Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

February 2010

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 2010

To view the complete list of species recorded so far this year please click here.

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

February 27th

(08:00-11:30) Overcast and showery with a freshening SSW wind. The redhead Smew was on the West Scrape first thing, and 2 Canada Geese were on the West Flood again. The pair of Grey Partridges were in the field south of the cottages again. A Water Pipit was on the pools on the new acquistion with 14 Pied Wagtails and several Meadow Pipits. 2 Greenshanks and the Spotted Redshank were along Faversham Creek near the Shipwright's Arms. 120+ Avocets were at the mouth of the creek before flying off west along the Swale as the tide rose, plus 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale. On the West Scrape at high tide there were 2 Grey Plovers, circa 300 Golden Plovers, 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 11 Ruff, and on the East Flood there were 4 Dunlins, 1 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plovers, 1 Greenshank, circa 250 Redshanks and 5 Ruff. 2 Cetti's Warblers were singing this morning. My first Jay of the year flew west from the cottages as I drove off.

(Murray Wright)

February 26th

(09:45-13:00) On a cold and blustery morning I met Geoff just as he was departing. As it turned out I don't think that he saw anything that I didn't see subsequently save for twenty and more Pochards in front of the West Hide. The high tide roost comprised mainly Redshanks and Lapwings with a few Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Dunlins thrown in. The Spotted Redshank made an appearance as did a Greenshank and for a short while there were about 70+ Black-tailed Godwits east of the East Hide, where the redhead Smew was also to be seen. The male Hen Harrier twice appeared over the East Flood. Battling against the wind, intrepidly I made my way to the Sea Wall hide. An exercise in futility if ever there was one since, apart from a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 or 4 Great Crested Grebes and a ringtail Hen Harrier along the Sheppey shoreline, there was nothing to report. Doubtless in my absence it will all start happening in the next ten days or so with early Wheatears, Sand Martins and more besides turning up; c'est la vie!

(Mike Stevens)
 

February 25th

(07:15-11:45) A glorious, mild, sunny and 'spring-like' start, but cloud and showers soon blowing in on the freshening SSW wind. There were so many of birders at Oare this morning that I thought I'd overslept and woken up at the weekend! The 'resident' Mikes R and S were onsite for high tide first thing, plus there was a scarce midweek flock of Burts, a visiting pair of Boothroyds, a distant pair of Steves(?), and a fellow member of the 'Tufty Club' Martin Hadleigh 'sans' canoe, plus several other unidentified late winter vistors! Lots of songsters were enjoying the early morning sunshine - Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Great and Blue Tits, Skylarks, Chaffinches etc., plus a distant drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker. The redhead Smew was preening on the bank of one of the dykes on the west side before flying out to the West Flood, where there were 5 Canada Geese. Mike R in the East Hide had located the Spotted Redshank roosting amongst the Common Redshanks, plus there were a few Golden Plovers and good numbers of Snipe, and he'd also seen a pair of Long-tailed Tits in the trees behind the hide. The pair of Grey Partridges were in the field south of the cottages again. A Cetti's Warbler was singing and seen briefly in the bushes south of the pylons. Mike R headed west to Uplees where he saw a party of 9 Red-breasted Mergansers (seven drakes and two ducks), plus two further drakes mid-channel - "the drakes starting preliminary courtship with necks thrust forward at 45deg., plus circa 120 Avocets in a tight swimming flock off the Harty banks and 52 Curlew feeding in  pastures adjacent to the copse, plus a Cetti's Warbler singing behind the copse." The 'masses' gathered at the Sea Wall hide noted at least 11 Red-breasted Mergansers and half a dozen Great Crested Grebes on the Swale, but there was no sign of either the drake Eider or yesterday's Great Northern Diver. Something disturbing the East Flood prooved to be a male Hen Harrier, which drifted over the west side and headed off west over the saltmarsh. Numbers of Marsh Harriers were noted both sides of the Swale, and small flocks of Brent Geese were regularly moving up and down the Swale.

(Murray Wright et al.)  

The immature Iceland Gull was showing well about 100m east of the mouth of Faversham creek towards Castle Coote this afternoon, seen from the Sea Wall hide between 14:30-15:00, when it flew west along the Swale. The redhead Smew was also showing well on an 'island' in the far SE corner of the East flood (nearest the creek) at about 14:00.

(Stephen Elves)

February 24th

(07:15-11:30) A grey, wet and murky morning with a light SSE breeze. Another soggy walk around the patch, which is looking wetter by the day! I flushed the redhead Smew from a dyke as I headed towards the West Hide - she flew to the East Flood, and during the morning I spooked her twice more as I made my way around the flood. A Cetti's Warbler was singing from the paddocks, and two or three Skylarks were singing high over the west side. A male Marsh Harrier circled over the cottages and drifted west. One of the Greenshanks was along Faversham Creek opposite the Shipwright's Arms again. 15 Pied Wagtails were feeding around the new acquisition. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew west along the Swale. 2 drake Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale at Uplees, plus 14 Great Crested Grebes, and 2 Water Rails were in the copse. As I headed back east I found a Great Northern Diver on the Swale off the Harty Ferry slipway Sheppey-side, and it gradually made its way west catching crabs. The regular Water Rail was under the willows in the south-west corner of the carpark again. As I got in the car and started to drive off the rain stopped, the sky brightened and as I got home the sun finally broke through!

(Murray Wright)

(12:00-15:45) Weather-wise a balmy afternoon with good visibility. I met up with Mike Roser at the Sea Wall hide. En route he'd seen a Rock Pipit along the Sea Wall and I'd confirmed that the Water Rail was still fossicking around in its usual spot near the car park. From the hide we saw 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, the drake Eider and a Common Buzzard crossing the Swale and c90 Avocets on the Sheppey shoreline. Mike had been told that the redhead Smew had been seen earlier in the day on the West Pool. On the East Flood there were 20 Golden Plovers (increased to 153 by the time of my departure), 15 Ruff and 70+ Common Snipe. A further 20 Golden Plovers were to be seen on the West Pool along with a lone Dunlin.

(Mike Stevens)

February 23rd

(08:20-11:00) An eye-watering strong ENE wind with initially poor visibility made for a not wholly pleasant and brief visit. There was a fair bit of avian activity opposite the cottages, but nothing to detain me and much the same could be said of the East Flood. The Water Rail was showing well under the willow by the car park and was still on view some 90 minutes later. From the sea wall by the slipway about 30+ swans could just about be made out in the fields at the foot of Mockett's. 'Scope control was very difficult and given the distance and the light it was not possible to determine whether they were Mutes or Whoopers. There also appeared to be about half a dozen smaller swans, but even in improved light on my return I could not be certain of this. From the Sea Wall hide I could see 2 Red-breasted Mergansers on the Swale, 71 Avocets on the 'flats in front and one Turnstone. A maximum of 4 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale and since the prospect of anything else appearing seemed remote, I decided to call it a day and head off to home and then work.

(Mike Stevens)

February 22nd

The briefest of visits allowing time to drink a flask of coffee and, in a morning of saturation and bereft of comfort, there was sufficient time to watch the redhead Smew depart SE (Ham Road pits?) and to claim a personal OYT in the form of 2 Canada Geese east in front of the hide. Amorous Coots, probing Snipe and loafing Pochards seemed the only sps enjoying the soaking, although a Little Egret 20m from the hide was continually successful locating its prey in 'ankle' deep water.

(Mike Roser)

February 21st

(07:15-11:30) Cloud and rain blowing in a on a freshening S breeze. The Barn Owl returned to its roost as I arrived. I met John Pymm and Philip Goacher for a soggy wander around the patch. On the East Flood there were 29 Gadwall, 45 Pintail, 5 Pochard, 127 Tufted Ducks and 25 Mute Swans, plus good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler, and 2 Little Egrets. 11 more Pochard were on the pool in front of the West Hide. A Greenshank was along Faversham Creek. From the Sea Wall hide we picked out the drake Eider on the Swale again, although it was at least a mile away to the east! Julian Russell noted 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 4 Great Crested Grebes on the Swale. A male Stonechat was by the West Flood. The walk to Uplees was wet and unproductive, however, in the copse we flushed 2 Woodcock - an Oare tick for John and Philip. On the mud there were circa 30 Black-tailed Godwits amongst the Curlews. Walking back a small male Hen Harrier drifted past us and landed in the grass by Dan's Dock and we flushed it twice more as we headed back before it eventually drifted off south carrying prey.

(Murray Wright)  

February 20th

(07:20-12:00) Bright and sunny after a sharp frost with a light NW breeze. Richard Roberts was already onsite when I arrived. A Cetti's Warbler sang and showed briefly in the paddocks, where there were also 2 Long-tailed Tits, and several Song Thrushes were in full voice. A Skylark was singing over the west side. 17 Pied Wagtails were amongst the Meadow Pipits feeding on the new acquisition. A Rock Pipit was around the sluice. A Peregrine was on the second pylon east of Faversham Creek. We found the redhead Smew on the East Flood amongst circa 100 Tufted Ducks. The leucistic Curlew shone out on Horse Sands. 110 Avocets were roosting on the mud in front of the Sea Wall hide, and 5 Great Crested Grebes and 14 Mute Swans were on the Swale, and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew north to Sheppey being mobbed by Herring Gulls. Richard Smith picked us out the drake Eider some way to the east on the Swale. A pair of Marsh Harriers were calling high over Nagden.

(Murray Wright)

At high tide on the East Flood this afternoon there were 3 Little Stints, 42 Dunlins, 6 Ruff, 2 Grey Plovers and 30 Golden Plovers.

(Julian Russell)  

The Barn Owl was hunting over the marsh this p.m.

(Mike Gould)

I had two sightings in February of a Bittern, one at around 17:30 on the 20th and another at 17:15 on the 21st. The first was behind the Sea Wall hide delph ditch where the bird jumped after a low flying jet flew above, and the second was behind the car park, there was no one else around, the Bittern got out of the ditch flew over the road and landed in the reed cluster adjacent to the old boat in the 1st bay west side.

(Paul Kennett)

February 19th

(11:30-15:00) Chilly with occasional rain and periods of bright sunshine. A soggy walk to the West Hide went largely unrewarded except that there were 9 Pochard in front of the hide. Yesterday a Cetti's Warbler was reported showing well at the entrance to the track to the hide. The redhead Smew was on the East Flood; it was seen yesterday on the West scrape. Bearded Tits were pinging by the Sea Wall hide, in front of which, just beyond the Faversham Spit buoy, was the drake Eider. Looking along the creek, the Spotted Redshank could be seen near the wreck. The high tide roost on the East Flood comprised mainly Redshanks with a couple of Grey and one Golden Plover. Continuing good numbers of Common Snipe but still no sign of a Jack - maybe next week?

(Mike Stevens)

February 18th

(08:15-12:15) A day of weather contrasts from frost and ice, to fog and sunny spells, to rain and sleet with a fresh ENE in my face on the return from Fowley Spit. It was hard work clocking up numbers westwards. Curlew and Black-tailed Godwits came out of the mist at Uplees where I managed a count of 130 of the former and 52 of the latter which conveniently dropped onto the mud. A party of 16 Avocets appeared in the mist. A Chaffinch and Skylark were at choral practise, and it was single figures for most of the seen passerines. On W and E floods Tufted Ducks went through the century barrier at 105, Pintails 40+, Shoveler 62 with many I felt secreted away, which was the case with the Smew redhead which went unseen. Pochards were making a come back with 5 drakes and 3 ducks seen. There was a third hand account of a mid-morning fly through Iceland Gull, passed onto me. I did't make the E circuit so 55 species in the murk was in my book reasonable reward!

(Mike Roser) 

(11:00-13:00) A drake Common Eider was on the Swale from the Sea Wall hide and the Spotted Redshank was along Faversham Creek again.

(Michael Warren)

February 17th

(07:15-12:15) Bright, hazy sunshine with a light SE breeze. A pair of Canada Geese honking noisily on the East Flood when I arrived were a year tick, but a rather unimpressive way to bring up my century for 2010! There were also 25 Mute Swans on the flood, good counts of 58 Pintail and 111 Tufted Ducks and 1 drake Pochard, plus 2 Little Egrets. A pair of Pochard were on the West Flood, plus an 'impressive' 17 Greylags, which have so far survived the wildfowlers - the season finishes on Saturday. The pair of Grey Partridges were in the field south of the cottages again. 3 Green Woodpeckers were in the same tree opposite the cottages, and a female Marsh Harrier flew east. I met up with Mike Stevens. We found a Greenshank on Faversham Creek by the sluice, and the Spotted Redshank showed well around the wreck nearby. 11 Pied Wagtails were amongst circa 30 Meadow Pipits on the new acquistion. 2 Fieldfares were in the bushes on the east side of the creek. The leucistic Curlew stood out on Horse Sands. The redhead Smew was showing well on the West Scrape. A walk to Uplees was again pretty uneventful - I flushed 2 Woodcock in the copse, 8 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale, and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were the pick of the waders on the mud. No sign of any Cetti's Warblers around the patch again this morning despite the calm, sunny and milder conditions.

(Murray Wright) 

Phil Parker and I decided on a trip to Oare Marshes this morning arriving at 09:45 in glorious sunshine where we spent a few hours wandering the reserve. Birds noted were 8 Ringed Plover, 79 Pintail on the floods, 81 Tufted Duck, c100 Redshank, 12 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier and 16 Shelduck. There were c40 Snipe, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Little Egret and the redhead Smew showed well on the West Scrape. On leaving the reserve I picked out 2 Grey Partridge in the fields near the sharp right hand bend.

(Marc Heath)  

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February 15th

With the reserve mainly ice-bound, I stomped westwards to Fowley Spit buoy late morning. The intermittent sun was welcome, providing good foraging for parties of Fieldfares and c.150 Curlew in the damp pastures. 3 Little Egrets were on the saltings; 4 Stonechats associated with the copse and colour was added by the resident Green Woodpecker(s). 4 Red-breasted Mergansers flew east and a male Marsh Harrier was in well defined plumage. Small parties of Avocets skimmed the water's surface westwards; and returning, the West Flood had free water around the hide and central marsh where Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler were dominant duck species.

(Mike Roser) 

I saw an Iceland Gull today at 14:30. It was last seen 100m east of the hard at Harty. It was a 3rd winter bird first seen preening on the hard then it swam/flew east along the edge of the saltings and landed on the mud. I was not the first to see it - several put me on to it. The bird was first seen mobbing a Buzzard. It then landed on the hard at Harty where it was pointed out to me. The head  was rounded with a small dark smudge in front of its eye. The bill was pale flesh with a dark band towards the tip. Tip was pale flesh. Overall structure was less robust than the Herring Gull close by. When on the water it was very noticeably bouyant and  seemed to sit high out of the water with a tail up attitude. The wings were very evenly coloured, primaries slightly paler, white with a hint of buff/pale coffee. No darker feathers were seen. The underwing coverts and axillaries looked pale grey. The tail was the same colour as above with the uppertail-coverts having slightly more buff tips.

(Dave Perrin)

February 14th

(07:30-11:45) A bright, calm start but cloud and mist soon rolling in on a very light NNW breeze. 29 Mute Swans were on the East Flood first thing. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from from the trees around the fishing ponds, and a second bird was perched in the treetops there. A male Hen Harrier was hunting around the West Flood. A Merlin made a couple of failed attempts to catch a Skylark just south of the cottages. A Woodcock flushed from the edge of the field opposite the cottages and pitched down in the paddocks. Amongst the ducks in front of the West Hide were 4 Pochard and 122 Mallard. A flock of circa 50 Fieldfares and a few Redwings flew west. A Greenshank was along Faversham Creek off the Shipwright's Arms again. 13 Pied Wagtails were amongst the Meadow Pipits around the new acquistion. I heard the Spotted Redshank as I approached the Sea Wall hide but couldn't locate it. The Barn Owl was hunting the northern edge of the East Flood around 10:00. 4 Red-breasted Mergansers (two drakes and two ducks) were on the Swale, plus a flock of 13 Gadwall and 4 Great Crested Grebes. Bird of the day was a smart drake Common Eider which was hanging around near the green 'Receptive Bouy' with a few immature Herring Gulls in tow - new for the year and fairly scarce on the Swale these days. Just 41 Avocets were roosting on the mud. The second Merlin of the morning flew north across the Swale. Several Bearded Tits were 'pinging' in reeds east of the carpark. I couldn't find the Smew this morning, however, John Pell saw it this afternoon on the west side. Just before I headed off 30 Ringed Plovers and 2 Grey Plovers came in to roost on the flood.

(Murray Wright)

February 13th

(07:30-12:15) Mostly bright with a strong and cold NNE wind. A pretty quiet morning. A dozen or so Fieldfares were by the West Hide and a Sparrowhawk flew low over the West Flood. I joined Richard Roberts by the East Hide. We located a Greenshank along Faversham Creek, a year tick for Richard, and the Spotted Redshank showed well on the floods on the new acquisition with 2 Common Redshanks. The redhead Smew popped up from nowhere on the East Flood - a second year tick for Richard. The Swale was devoid of birds. 2 Rock Pipits were by the slipway. A walk to Uplees and back was as good a fruitless - just 2 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale. Back at the East Flood the wader roost on the flood consisted of 14 Ringed Plovers, 4 Grey Plovers, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and circa 100 Redshanks.

(Murray Wright)

February 12th

(09:30-12:00) Bright sun and occasional dense mist, 3C and only a light NE, but anything was better than yesterday. The thaw gave good feeding opportunities for the small passerines with a flock of over 50 Meadow Pipits by the Watch House. With the E flood mostly frozen initially, the little free water was on the W flood where most of the dabbling ducks had congregated; apart from 70 or so Teal which were at the mouth of the creek with c.115 Avocets. A brisk walk back to Uplees, commenting at the carpark about Fieldfares and on cue 55+ dropped into the small shrubbery. At Uplees, further movement of this species was obvious from the south, many going on towards Sheppey. Some dropped into the copse and others fed, dispersing either side of the seawall. Of the c.200 birds passing through, at least 15 Redwings were noted - unusual to see them perched on saltings fenceposts (I thought!!) A ringtail Hen Harrier came through the copse looking owl-like head-on. c.450 Black-tailed Godwits and 160 Curlew were just west of the copse in pastures. Met up with  Mike S briefly on way out - stopped to view the thawing E flood - couldn't locate Smew - c.50 Snipe on view (where's the Jack?) Also 4 Grey Plovers and 8-9 Ringed Plover.

(Mike Roser)

(13:15-16:15) A mostly cloudy afternoon with a little drizzle and a chilly NE wind. I met  up with Mike Stevens for a potter about around the east side of the patch. A Water Rail was showing well under the willows by the car park. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers dropped onto the Swale by the slipway, and a single Great Crested Grebe flew east. Apart from the comings and goings of Brent Geese and numbers of Wigeon Sheppey side the Swale was pretty quiet. A female Sparrowhawk flew west across Faversham Creek. Bearded Tits were 'pinging' near the Sea Wall hide and a pair were in the reeds south of the sluice. A Greenshank was on the mud along the creek opposite the Shipwright's Arms again. A good flock of circa 200 Fieldfares and circa 25 Redwings were feeding on the new acquistion and around the cottages, plus 4 Mistle Thrushes and a few Song Thrushes. We found the redhead Smew feeding on the East Flood, where there were also 47 Pintail. The Barn Owl was hunting around the flood from 16:00. Finally, as we were about to head off a male Sparrowhawk zipped through low past the cottages spooking the thrushes.

(Murray Wright) 

February 10th

(09:00-12:00) Considerably colder than yesterday with a stronger more E wind. Arriving, I took a look at the East Flood and couldn't see a single bird, however, once the blizzard eased and I could deploy optics, I could just about make out 32 Pintail, 4 Grey Plovers, 6 Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Pochard, 103 Tufted Ducks, 66 Shovelers, and 3 Gadwall. I started counting the Wigeon but gave up as the snow came down more heavily.  The weather relenting for a while, I made my way to the Sea Wall hide and after about ten minutes wished that I hadn't. However, against my better judgement I remained there for about 90 minutes and apart from gulls flying distantly I saw 2 Peregrines crossing the Swale north-south, a ringtail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers and that was it until on my way back a Rock Pipit showed along the sea wall. Was I ever glad to get home!

(Mike Stevens)
 

February 9th

(07:55-12:30) The biting NE wind gave me wimpish doubts about the wisdom of my venture. The tide was coming in but there were few waders on the east flood; Lapwings, a few Ringed Plovers and four Grey Plovers. Ducks included 100 Tufted Ducks, three Pochard and the redhead Smew, an honorary Wigeon for the day, roosting among those ducks on one the islands in the SE corner of the flood. From the car park, at 8 a.m., I picked up seven Barnacle Geese flying over the west flood. They circled around, dropped down but, at the last moment, flew away NW across the Swale. With no food in the car park, there were about 10 Reed Buntings feeding near the slipway and these were joined briefly by three Corn Buntings. A Buzzard was hunting low over Mocketts Hill. Checking the east flood again, I saw the Spotted Redshank on one of the island with other Redshank and a female Stonechat was feeding alongside the road. I walked up to the sea wall hide from where I saw an adult Kittiwake, which flew east out of the Swale. The paddocks and scrub by the cottages only produced a Goldfinch heard flying overhead, a party of eight Skylarks in the fields beyond and a Sparrowhawk in the sky towards Uplees. By this time, Mike Stevens had arrived and I went to join him at the pull-in by the east flood. As we talked, a party of five Canada Geese came in over the creek and settled on the flood although, after about five minutes, they flew off NW. A Turnstone by the slipway was proving very co-operative for a photographer, and I headed off to the sea wall hide to join Mike again, taking shelter in the lea of the hide. As the tide fell, 135 Avocets accumulated in front of the hide. Several Marsh Harriers crossed ther Swale in the teeth of the NE wind, a Peregrine flew the other way and mixed it with some crows but a more ephereal male Hen Harrier baulked at the prospect of a crossing and ducked behind the sea wall on the South Swale reserve. There were two Turnstones on the island to the right of the hide, two Knot flew across heading for Horse Sands and, finally, a Green Sandpiper flew noisily west across  the creek and the east flood before pitching down somewhere on the west flood. That, the two geese and the Kittiwake were all new for the year and made for satisfying morning with little thought given to the biting NE wind. As I left, Mike Roser arrived and may have done the Uplees stomp, which I was glad to give a miss.

(Geoff Burton) 

(12:30-14:00) A brisk walk to Uplees with the baying of two dozen hounds and accompanying 'foot soldiers' being carried across the Swale  from Mocketts and the saltings on the eye-watering north-easterly. In any events that area's birdlife was scattered to all compass points, so whether it was as a result of that cacophony of noise or my stealth that flushed a Woodcock from the copse perimeter, I'm not sure. At least it was an OYT from TR06C for me! I should have been up somewhat earlier judging by GJAB's quickly related account of post dawn! 

(Mike Roser)

February 8th

(09:00-10:30) A most inhospitable 2C day, starting with snowy chaos in Faversham and a NE driving sleet through the portals of the E hide. Time to count 96 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 24 Pintail, 25 Shoveler, 17 Teal, 12 Wigeon etc, drink a thermos of coffee and call it a day to forget!

(Mike Roser)

February 7th

(07:30-11:15) Mostly grey, but with a little watery sunshine late morning and a light N breeze. 4 Fieldfares flew off west from the trees opposite the cottages first thing, where there were also a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a singing Song Thrush. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from the trees around the fishing ponds. 'Bird of the morning' was a Linnet flying north and making an overdue addition to my OM year list! I was a bit surprised to flush the redhead Smew from the dyke behind the East Hide as it hasn't been reported since the 1st - it flew out onto the East Flood where it joined circa 90 Tufted Ducks, 19 Gadwall and 32 Pintail. A Greenshank was in its usual station along Faversham Creek beyond the Shipwright's Arms. I met Mike R near the sluice where we watched a silent pair of Bearded Tits in the reeds. Mike had counted 148 Avocets around the mouth of the creek. The Spotted Redshank dropped in to roost with its un-spotted congeners by the wreck along west side of the creek. Just 6 Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale, plus a steady 'passage' of Brent Geese flying west. A pair of Peregrines circled over the Watch House calling before drifting off north towards Mocketts.

(Murray Wright)

February 5th

(12:00-16:15) As the afternoon wore on so the weather improved and finished in glorious sunshine. Earlier on Mike R had seen a male Hen Harrier fly through. From the Sea Wall Hide there were 33 Avocets in the creek mouth. Further down the creek, the Spotted Redshank was near the boatyard and a Greenshank was on the 'flats beyond the Shipwrights. The high tide roost comprised mainly Redshanks with about a dozen Dunlins and 2 Golden Plovers. A female Hen Harrier flew over the East Flood. Most unusual sighting of the day was of two chaps at the end of the slipway, one was armed with a camcorder mounted on a tripod and the other reminded me of the cover of a '60s album by Captain Beefheart, 'Trout Mask Replica', the difference being that the mask was  more Goldfish-like and the chap sporting the mask was certainly not the legendary Don van Vliet!

(Mike Stevens)
  

February 4th

(11:00-16:00) damp start to my visit which ended in glorious sunshine. The East Flood was very quiet with numbers of all species quite low e.g. 43 Teal, 12 Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 40 Shoveler, 66 Tufted Ducks, 35 Common Snipe, 9 Mallard, 7 Wigeon and a lone Oystercatcher. A male Hen Harrier shot past the East Hide and as I made my way to the New Acquisition I noted  2 Peregrines  on the first pylon across the creek. One was tucking into its lunch while the other took to the air and moments later there was mayhem on the East Flood. 2 Greenshank were on the mudflats beyond the Shipwrights and on the New Acquisition there were 35 Shovelers. Making my way to the Sea Wall Hide, a Rock Pipit alighted near the sluice from which the Kingfisher remained absent. On the 'flats in front of the hide were 114 Avocets and as I scoped upstream I noticed another slightly smaller flock touching down opposite Dan's Dock. Otherwise there was nothing to report from that vantage point. Returning to the East Flood, the high tide roost had started to form and by 15:30 there were over 300 Dunlins, 200+ Golden Plovers, 12 Grey Plovers, 4 Ringed Plovers,1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 2 Ruff and numerous Lapwings and Redshanks although the Spotted Redshank appeared not to be among them. To my chagrin I failed to detect any sign of Little Stint. Just after 15:30 virtually all the waders took to the wing for no obvious reason and most failed to return save for a few intrepid Golden Plovers and some Redshanks and Dunlins that alighted on an island in the SE corner.

(Mike Stevens)
  

February 3rd

(07:30-09:15, 10:00-13:00) Cloudy, calm and low tide. As dull as befitted the weather. There were 74 Tufted Ducks and three Pochard on the east flood but there was no sign of the Smew. The Barn Owl was hunting over the reeds behind the sea wall on the east side. Up by the cottages, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Mistle Thrushes were seen and a Cetti's Warbler was singing behind the paddock. There were two Fieldfares in the fields behind the east hide. Returning for phase 2 of my visit, I met Mike Stevens who was watching a Buzzard perched in a tree in the top scrub. It had vanished but we saw a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk there. We stomped up to Uplees for some reason, having not learned from previous mistakes. We saw Mike Roser coming back (see below). Three Red-breasted Mergansers flew down the Swale, a Buzzard was seen Sheppey-side but Mike's valiant efforts to unearth a Woodcock came to nought! Single Little Egrets were seen on the Shepey saltings and later on the east flood.

(Geoff Burton)

(08:30-11:30) Calm conditions but gloomy light, walked to Fowley Spit buoy. The field adjacent to Uplees copse west held c.700 Brents and 170 Curlew. No Black-tailed Godwits today, but compensation in a flock of 350 Bar-tailed Godwit which tumbled from high, onto the foreshore. c.150 Dunlin were close and 160 Golden Plover were located in the muddy runnells. 2 Red-breasted Mergs floated through and another 6 flew E. 15 Great Crested Grebes were scattered in the Swale; and the night's high tide had left detritus at the base of the seawall on which Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were feeding. Amongst them was a Water Rail which quickly scuttled over the seawall and into the copse. Exceptionally low water exposed previously unseen shallows with Wigeon in many hundreds and Shelducks on both sides of the Swale. Returning; a short interlude with GJAB and MS, before they headed westwards, no doubt to find all that I'd missed!

(Mike Roser)

February 1st

A sunny, clear day belied the conditions which were 0deg with an eye-watering westerly breeze. Much of the reserve remained icy, with little clear water. A small amount on the West flood in front of the hide hosted 95 Coots, 70 Teal, 10 wigeon and 10 Shoveler. Likewise the East flood was mainly ice with the wildfowl condensed. A count revealed 115 Coots, 20 Pintail, 30 Wigeon, 55 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck and c.150 Teal. 35 Snipe were visible. 15 Common Gulls were the 'commonest' gull sp on site. A single Black-tailed Godwit was noted. At the seawall hide the Sheppey Spoonbill was located distantly on the saltings between pub and church - just about in TR06C! Mike Stevens joined me for the distant views, and I left for sheltered climes at Oare village, where at the head of the creek a Black-tailed Godwit was feeding with the Redshanks. In the Oare pits was a smart drake Goldeneye, 15 Little Grebes, 12 Gadwall, the resident pair of Lesser Black-backs and 2 Little Egrets. A stones throw from the reserve on the opp side of the road I had my first site record at the Gunpowder Works of Green Sandpiper (2) both feeding and flying up and down the main leat. Ham Road GP's were ice free and held a large congregation of wildfowl including 70+ Gadwall and 60+ each Pochard and Tufted Duck. These sites were easily worked in conjunction with the reserve and are certainly influential when the reserve is ice bound.

(Mike Roser)

(14:05-16:25) Arrived at high tide and the east flood was two-thirds frozen. The redhead Smew was on the east flood but later seen flying around by the sea wall and hide. A Water Rail was feeding out in the open in the car park where seed has been spread. Late afternoon, the Barn Owl appeared over the reeds east of the car park, 56 Golden Plovers dropped onto the east flood and nine Ruff came in to roost including one, red-flagged, individual.

(Geoff Burton)