Corn Buntings in flight over Uplees copse; 1 Green Sandpiper in flight near the East Hide; 2 Knot on the mud by the slipway; a single Ruff on the East Flood which was joined by at least 6 more at dusk; 1 Water Rail showed well briefly near the pull in (I didn't hear any all day!); the sight of thousands of Lapwings and Golden Plovers along the Swale and on Horse Sands. I failed to record Red-breasted Merganser and Common Snipe, and I missed Hen Harrier and Linnet which were seen by others. A satisfying start to the New Year.