Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

October 2006

Resident/Wintering Species

The following are currently on the reserve or in the general area:  Brent Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Bearded Reedling, Cetti's Warbler, Stonechat

Of local interest:  up to 3 Blue Tits, 1 Wren and 1 singing Cetti's Warbler near the car park, c50 Goldfinches on the 11th, 275 Teal on the 11th, flocks of 11 and 24 Herons flying over the Swale on the 11th

Other Wildlife

Butterflies:  Clouded Yellow until the 25th at least

Mammals:  Hare, Weasel, Harvest Mouse, Wood Mouse, Pygmy Shrew, Common Seals (usually on Horse Sands)

Reptiles & amphibians:  Marsh Frog, Common Lizard

October 31st

The Long-billed Dowitcher was feeding close to the road this morning.  Also today:  2 Little Stints, 37 Ruff and 2 Redwings nearby (M Wright)

October 30th

Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Little Stint (P King & J Hinton)

A Spotted redshank visited the East Flood in the afternoon (A Swandale)

October 29th

Long-billed Dowitcher, 21 Ruff, 3 Greenshanks, c100 Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpipers (west side), 49 Avocets at the mouth of Fvaversham Creek, Sparrowhawk, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 singing Cetti's Warblers, 3 pairs of Stonechats, 1 Peregrine on pylon (M Wright)

October 27th

5 Little Stints, 2 Peregrines, 4 Greenshanks, 1 Redpoll flying over, 3 Rock Pipits along the sea wall (M Wright & G Burton)

4 Twite reported on the saltings to the west of the causeway

October 26th

Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Garganey, 1 Curlew Sandpiper (the first since the 11th), 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Little Stint, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshanks, 75 Snipe, 6 Ruff, male Sparrowhawk and 4 singing Cetti's Warblers (M Wright)

The Jack Snipe was seen again.

October 25th

Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Little Stints, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 41 Common Snipe and a Sparrowhawk (M StevensIn addition, a single Brambling flew east and there were 5 Greenshanks and 3 Pintails on the East Flood (A Swandale)

A Great Skua was seen drifting on the Swale whilst eating another bird (M Roser)

The Jack Snipe was reported again.

October 24th

A juvenile Dotterel was photographed on the East Flood by David Gardiner (see below). A Bittern was seen again near the car park and 2 Arctic Skuas were reported flying over the Swale.  The Jack Snipe showed again on the East Flood along with 4 Little Stints, 3 Greenshanks and 2 Spotted Redshanks, the latter only for about an hour. There were still at least 3 Clouded Yellows on the wing. (P King, J & D Hinton, M Stevens).  The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was seen by C Firman.

October 22nd

A Bittern was seen in flight on the east side this morning. The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present again and the Jack Snipe was seen again in the same place as previously i.e. the south edge of the East Flood.  Also today:  1 Garganey, 5 Pintail, 17 Ruff, c50 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Peregrines on a pylon, a Little Owl near the cottages and 4 singing Cetti's Warblers on the reserve.  (M Wright)

October 20th

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was on the East Flood this afternoon until 16:30 at least along with the Garganey, Jack Snipe and 2 Little Stints.  The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was on the New West Scrape with a single Green Sandpiper.  A Peregrine was on a pylon on the west side of Faversham Creek for a change.  (M Wright & C Abrams)

October 19th

Early this morning on the East Flood:  juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher feeding near the road, a Garganey again, 2 Pintails and a Kingfisher.  There were 36 Avocets in Faversham Creek and 2 Little Stints arrived as the tide came in.  A Green Sandpiper was on the New West Scrape again, there were 2 Rock Pipits near the causeway plus 3 Stonechats and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers on the reserve.  (A Swandale, M Wright & S Clinch)

A Bittern dropped into the NW corner on the east side late afternoon (Mick Sinden)

October 18th

A Firecrest was found in a willow in the car park this afternoon - a long overdue first for the reserve.  The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was feeding on the New West Scrape in the afternoon and the Jack Snipe was showing well at times on the East Flood.  Other sightings included:  1 Little Stint, 25 Ruff, 70+ Snipe, c100 Golden Plovers, c500 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sparrowhawk, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine perched on its favourite pylon to the east of Faversham Creek and a single Yellowhammer flying over (now quite scarce in this area).  A single Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tits and a Little Owl were noted just outside the reserve near the cottages.  (M Wright, D Newman, G Burton & C Abrams)

October 17th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was on the East Flood until 10:15 at least and the Jack Snipe showed itself early on.  Also on the East Flood today:  1 Garganey, 6 Bar-tailed and c500 Black-tailed Godwits, c25 Ruff and c150 Golden Plover.  There was a single Green Sandpiper on the west side again plus 2 Sparrowhawks, a Peregrine on one of the pylons and a single Redwing near the reserve.  (M Wright & S Clinch)

October 16th

The Jack Snipe was showing well on the East Flood again today, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Peregrine were also seen. (M Heath)

Nearby at Nagden Cottages there was a flock of c100 Redwings and a Brambling was heard flying over.  (A Swandale)

October 15th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was still present.  In the morning there was an immature Pomarine Skua on and around Horse Sands, a group of 5 Great Skuas flew in and out of the Swale, followed by a group of 3 flying over the Swale and Faversham Creek before heading high inland.  There was a single Guillemot on the Swale and 25 Sandwich Terns, 34 Avocets on the mudflats and 2 Rock Pipits near the Sea Wall Hide. 

(M Wright & K Privett)

1 Brambling on the saltings about 1/2 mile west of the reserve

(I Bradshaw)

October 14th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was on the New West Scrape again.  Other sightings included a Green Sandpiper on the west side, a Merlin, 10 Gannets flying into and out of the Swale, 4 Stonechats, 2 Kingfishers, c20 Bearded Reedlings, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers, 1 Rock Pipits and 2 Little Owls (1 at Uplees and 1 near the cottages)

(M Wright & S Clinch)

October 13th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher, Jack Snipe and Garganey were still present and a single Grey Wagtail flew over

(M Wright & S Clinch)

October 12th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present in the morning and from late afternoon.  It was reported on the Isle of Sheppy early in the afternoon. The Jack Snipe was at times out in the open again on the south edge of the East Flood with Common Snipe.  Also today:  4 Little Stints, 1 Turnstone, 1 Green Sandpiper, 18 Pintails, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.  One or 2 Whimbrel flew high overhead and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers were a new arrival on the Swale.  A single Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaff were recorded on adjacent land.

(A Swandale & M Wright)

October 11th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again today plus a Garganey, 18 Little Stints (17 juvs and 1 winter adult), 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 8 Spotted Redshanks, 42 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Greenshanks, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 drake Eider on Horse Sands and the first Merlin recorded this autumn

(A Swandale, M Wright, D Newman & G Burton)

October 10th

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was refound today between 12:00 and 14:00 and the juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher

and Jack Snipe were also on the East Flood.  Other sightings included a garganey, 9 Little Stints, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 6 Sandwich Terns, the later on the Swale.

October 9th

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper (probably a juvenile) was observed on the East Flood this morning between 10:35 and 10:50. Also on the reserve today:  5 Little Stints, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 22 Knot, 1 Green Sandpiper (New West Scrape), 2 Reed Warblers, 12 Bearded Reedlings, 2 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk. (M Wright)

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was on the New West Scrape in the afternoon (K Cutting)

The Jack Snipe was seen on the East Flood again this afternoon

(G Burton, K Cutting & Marc Heath)

An Arctic Skua and 3 juvenile Gannets were seen over the Swale (M Roser & M Kennett)

October 8th

Juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Little Stints, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Bar and 900 Black-tailed Godwits, 550 Golden Plovers, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Whinchat (A Swandale)

October 7th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present again today plus 11 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, 10+ Grey Plovers, 1 Pintail and 4 Sandwich Terns.  (Paul Cook)

A Jack Snipe was showing well on the East Flood with Common Snipe.

October 6th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was feeding on the East Flood this afternoon as close as 20m from the road before flying off strongly towards Sheppy at about 17:15.  Other sightings included 4 Little Stints, 3 Greenshanks, a Pintail, a Sparrowhawk and a Stonechat.  (A Swandale)

October 5th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present for its fourth day.  Also today 6 juv Little Stints, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers, 47 Ruff, 2 Turnstones, c100 Golden Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers on the west side, 4 Knot, 1 Peregrine on a pylon east of Faversham Creek, a Little Owl near the cottages, 2 Stonechats, 2 Reed Warblers, 12 Bearded Reedlings, 1 Whitethroat and 3 Chiffchaffs in adjacent scrub.  A single Tree Pipit flew SW over the reserve.

(M Wright)

October 4th

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present for its third day alternating between the East Flood where it roosted and the New West Scrape where it fed (viewable from the road).  Also over high water this morning at least 13 Little Stints, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, 13 Bar-tailed Godwits, 560 Golden Plovers, a single Green Sandpiper and Greenshank on the west side, 8 Bearded reedlings flying high over the reserve, a Kingfisher and a Little Owl in the usual place near the cottages. 

(A Swandale)

In addition 2 pairs of Stonechats on the east side, 6 Sandwich terns on the Swale, 2 Chiffchaffs in adjacent scrub (M Wright)

October 3rd

The juvenile-first winter Long-billed Dowitcher was present again today on the East Flood and the New West Scrape.  Also on the reserve this morning:  14 Little Stints, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 47 Ruff, 13-14 Bearded Reedlings and 1 Green Sandpiper.  A Little Owl was heard nearby and a Common Buzzard was visible on Harty Hill on the far side of the Swale channel.  (M Wright)

Also a pair of Stonechats near the car park and a Wheatear

(P Newark)

October 2nd

A Long-billed Dowitcher was discovered feeding on the East Flood during heavy rain at about 17:15 this afternoon shortly before it flew away, calling a few times as it went.  Fortunately it returned later to roost in the middle of the East Flood with redshanks where it remained until darkness and was viewed by several birders. It was considered to be a juvenile/first winter although views were not great due to the poor and failing light.

Also on the East Flood this afternoon/evening were 3 Wood Sandpipers, 27 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and at least 1 Kingfisher.  A Barn Owl was hunting near the road.

(A Swandale)