Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

May 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.

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

May 31st

(05:15-11:00) A warm, bright and sunny morning with just a light E wind picking up later. 5 Ringed Plovers were on the mud west of the slipway. A pair of Avocets were on the West Scrape, plus 1 Little Egret. A Cetti's Warbler was singing from bushes around the carpark. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the paddocks/scrub west of the cottages, plus the singing Nightingale, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Jay and 1 Little Owl. The pair of Grey Partridges were in the field behind the cottages again, plus a Red-legged Partridge nearby, and a Corn Bunting singing from the hedge there. A drake Garganey was on the East Flood early on and had been joined by a second from mid-morning. 2 Curlews were on the mud at the mouth of Faversham Creek. 2 juvenile Bearded Tits were in the reeds near the Sea Wall hide. 2 Sandwich Terns and 7 Common Terns were on the Swale. A Little Owl was just inland from Dan's Dock. A Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler were in Uplees Copse.

(Murray Wright)

May 28th

(05:30-10:30) A grey and misty start followed by an hour or so of pleasant, warm sunshine before heavy cloud and drizzle rolled in again on the strengthening SE wind. A Corn Bunting was on the wires along the entrance road. Met up with Geoff. A Ringed Plover, an Oystercatcher and a Redshank were the wader highlights on the East Flood at high tide. Highlight of the morning and a year tick (for me anyway) was a pair of Bullfinches in the dead trees opposite the cottages for 30 seconds or so before flying off west - only the second record this year (the other being a pair back in January). 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Cetti's Warbler and the singing Nightingale were all noted early on, and a Blackcap was heard singing later in the morning. 2 Peregrines were on the pylons east of the creek, the distinct size difference suggesting a male and a female. 2 pairs of Teal (three of which later relocated to the East Flood), 3 Gadwall and 1 Yellow Wagtail were on the flood under the powerlines. Several Common Terns were over the Swale. Circa 50 Grey Plovers (only a couple in summer plumage) and 4 Curlews were on the mud on the north side of the Swale looking towards Spitend at Elmley. 4 Brown Hares were surrounding the Little Owl's blockhouse west of the West Flood, with one of the owls only appearing later when the hares had moved on. A Fox was at Uplees Copse. Smaller numbers of Swifts than yesterday were over the reserve again, plus a few Swallows, Sand Martins and just a couple of House Martins.

(Geoff Burton and Murray Wright)

May 27th

(05:15-08:15) Grey and overcast with a very light W wind. After the weekend's heavy rain the water levels are very high across the reserve. Not so good for waders on the East Flood which at high tide were limited to 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Redshanks. The drake Garganey was showing well on the East Flood (as it was all morning - Mike Stevens), plus 4 Little Egrets first thing. The Nightingale was singing well from the paddocks/scrub west of the cottages, as were 1 Cuckoo and 1 Turtle Dove, plus a female Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Little Owl, and a family party of Great Tits. 8 Gadwall and 2 Yellow Wagtails were on the flood under the powerlines. 2 Grey Partridges were in the field behind the cottages again. A Kingfisher flew west from under the sluice. 3 Common Terns were around the mouth of Faversham Creek. Good numbers of Swifts (circa 200) were feeding over the reserve.

(Murray Wright)

May 26th

(09:00-12:30) A gale force NE wind with heavy, driving rain. Just about the worst conditions I've ever been out in at Oare - certainly in May! Headed for the Sea Wall hide for a sea watch. It was too wet to sit inside the hide with the rain blowing straight in (a bit like being in a carwash with the windows down I imagine!), so I sheltered behind it, which was fairly comfortable with the rain going straight over the top. Didn't expect too much, but I did get two year ticks: 2 Fulmars - one at 09:28 and the second at 11:45 both seen in the vicinity of the closest green bouy; and 2 Kittiwakes - an adult and a first summer together flying east at 10:02. Apart from that there were 12 Sandwich Terns and circa 25 Common Terns passed, plus 5 Grey Plovers and 1 Curlew on the mud.

(Murray Wright)

May 25th

(06:30-11:30) Heavy rain on an E breeze until circa 08:30 when the rain petered out and the wind backed to a very light SE, the cloud gradually breaking up as morning progressed. I managed to make it to the East Hide before the deluge intensified. Little to see on the East Flood at first except for a Common Sandpiper. However, while marooned in the hide for two hours by the heavy rain a few birds came and went: a smart summer plumaged Dunlin dropped in, quickly followed by 2 bright Turnstones which hung around for 20 minutes before flying off west, a Whimbrel flew east, 2 Ringed Plovers appeared, a single Black-tailed Godwit was roosting on one of the islands, and a Sandwich Tern flew east. A smart drake Garganey appeared near to the road - a much brighter bird than the last one I saw a few weeks ago, throwing its head back and giving its strange creaking call several times. Also on the East Flood this morning: 2 Avocets, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Terns, 4 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 7 Tufted Ducks and 2 Little Egrets. After the rain stopped it turned very muggy. The Nightingale was singing well opposite the cottages, and amongst lots of birds drying themselves out in the paddocks/scrub the following were noted: 2 Cuckoos, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler and a male Sparrowhawk. A Corn Bunting was singing near the sluice. A second Common Sandpiper was along Faversham Creek. A Peregrine was on the Nagden pylons. 5 Curlews were on the mud at the mouth of the creek, and 2 Little Terns and 6 Common Terns were on the Swale there. A Barn Owl was hunting over the West Flood until well after 11:00. 1 Little Owl was on the blockhouses to the west of the flood. A Hobby circled high over the reserve.

(Murray Wright)

May 24th

A Fulmar was on the Swale close infront of the Sea Wall hide at 15:12 - the first of the year, always a good Oare year tick and perhaps to be expected with the strong NE wind today.

(Phil Bull)

May 23rd

(09:40-14:30) An odd day, alternately bright sunshine, mist then cloud and a freshening breeze. A very quiet day on the avian front. In short: Cetti's at the cottages, car park and copse. Little and Common Tern flying east from Uplees Canada Geese (2) on W flood Little Owl near Dan's dock Several Marsh Harriers over East and West Floods and over Sheppey Avocet, 2 at the Copse, one on New West pool and East Flood Grey Plover on the shore at Uplees Pochard, 9 on East Flood Gadwall, 10 on East Flood Nightingale near Cottages.

(Mike Stevens)

May 22nd

(06:00-12:00) Overcast and muggy with a few brighter spells. No wind until circa 11:00 when a light E developed. A Corn Bunting was singing along the entrance track to Court Lodge Farm as I drove in. 3 imm./female Marsh Harriers were over the West Flood first thing, plus an adult male later. 30 Black-tailed Godwits were on the East Flood,  plus a pair of Avocets and 2 Little Egrets. Lots of noisy juvenile Starlings were in the paddocks including 13 together in one bush. 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo and 1 singing Nightingale were west of the cottages. A Peregrine was on the Nagden Pylons. Around 08:30 there was a gathering of circa 75 Black-headed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls on the Swale off the slipway, apparently feeding on a shoal of small fish. Amongst these were 11 Common Terns, 1 Little Tern and, new for the year, 3 Black Terns - some of the terns including the Blacks occasionally settled at the west end of Horse Sands. A Little Owl was west of the West Flood. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling at Dan's Dock and watched feeding along the fence there. A Sandwich Tern was preening on the shore at Uplees, and 1 Little Tern and 3 Common Terns were on the Swale, and just 1 Curlew on the mud there. Circa 25 House Martins were over the Gate House Bungalows with birds gathering mud from a pond infront of the barn there, plus a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Jay nearby. Back at the slipway around 11:00 the feeding flock of gulls and terns had broken up with no sign of the Black Terns. The pair of Avocets and 1 Little Egret were on the West Scrape. A Corn Bunting was singing from a tree east of the cottages.

(Murray Wright)

May 21st

(05:20-11:00) Bright, sunny and calm with no wind until circa 09:00 when an E  breeze picked up. Warmer than recently. Fairly quiet again. 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 1 singing Nightingale and 1 Long-tailed Tit were in the paddocks/scrub west of the cottages. A Barn Owl was hunting over the new acquisition, catching a vole at circa 07:30 and heading south-east across Oare Creek towards Ham Road. The 2 Grey Partridges were in the field behind the cottages again. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on the East Flood, and a flock of 15 circled around before thinking better of it and flying east. Also on the East Flood this morning: 2 Avocets, 2 Common Terns, 5 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Pochard and 2 Little Egrets. A Little Owl was taking the sun near Dan's Dock, and 2 Marsh Harriers were quartering the fields there. 14 Dunlins, 4 Ringed Plovers and 1 Curlew were on the mud at Uplees, plus 6 Common Terns on the Swale and 1 Turtle Dove in the copse. 2 Avocets and 1 Little Egret were on the West Scrape. Over the East Flood a Hobby made a couple of failed attempts at catching one of the many Sand Martins before drifting east.

(Murray Wright)

At about 11.30 a male Marsh Harrier was hunting around Dan's dock area. There was a pair of Grey Partridges and the harrier took one of them and proceeded to pluck it. The other partridge went for the harrier which then flew rather awkardly to the other side of the farm track with its kill.

(Mick Cotter)    

May 20th

(05:15-08:15) Mainly bright and sunny, but still a brisk and cool NE wind. The Barn Owl was hunting around the West Flood first thing. A Yellow Wagtail was in the horse paddocks, with the Nightingale, a Turtle Dove and a Cuckoo all singing nearby. A Greenshank flew off north from the East Flood early on, and there were also 2 Common Sandpipers present. A Corn Bunting was singing from bushes near the powerlines, plus a Red-legged Partridge nearby. A pair of Grey Partridges were in the field behind the cottages again. 2 Grey Plovers and 2 Whimbrel were on the mud around the mouth of Faversham Creek. A Short-eared Owl was hunting just to the east of the Harty Ferry Inn on Sheppey. 2 Avocets and 1 Little Egret were on the West Scrape.  A Corn Bunting was singing from wires along the entrance road as I left.

(Murray Wright)

In addition to the above, there was a duck Pochard with five small ducklings on the west side close to the road, a pair of Mistle Thrushes with a newly-fledged juvenile behind the west hide and c20 Black-tailed Godwits flew over the east flood. At least 30 Swifts were feeding low over the floods on both sides of the road.

(Geoff Burton)

May 19th

At least three pairs of Sedge Warblers were on the brambles along the entrance road.

(Philip Bland)

May 18th

(05:30-11:15) Bright and sunny after a cloudy start. Wind was still a stong and cool NE. A Barn Owl was hunting around the reserve first thing. 2 Turtle Doves flew east over the cottages, and the Nightingale was singing occasionally nearby. A Greenshank flew west dropping beyond the West Hide. 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Terns, 2 drake Gadwall and 1 drake Teal were on the East Flood. A third Greenshank was on the floods under the pylons. A pair of Grey Partridges were in the field behind the cottages. A Kingfisher flew from under the sluice and headed across the East Flood. A Whimbrel was along Faversham Creek. A pair of Marsh Harriers were hunting over the west side. 2 Yellow Wagtails flew west over the Watch House. 1 Little Tern and 6 Common Terns were fishing on the Swale off Uplees, plus 1 Whimbrel was on the mud there, and a Turtle Dove was 'purring' in the copse. A second pair of Grey Partridges were flushed off the seawall near Dan's Dock. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing by Gate House Bungalows. 2 Avocets were on the West Scrape. Returning to the East Flood there were circa 75 Common Swifts feeding low over the water, plus circa 10 House Martins and lots of Sand Martins and Swallows.

(Murray Wright)

May 16th

(06:25-11:00) Cloudy with a light NE wind. Most notable was the numbers of waders on the mudflats, none of which, incidentally, made it onto the floods at high tide. At the mouth of the creek there were nine Ringed Plovers, four Grey Plovers and three Dunlin whilst a party of 15 Turnstones flew up the creek. A party of c25 Bar-tailed Godwits circled over the mudflats and, as the tide came in, a party of c30 Dunlin, a few more Turnstones and three Knot flew up the Swale. One single Whimbrel was by the slipway as the tide came in. A drake Teal was on the floods under the pylons, a Corn Bunting in song by the sluice, a Little Owl on one of the blockhouses beyond the west flood, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew south over Dan's Dock and landed in the trees within the hamlet at Uplees and a Tree Pipit flew up calling from the field west of the Uplees track, landed briefly atop a tree near the hamlet and then continued south inland. Opposite the cottages, the Nightingale was in good voice, the Blackcap sang occasionally and a Turtle Dove was seen. One Hobby circled over the cottages and drifted west.

(Geoff Burton)

(13:30-16:45) A grey and cool afternoon with a bit of light drizzle and a continuing NE breeze. A Yellow Wagtail (still pretty scarce at the moment) flew east over the East Flood as I arrived. Met Mike Stevens at the pull-in. Good numbers of hirundines were feeding low over the flood, mainly Sand Martins and Swallows, but amongst these were circa 25 House Martins (a year tick for Mike), and up to 50 Common Swifts were present too. 11 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Common Terns were also on the flood. The Golden Plover was on the floods under the pylons again, and a Little Ringed Plover was there too (the first for about a month!). 11 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers were between the sluice and the Sea Wall hide. 4 Grey Plovers were on the mud infront of the hide, with several more on Horse Sands, and a Little Tern was off Castle Coote. 3 Curlews were on the mud east of the creek, but no Whimbrel noted this afternoon. 1 Little Owl was west of the West Flood. A Sandwich Tern and 5 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale. A Cuckoo was on the sheepfields, plus several Jackdaws (another year tick for Mike - sorry Mike, but I had to mention that!).

(Mike Stevens and Murray Wright)

May 15th

(07:30-11:00) Cool and overcast with rain from 09:00. The wind was still from the NE, but lighter than recently. A Corn Bunting was along the entrance road on the way in. A Hobby flew low east over the cottages, and the Nightingale was still singing occasionally nearby. The drake Ruddy Duck was on the East Flood, plus 2 Gadwall, 4 Pochard and 7 Tufted Ducks. A Golden Plover was on the floods under the pylons again. A Common Sandpiper was along Faversham Creek. A Greenshank flew east along the Swale from the Sea Wall hide, plus 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Grey Plovers. 1 Little Owl was just west of the West Flood. A mixed flock of circa 15 Grey Plovers and circa 25 Dunlins flew east along the Swale from Dan's Dock. 3 Avocets were on the West Scrape, plus 3 Whimbrel and 4 Black-tailed Godwits. Several Swifts and circa 50 Sand Martins were low over the East Flood as the rain got heavier.

(Murray Wright)

May 13th

(05:30-09:00 and 11:30-16:45) Bright and sunny again, but much cooler with a strong NE breeze. Myself and Mike Stevens were at the reserve today (Mike having to return home this morning for some warmer clothing!). The morning was very quiet. Mike had a Yellow Wagtail along the entrance road. The Nightingale was still singing opposite the cottages. A Greenshank was the only wader of note on the East Flood at high tide. A Golden Plover was on the floods under the pylons, with a Corn Bunting singing from bushes to the west. The day took a turn for the better this afternoon when a Red Kite was picked up circling high over the East Flood at 14:35 drifting slowly west - a year tick for both of us. A flock of circa 25 Black-tailed Godwits circled the East Flood mid-afternoon landing for about a minute before flying off north. A noisy flock of 9 Greenshanks flew in from Faversham Creek at 15:45 landing in the north-east corner of the flood for 10 minutes before flying out to the Swale. Also on the flood today: a further 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Terns, 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 4 Gadwall, 4 Pochard and 11 Tufted Ducks. Lots of Sand Martins over the reserve this afternoon with smaller numbers of Swallows and circa 25 Common Swifts. The pair of Avocets were on the West Scrape again. A Corn Bunting was singing from wires along the entrance road as I drove home.

(Mike Stevens and Murray Wright)

2 Wood Sandpipers were on the East Flood this evening circa 20:00, and 9 Greenshank were on the mud east of the slipway.

(Tony Sayers)

May 12th

(07:30-12:30) Another hot and sunny morning with a brisk NE wind picking up later. A fairly quiet morning. A pair of Sparrowhawks were circling over the fishing ponds. The Nightingale was singing west of the cottages, plus 1 Turtle Dove there, and 1 Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats were in the paddocks. On the East Flood: 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank and 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Avocets were on the West Scrape. 3 Hobbies and 1 Common Buzzard were seen from Dan's Dock. A pair of Turtle Doves were in Uplees Copse again, and 3 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale.

(Murray Wright)

May 11th

(05:00-12:15) Another hot, sunny morning with a light easterly wind. There was a gathering of a few hopefuls at Dan's Dock; would there be another appearance of the Red-footed Falcon or would a Red Kite or two drift over. Well, they didn't! There were about five Hobbies in the area and three Common Buzzards were soaring over Uplees village. There was very little else of note; three first-summer Mediterranean Gulls drifted over from Sheppey in the early morning and the pair of Grey Partidges were near the dock. A single Greenshank was seen on the west flood, there were at least three Whimbrel in the fields but no other migrant waders were noted.

(Geoff Burton)

At about 16:00 2 Red Kites drifted west.

(Barry Wright)

May 10th

(05:30-11:30) Hot and sunny again, but with a bit more cloud today and a variable light wind. 2 Greenshanks departed north from the East Flood shortly after my arrival. The Nightingale and Blackap were singing well in the scrub west of the cottages, plus a Cuckoo and a Little Owl nearby, and a Hobby headed south over the cottages. 6 Little Terns and 27 Common Terns were fishing at the western end of Horse Sands. 3 Whimbrel were on the mud west of the slipway. 1 Little Owl was near Dan's Dock. A pair of Grey Partridges were on the sheepfields, plus 6 Whimbrel. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing at Uplees copse and 2 Sandwich Terns were on the Swale there. Back at the cottages a Hobby circled over. Richard Smith picked out another pair of Grey Partridges in the field behind the cottages.

(Murray Wright)

Late afternoon the pager reported a female Red-footed Falcon again at Dan's Dock at 10:30 before drifting high east, but no further details or reports received.

(15:30-18:45) A brisk ENE sea breeze was now blowing. I returned in the hope of one of the many Red Kites being seen around the county might put in an appearance, but no joy. Met up with Chris Bond. Chris had had an adult Little Gull on the West Flood earlier. On the East Flood at high tide: 1 Little Stint, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Little Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Terns, plus 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 2 Gadwall and circa 20 Mallard. A Peregrine was perched on the Nagden Pylons. A pair of Avocets were on the West Scrape, plus circa 25 Tufted Ducks.

(Murray Wright)

May 9th

(05:45-08:00) Hot, sunny and calm. I usually take Friday's off, but the temptation that the Collared Pratincole and/or Red-footed Falcon may have wandered over from Sheppey was too much, so I had a couple of hours to spare early morning and headed to Oare. Sadly I didn't see either of these two species and it was generally fairly quiet. A pair of Garganey were on the East Flood, the male already looking quite faded. 2 Common Sandpipers were along Faversham Creek near the sluice. A Sandwich Tern flew east along the Swale, and circa 25 Common Terns and 2 Little Terns were fishing at the western end of Horse Sands.

(Murray Wright)

I persevered at a fairly quiet Oare Marshes this morning and was rewarded when a female Red-footed Falcon appeared behind the scrub to the west of Dan's Dock at 09:10. It drifted slowly east hawking for insects. I drifted east with it, the bird happily coming within a few yards on occasion. We both reached Dan's Dock at 09:30 from where I carried on to go to work and the falcon moved back west. It may well still be around. Only other birds of note, a pair of Garganey on the East Flood at 08:00.

(Jim Bloor)

(13:45-16:45) Still hot and sunny, but a pleasant ENE wind had picked up. Headed back to Oare in the hope that the Red-footed Falcon was hanging around. I was joined by Geoff Burton and we walked the path from Dan's Dock south-west to the Gate House Bungalows. The light wasn't great with plenty of heat haze. Sadly we couldn't relocate the falcon, but the following was noted: up to 6 Hobbies over the trees along the southern edge of the reserve and the West Flood; 3 Marsh Harriers (2 males and a female); 2 Cuckoos one of which was a fine hepatic individual; 4 Whimbrels on the sheepfields; 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew south; and circa 50 House Martins were over the hamlet. On his way to Dan's Dock Geoff heard a Wood Sandpiper calling on the West Flood - the first of the year. Back at the East Flood the pair of Garganey were still present, plus 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 1 Bar-headed Goose and 2 Common Terns. An Avocet dropped onto the West Scrape. Also 2 Little Stints were reported on the East Flood early evening, and Steve Clinch had a Barn Owl hunting around the west side of the reserve an hour or so before dusk.

(Murray Wright)

 
May 8th

(05:45-12:00) Another warm and sunny morning after a misty start. The wind was a light SE. A Corn Bunting was singing from wires along the entrance road. In the paddocks/scrub west of the cottages: 1 singing Nightingale (a second bird was singing from somewhere near the fishing ponds), 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Blackcap and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. The pair of Canada Geese and 9 Tufted Ducks were infront of the West Hide. 2 Common Sandpipers were on the East Flood, plus 1 Greenshank flew over, 2 Common Terns, 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 4 Gadwall and 2 Little Egrets. A Corn Bunting was singing around the East Hide. 2 more Common Sandpipers were along Faversham Creek. A Peregrine was on the Nagden pylons - nice to see all the work currently being done on the pylons doesn't seem to have upset them. 3 Whimbrel were on the mud west of the slipway. 1 Little Owl was noted on the way to Dan's Dock. A Wheatear was near Uplees copse, plus 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Long-tailed Tits in the copse, and 2 Sandwich Terns on the Swale there with several Common Terns. 4 Whimbrel and 1 Avocet were on the West Scrape. Heading back to the cottages a Common Buzzard was circling high over the fields to the south, a pair of Marsh Harriers failed to make a food pass over the field of rape, and a Sparrowhawk drifted east.

(Murray Wright)

(19:30-21:00) With thoughts of a wandering Pratincole, I was down for the last part of the day. A beautiful evening but, on the east flood, a single Common Sandpiper was the only migrant wader present. That is not surprising given the high water level that is being maintained but I couldn't help contrasting this with the fortunes at Grove Ferry where the "Stour Crazies" are enjoying good numbers and variety of waders at present. A single drake Ruddy Duck was also on the east flood and a Hobby landed in the elder bush on the west flood at dusk. But the Pratincole, and a Red-footed Falcon, remained stubbornly on the wrong side of the Swale!

(Geoff Burton)

May 7th

A Hobby was in almost continuous view over the West side with one short foray to the East Flood. Otherwise at the Cottages there were Common and Lesser Whitethroat, a Corn Bunting and a Nightingale singing. A Cuckoo was reported.
A quick scan over the East flood suggested that a) there was nothing of any great note to be seen and b) whatever there was to be seen could be counted on the fingers of two hands. Just off the flood there was a Lesser Whitethroat singing 'landside' of the East Hide.
And that's it! Looking forward to a lengthier visit tomorrow!

(Mike Stevens)

May 5th

(05:30-11:30) Warm, bright and sunny with a freshening E wind. Met up with John Pymm on a pretty quiet morning. A Common Sandpiper was on the East Flood (later on the West Scrape) and a Greenshank was along Faversham Creek and later seen several times in flight over the reserve calling loudly. A pair of Peregrines were flying over Nagden before settling on one of the pylons. Up to 6 Little Terns were feeding on the Swale off the Sea Wall hide, plus a few Common Terns. One Little Owl was seen on the way to Dan's Dock, and the pair of Wheatears were around their favoured pile of concrete. 3 Sandwich Terns were on the Swale off Uplees, a single Brent Goose was on the mud there, 2 Turtle Doves were 'purring' in the copse, and a Wheatear was on the short grass nearby. 6 Whimbrel and circa 20 Black-tailed Godwits were around the West Scrape. In the paddocks/scrub west of the cottages: 1 singing Nightingale, 1 Blackcap, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Jay and 1 Corn Bunting. As I drove out at around 11:30 a Corn Bunting was singing along the entrance road and a Cuckoo flew west.

I was just leaving Sainsbury's to return home for lunch when I got a pager message reporting 2 Temminck's Stints on the East Flood at 12:12, so, not having seen any at Oare for a couple of years, I turned around and headed back. No sign of any Temminck's between 12:30 and 14:00, however, with Geoff Burton's help, 2 moulting Little Stints, which had come in on the high tide, were identified. There were also 2 Avocets and 2 Common Terns on the flood.

(Murray Wright)

May 4th

(05:15-11:30) Warm, hazy sunshine with a light SE wind picking up later. The usual suspects were present in the scrub/paddocks west of the cottages: 1 singing Nightingale, 1 Cuckoo, 1 purring Turtle Dove, 1 Blackcap and plenty of Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers. Around 50 Sand Martins were over the fishing ponds. The pair of Canada Geese were looking quite settled infront of the West Hide. There was little on the East Flood: a pair of Common Terns, 2 drake Gadwall and a Little Egret. On the mud infront of the Sea Wall hide there were 1 male Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Dunlins and 4 Grey Plover, and 3 Little Terns and several Common Terns were on the Swale. 3 drake Ruddy Ducks were on the fleet just east of the West Flood. Met Bob Gomes on the sea wall by the Watch House. Amongst other things we chatted about the Black-winged Stilts at Elmley yesterday, and how it was almost exactly 10 years since the last birds were seen at Oare. These were a pair which had arrived with a third bird at Elmley the day before they moved to Oare and settled down for a five day stay (May 27th-31st 1998). Wouldn't it be nice for a repeat performance - wishful thinking perhaps? I continued on my way to Uplees seeing one of the Little Owls on the way. At 08:10 Bob rang me to say the 2 Black-winged Stilts had appeared on the East Flood! However, after moving along the entrance road to get a better look they had disappeared, but may have come my way. I hurried back along the sea wall and, fortunately, re-located them on the West Flood about 5 minutes later. We watched them until 08:30 when they flew off back towards the East Flood, but then circled back west over the saltmarsh and dropped out of view near Dan's Dock. I headed back there and watched them on the marshy area to the west of the West Flood until 08:37 when they took off and flew high NW across the Swale heading back towards Elmley, where they were reported again from late morning onwards. Not quite a five day stay, but hopefully they'll be back. Many thanks for the call Bob (and for getting my number from Chris Abrams)! 16 Whimbrel were on the sheepfields. There were 2 Grey Partridges and 1 Wheatear at Uplees. Along the Swale on the way back there were 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Little Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns and circa 10 Common Terns. Around the West Scrape there were 2 Avocets, circa 40 Black-tailed Godwits and 9 Whimbrel.

(Murray Wright)

May 3rd

(06:00-11:30) A fine, sunny and warm morning with a light S wind picking up later. The Nightingale was singing well again opposite the cottages, and the following were noted in the scrub/paddocks: 2 or 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Little Owl, 1 male Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Water Rail. Again not a lot on the East Flood over high tide: 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Avocets and 79 Black-tailed Godwits, plus 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 2 Common Terns and 2 Little Egrets. Fewer hirundines around this morning with just a few Swallows and Sand Martins noted. A Peregrine flew slowly east high over the reserve, and later two birds were soaring high over Nagden Marshes. 6 Brent Geese were on Horse Sands. 23 Black-tailed Godwits and 10 Whimbrel were around the West Scrape. A second drake Ruddy Duck was on the fleet just to the east of the West Flood. A duck Mallard with circa 8 ducklings was on the West Flood. 1 Little Owl was taking the sun near Dan's Dock and 1 female Wheatear was nearby. The regular pair of Grey Partidges were between Dan's Dock and Uplees, and a second female Wheatear was on the short grass there.

(Murray Wright)

May 2nd

(05:25-10:30) A sunny, calm and very pleasant morning but rather quiet. Nightingale, Cuckoo and Turtle Dove were all in song west of the cottages and there appeared to be two Lesser Whitethroats in song; one behind the east hide and the other beyond the paddocks. A Common Sandpiper was on the east flood but the water level is too high to attract many waders. A Little Owl was on the concrete block in the Blockhouse fields and a male Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridges were near Dan's Dock. The pair of Canada Geese appear settled in front of the west hide and there were two drake Ruddy Ducks in the main west drain. Broods of Mallard were seen in the main west drain and on the east flood. A Bar-tailed Godwit flew west up the Swale, four Ringed Plovers were on the mud near the seawatch hide, five Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale, three Little Terns off the creek and a single Brent Goose was on the Swale near Horse Island. Raptors included a Sparrowhawk carrying prey south over the east flood, a Peregrine on the Nagden pylons and then NW over the east flood and a Buzzard soaring high over Mocketts Hill. Whimbrel were scattered over most of the grassland areas and in the creek, maybe 20-30 in number.

(Geoff Burton)

May 1st

(06:00-11:30) Sunshine and showers with a brisk SW wind. 2 Turtle Doves were opposite the cottages early on, plus the Nightingale singing, 1 male Blackcap (a second was singing somewhere near the fishing ponds) and 1 Lesser Whitethroat, plus 1 calling Cuckoo and 1 Little Owl nearby. A second Lesser Whitethroat was singing behind the East Hide. Lots of Swallows and Sand Martins over and around the East Flood again, plus 1 House Martin and circa 25 Swifts. Little on the East Flood at high tide: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Avocets, and 54 Black-tailed Godwits, plus 2 Common Terns, 1 Little Egret and 2 Yellow Wagtails, and a pair of Greylags with 7 goslings. 8 Whimbrel were on the saltmarsh west of the slipway, with circa 50 on the sheepfields (including a flock of 25 flying in). A pair of Wheatears were near Dan's Dock and three more birds were on the short grass at Uplees. 2 drake Ruddy Ducks were on the fleet between the West Scrape and West Flood. 14 Whimbrel and 23 Black-tailed Godwits were around the West Scrape, and a Sparrowhawk flew low west over the West Flood.

(Murray Wright)