Oare Marshes Latest Sightings (October)

To help keep this page up-to-date, please send your sightings to tony.swandale@kentwildlife.org.uk

The following are generally present in the area:

Little Egret, Water Rail (6+), Brent Goose (c2500+ at South Swale), Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Golden Plover, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Little Owl, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler (2+), Stonechat (up to 5), Bearded Reedling, Rock Pipit

October 28th

Clouded Yellow Butterfly noted by Bob Bland.

1 Little Stint, Peregrine, 5 Stonechats, 5 Ruff, 5 Marsh Harriers

October 26th

Nine Twite were gathered on the telegraph wires by the car park at 3.45 p.m. A Curlew Sandpiper was present with other waders on the mudflats, Marsh and Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Peregrine were noted and two pairs of Stonechats were also present.

October 21st

Still 4 Little Stints on the East Flood at high water, 1 Green Sandpiper on the new scrape on the west side of the road, Peregrine chasing waders over the Swale

October 16th

At high water this afternoon: 4 Little Stints, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshanks, 65 Knot, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 1270 Dunlin, 400+ Redshanks, 9 Avocets, 14 Ruff, Peregrine, 1 Pintail, 4+ Rock Pipits, 4 Stonechats

Also a Common Seal in Faversham Creek and at least 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies.

October 10th

4 Little Stints, 2 Greenshanks, 23 Ruff, Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 11 Little Egrets on adjacents mudflats, Water Rail close to roadside view point, 3 Sandwich Terns in Faversham Creek, Cetti's Warbler in car park, 6 Wigeon

October 7th

5 Little Stints again, 1 Greenshank, 8 Ruff, 7 Avocets, Bearded Reedling, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, juvenile Marsh Harrier, 4 Sandwich Terns on the causeway, Rock / Water Pipit heard

October 5th

At least 5 Little Stints on the East Flood.  The high tide roost this afternoon included a single Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Avocets, 1 Grey Plover and several Knot.  There was a single Green Sandpiper on the new scrape on the west side of the road.  Also present today:  1 Kingfisher, 4+ Bearded Reedlings, 3+ Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler, a Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier and Stonechat.  There are now a couple of hundred Brent Geese on the Swale, a Common Seal came close to the sea wall hide and 2 Rock / Water Pipits flew over.

October 4th

A fresh north easterly wind brought a few seabirds into the Swale: a single Common Scoter, a first winter Little Gull and an Arctic Skua were all seen from the sea wall hide at high tide in the afternoon.

One Ruff, 2 Greenshanks and 4 Little stints were counted on the East Flood.