Oare Marshes Latest Sightings (January)
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Faversham Creek |
January 31st
Waders began congregating on the East & West Floods from around 3pm onwards - Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshanks, Golden Plovers, a few Grey Plovers and 3 Ruff. Stonechat, male & female Marsh Harrier and Rock Pipit were also present and one or two Little Owls started calling near the cottages.
January 25th
Immature Kittiwake again on the reserve
January 24th
Brisk NE wind and the movement of gulls continues with 116 Kittiwakes and a single Little Gull flying east over the Swale.
January 23rd
Cold northerly wind. Immature Kittiwake on the East Flood and several others flying up and down the Swale. Also a Fulmar on the Swale. About 60 Ruff again on the East Flood first thing and later, at high tide, nearly 400 Black-tailed Godwits. From the sea wall hide: 22 Avocets, 2 Mergansers, 5 Marsh Harriers (over South Swale) and Rock Pipit. Probably at least 2 Kingfishers, Bearded Reedling, 2 Water Rails and a ringtail Hen Harrier.
January 20th
A Barn Owl was hunting on the reserve at first light and a flock of 64 Ruff roosting overnight on the East Flood started to disperse in the Sheppy direction. This is an exceptional count for the time of year. A single immature male eider was again opposite the sea wall hide and a Cetti's warbler called from the reedbed quite close to the car park. There were 300 Golden Plovers on the West Flood.
January 13th
From the sea wall hide at the mouth of Faversham Creek on a rising tide: 4 Mergansers, 2 Eiders, 60+ Avocets, a Rock Pipit and several Common Seals distantly on Horse Sands. Approximately 500 Black-tailed Godwits gathered to roost on the East Flood at high tide. Also present: a single Ruff on the West Flood, 2 Water Rails, 2 pairs of Stonechats, Bearded Reedling, a ringtail Hen Harrier and at least 2 Marsh Harriers.
January 12th
Adult male Hen Harrier, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, Kingfisher, single Brent Goose on the West Flood.
January 8th
Single Eider at the mouth of Faversham Creek
January 5th
13 Twite on the West Flood, a single Ruff on the East Flood, Kingfisher, Water Rail, 2+ Bearded Reedlings, 40 Greenfinches, 83 Avocets in the usual place at the mouth of Faversham Creek, Cetti's Warbler calling near the sea wall hide.
January 3rd
Barn Owl near the cottages at 0630, 18 Ruff roosting on the East Flood early morning then flew off towards Sheppy, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and about 50 Avocets on the mudflats west of the causeway, a pair of Stonechats and a Water Rail near the car park.
January 1st
Approximately 1000 Golden Plovers gathered to roost on the reserve late in the afternoon. There were also at least 3 Ruff and a number of Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Redshanks on the West Flood at high water. A Short-eared Owl, ringtail Hen Harrier and several Marsh Harriers were seen on the Isle of Sheppy from the reserve and a Rock Pipit was feeding on the sea wall near the causeway.