Oare Marshes Latest Sightings (January)

January 25th

The reserve was covered in frost this morning.  Pintails and other ducks were concentrated on the East Flood which had not completely frozen over.  Two Red-breasted Mergansers were again on the Swale near the causeway, also a single Redpoll, Cetti's Warbler and a pair of Stonechats near the car park.  Several Bar-tailed Godwits as usual on the adjacent mudflats.

Chris Packham and BBC filming for an episode of "Nature's Calendar" to be shown on BBC2 in December / January.

January 20th

Single Greenshank with the roosting waders on the East Flood (M Roser) - a rather unusual sight for the time of year. This wintering individual was also seen occasionally last year.

January 19th

Waders arriving to roost on the East Flood from mid afternoon included 14 ruff, c500 golden plovers and 100+ Black-tailed Godwits.  There was a Red-throated Diver on the Swale channel and 2 Bearded Reedlings, 2 Cetti's Warblers (calling, NE corner & near car park), 2 or 3 pairs of Stonechats, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Little Egret, 30 Pintails, 1 Redpoll and a Kingfisher on the landward side of the sea wall.  A male Merlin and 2 Peregrines were also seen today.

January 18th

Tufted Duck numbers on the east flood continue to rise with 66 counted there today which was augmented by a drake Red-crested Pochard, the first for this site. The Dartford Warbler showed very well at Dan's Dock in the north-western corner of the reserve and the Cetti's Warbler was still in the bushes by the car park. 10 Ruff were present on the east flood at dawn but soon flew off towards Sheppey and a duck Pochard was also present on the flood.

January 15th

At high water in the afternoon: 500 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Avocets, 15 Grey Plovers and 1 Golden Plover roosting on the East Flood, 1 or 2 Water Pipits on the West Flood, 2 Stonechats and a Peregrine

January 14th

2 Water Pipits, 2 Mergansers and a Merlin

January 10th

Bittern, Dartford Warbler and Water Pipit reported

January 8th

Dartford Warbler in NW corner, 1 Water Pipit, 11 Twite on East Flood (M Buckland)

January 6th

Single Red-breasted Merganser and female Common Scoter offshore again, 58 Avocets, 3 Stonechats and 8 Bearded Reedlings

January 4th

Single Slavonian Grebe and female Common Scoter on the Swale (viewable from the sea wall hide), Water Pipit again on the West Flood, 62 Avocets at the mouth of Faversham Creek at low water and 8 on the East Flood at high tide, 1 Cetti's Warbler calling near the car park

January 2nd

11 Twite on the saltings on the west side, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, several Bearded Reedlings and a Water Rail in reeds near the car park

January 1st

Single Water Pipit on the West Flood, distant Peregrine in pylon to west of reserve

Counts of commoner species:

Linnet 1-2 all month, Tufted Duck  66 on 18th (East Flood), flock of up to 50 Greenfinches, 1 Chaffinch, 1-2 Wrens, 1 Robin (near car park), Pochard 1 on 19th East Flood, Goldfinch 8 on 19th