Oare Marshes - Latest Sightings (November)

AGGREGATES LEVY FUND

Kent Wildlife Trust has been awarded a grant to fund the following:

• Reprofiling and improving the network of dykes, including widening selected sections

• Excavating ‘wader scrapes' in the field to the south of the visitor centre

• Enhancing the East Flood by creating additional shallow margins for feeding waders

• Extending the reedbed in the north east corner.   This will particularly benefit species like Bittern, Bearded Reedling and Water Rail.

• New reserve signs and information boards for the car parks, viewing hides and visitor centre

• Tools such as brushcutters and wheelbarrows

Excavators and a bulldozer are working on the site on weekdays and Saturdays. Please observe the safety notices posted on the gates, put dogs on a lead and keep to the path where work is taking place. 

November 27th

The Bittern was seen landing in a dyke about 100m west of the road.  A single Water Pipit and 14 Twite were also present on the west side.  On the east side there were 3 Jack Snipe and 62 Avocets at the mouth of Faversham Creek.  At least 5 Stonechats, Bearded Reedling, Water Rail, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit, Black & Bar-tailed Godwit.

November 22nd

The immature Spoonbill visited the East Flood again in the afternoon.  Also a Short-eared owl and 2 Ruff.

November 18th

A Bittern was seen flying in to a dyke on the west side, 5 Grey Partridges

November 17th

5 Ruff on the East Flood

November 15th

The Spoonbill was on the East Flood again in the afternoon

November 14th

A Spoonbill visited the East Flood around 3pm (presumably the same individual seen recently on the Isle of Sheppy).  A Hooded Crow was seen from the reserve on Sheppy in the morning.  A Little Auk drifted up the Swale about 500m west of the reserve and the usual flock of 12 Twite was on the saltings.

On the East Flood 560 Black-tailed Godwits were present at high tide (an impressive number for the time of year) along with a single Ruff and 3 Pintail.  A single Redpoll & 6 Corn Buntings flew over.  Stonechats, Bearded Reedlings and Water Rails were also present.

November 12th

Jack Snipe near the East Flood (also seen only in flight!)

November 10th

Jack Snipe on the West Flood (seen only in flight)

November 5th

Spoonbill and Little Stint on the East Flood, several Twite

November 4th

Green Sandpiper on the new scrape in south-west corner

November 3rd

The first winter Grey Phalarope still, Peregrine, 17 Ruff, 3 Water Rails, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers, 3 male Bearded Reedlings, 4 Avocets on the mudflats at the mouth of Faversham Creek

November 1st

The first winter Grey Phalarope was present for its seventh day and feeding very close to the road at times.  A single Little Stint was also on the East Flood.