Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

March 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.

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

March 26th

There was a Black Redstart showing well in the paddocks opposite the cottages this morning.
(Geoff Bates)
 

A blustery morning with intermittent sunshine. A walk to the West Hide produced nothing of any significance save for a Cetti's Warbler. Behind the East Hide, a Chiffchaff made its way silently east from bush to bush. Such as it was, the high tide roost had formed in the SE corner of the Flood and from the sluice, where a couple of Bearded Tits could be heard, I noted 240 waders comprising Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks in roughly a 2:1 ratio. A little way apart from them was a Greenshank and about 30 Common Snipe. There being nothing on view from the Sea Wall hide, I made my way to the slipway from where 3 Common Buzzards could be seen in the air together over Mocketts and there they remained for the best part of an hour. En route to the Copse, 2 Marsh Harriers were in the air over Dan's Dock. There was nothing to report from the Copse but on the return leg I noted 43 Curlews by the Blockhouses. Finally, the 160-odd Blackwits that had been on the Flood had relocated with the ebbing of the tide to the mudflats between the slipway and the Sea Wall hide. 26th March and still just one Wheatear and no Sand Martins as far as I'm aware. Garganey hunting has proved equally fruitless.
(Mike Stevens)

March 24th

Fairly quiet in spite of the initially pleasant conditions and rise in temperature. Highlights for me c. 250 Bar-tailed Godwits flying west in three distinct parties and 2 Chiffchaffs in gate entrance hawthorn accessing the west flood. Wet meadows of new aquisition looking promising for Lapwings / Redshanks, and with water depths receding it was good to see Little Egrets and Grey Herons now able to wade / feed. Species density was as good as I`ve seen---hope the east flood reduces a bit to provide some wader habitat-----Pintail noticably reduced in number; Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Teal largely distributed through the west flood where Pochard numbered c.22. Highland cattle now off-site.
(Mike Roser)

March 23rd

An absolutely beautiful morning only slightly marred by an absence of birds! For the record though: A Cetti's was in fine vocal form near the track to the West Hide and between Dan's Dock and the Copse I noted several Skylarks. On the mudflats in the Copse area there were 48 Golden and 3 Grey Plovers. 3 Marsh Harriers were in the air simultaneously towards Eastchurch Prison. En route from the Sea Wall Hide to the sluice a couple of Bearded Tits showed and looking back to the East Flood among the usual suspects were 11 Black-tailed Godwits. So, not the best ever morning's birding, but a great day to be out and about.   
(Mike Stevens)

(09:00-13:00) I thought you may be interested to know that I saw 2 Sand Martins at Oare today - they flew west over the East Flood at around 09:30 and didn't linger. Apart from that there wasn't much else of note during my stay. It was low tide so I didn't really expect much to be on the East Flood - and I wasn't disappointed. There were 6 Pintails, 13 Black-tailed Godwits and two Avocets. One Little Egret was in a pool on the opposite side of the road. I did see a Lizard cross the path in front of me while walking back from the copse and passing by the West Flood. It's the first lizard I've seen at Oare and it took me quite by surprise. Apart from noting it was green and a few inches long I couldn't get any more details before it vanished into the long grass. My search for Wheatears proved fruitless as did my search for the Smew.

(Keith Holland)

March 22nd

2 Little Ringed Plovers today.

(Pete Maton)

March 19th

I should have mentioned 4 Ruff that came onto the E Flood at high tide. Today was a bit more like it! From the slipway Mike Roser and I picked out a Barn Owl perched on a fence post east of the Ferry Inn. When it took to the wing it was quickly joined by another. A promising start! Things got better still when Mike spotted a Wheatear on the shoreside of the copse at Uplees; the first of the year. Also in the vicinity of the copse were a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Linnets, 11 Avocets, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 8 Great Crested Grebes. Walking back to the slipway, I'd just remarked that Hen Harriers seemed to have disappeared when a Ringtail flew along the shore in the Mocketts area. We circumnavigated the East Flood spotting a male Merlin dashing along behind the East Hide and the lone Greenshank faithfully keeping station opposite the Shipwrights. On the Flood were, among other things, 23 Wigeon, 4 Avocets (+ 2 on the West pool), 18 Pintail, 15 Pochards and 3 Gadwall. No more than 6 Common Snipe were to be seen; a marked reduction in the numbers presnt until very recently.

(Mike Stevens)

4 Sand Martins flew past the Sea Wall hide this afternoon at about 15:45 – the first of the spring. Also 2 Green Sandpipers showing well on East flood at about 14:00.
(Steve Bartholomew and Stephen Elves) 

March 18th

Both Mike Roser and I were present this afternoon but I can't say that there was much to report. At high tide there were 91 Black-tailed Godwits on the East Flood along with 2 Grey Plovers, a lone Dunlin and a good number of Redshanks. Also present were 6 Canada Geese and 4 Avocets, a pair of which were regularly copulating. A walk around the Flood with Pete Maton and Mike went unrewarded with just one Great Crested Grebe on the Swale.

(Mike Stevens)     

March 14th

(06:30-11:00) Cloud breaking and feeling a bit milder despite the brisk WNW breeze. 14 Linnets were in the scrub/paddocks and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming again from the trees around the fishing ponds. A pair of Marsh Harriers were hunting around the reserve - the female being the bird with the drooping leg. A Greenshank was along Faversham Creek. The redhead Smew was sleeping on one of the islands in the East Flood. 6 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale behind Horse Sands. A Corn Bunting was the only bird of note in Uplees copse. A Common Buzzard was around Mocketts. A male Sparrowhawk flew west over the West Flood.

(Murray Wright)

March 13th

(06:30-12:00) Mostly cloudy with a little drizzle and a light NW breeze. The morning started well with a male Yellowhammer in the scrub/paddocks before it flew off east, plus there were also 4 Linnets and a singing Cetti's Warbler there, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the distance. Then I met up with Richard Roberts and the rest of the morning's birding was a bit of a struggle (sorry Richard!). 3 Ruff were on the new acquistion. 4 Red-breasted Mergansers were in the mouth of Faversham Creek, and 35 Avocets were on the mud there. 13 Great Crested Grebes were counted on the Swale. A bit of entertainment was had as we watched a Sparrowhawk catch a Starling over the sheep pastures only for it to be immediately robbed by a male Marsh Harrier. The high tide wader roost on the East Flood consisted of just a Dunlin, 2 Grey Plovers and circa 100 Redshanks, plus there were 2 Little Egrets. A final scan of the flood before giving up produced the redhead Smew again.

(Murray Wright)

March 12th

With the breeze round to the NW it was a tad warmer in today's mizzle. The leucistic Curlew was again in the saltmarsh and 200 of that sp were in Uplees' pastures; a 'pair' of Red-b. Mergs were on the Swale and small flights of Avocets went westwards. The usual duck sps were in and around the West Flood with drake Pintails particularly prominent in groups of a dozen plus. A Rock Pipit was near the Watch House, and a  Water Rail squealed from the Sea Wall hide reedbed. I watched a seal swimming out of the creek when it suddenly breached - first time I recall this behaviour. The new aquisition was attractive to Shovelers today as waters receded and c.45 were on these pastures with c.70 Stock Doves, Redshanks and Lapwings. 2 Ruff were feeding amongst a Starling flock. The redhead Smew favoured the top right corner of the West Flood today.

(Mike Roser)

March 11th

(08:15-10:30) Not much initially to recommend the day, in a rasping northerly blow that had wind chill written all over it. The incoming tide and wind direction had most of the waders and wildfowl in the lea of Sheppey banks. A brief interlude with MW --both of us agreeing it was hard work finding birds today--I did locate 2 Ruff on the new aquisition, with Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Fieldfares near the cottages. The redhead Smew circled the flood and dropped 10m from me in the perimeter dyke; then flew eastwards and apparently dropped into a dyke in the KWT South Swale Reserve on the opposite side of the creek. 45 Curlew were in the grazing marsh behind the West Hide and c.14 Pochards were loafing in the flooded marsh. I went in search of Kingfisher at the head of Oare creek and was rewarded at the sluice abutting the Oare ponds - at least a survivor after the icy weather and unsurprisingly a year tick!

(Mike Roser)

March 10th

(06:45-11:15) Grey and cloudy with a strong, cold NE wind (again!). Still not a lot happening. The redhead Smew was still present on the West Scrape. 35 Pochard were counted from the West Hide, plus circa 75 Curlew and 8 Canada Geese. A restless flock of circa 500 Starlings was around the patch throughout the morning, as was a pair of Marsh Harriers. A pair of Avocet and 2 Ruff were on the East Flood, and three more Ruff were on the new acquisition. 2 Greenshanks were along Faversham Creek. 30 Brent Geese were on the slipway. The leucsitic Curlew was on the saltmarsh near Dan's Dock again, and 107 Curlews were on the sheep pastures.

(Murray Wright)

March 9th

(07:05-10:50) cloudy with a biting NE wind. A "blob" in the corner of the field behind the copse proved to be a Red-legged Partridge, the first for the year. It was high tide but little evidence of this on the east flood where, amongst the Lapwings, Snipe and a few Golden Plovers was a single Ringed and Grey Plover. There were three Canada Geese on the flood and a Brent Goose dropped in briefly. On the west flood, there were 16 Pochard and 24 Pintail. As the tide fell, six Turnstones landed on the small temporary island in front of the seawall hide and 24 Brent Geese were feeding on the newly-exposed slipway. Finally, the redhead Smew appeared at the back of the east flood and three Long-tailed Tits were in the hawthorns at the bottom of the paddock.

(Geoff Burton)

March 8th

(08:00-12:00) Not a lot to recommend in the bitterly cold NE breeze, and quite a lot of ice glazing on the floods and dykes. The glaring sun was shortlived, and brisk walking to Fowley Spit was not too rewarding. A Water Rail squealed unseen from westside reeds; a male Marsh Harrier made slow progress eastward; 21 Skylarks fed amonst the detritus on Uplees saltings; c.120 Curlew and a single Ruff were feeding in the rough pastures; a Common Buzzard was on Mocketts Hill and Avocets were scattered either side on Swale`s shoreline. A single Red-breasted Merg was scant reward for effort. In front of the West Hide Little Grebes engaged in courtship with the male (presumably) diving and coming up with broken reed stems as an invitation to better things! A further singleton Ruff was with 40+ Stock Doves on the new aquisition which was well iced. A further three RbM's were on the Swale. None of the first wave of LRP's were  on site and certainly no Garganey or Wheatear seen - hardly surprising - oh, for a balmy spring day!!

(Mike Roser)

March 7th

(06:45-11:00) Bright and sunny with a brisk and chilly E wind. Another somewhat inbetween day. 2 Barn Owls were hunting around the reserve, one perching briefly outside the West Hide. 6 Canada Geese were on the West Flood. 18 Pied Wagtails and 35 Meadow Pipits were on the ice around the new acquisition. 2 Greenshanks were along Faversham Creek. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale. A Common Buzzard was perched on a favoured post on top of Mocketts hill. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose was on the slipway Sheppey-side again.

(Murray Wright)

March 6th

(06:45-11:30) A bright start, but cloud soon spilling in on the strong, cold NNE wind. Pretty slow going in the wind this morning. A pair of Canada Geese flew off from the West Flood early on. There were 7 Ruff amongst circa 100 Golden Plovers and circa 30 Snipe on the East Flood, where the redhead Smew eventually appeared mid-morning. Circa 250 Golden Plovers were around the West Scrape. There was just 1 Greenshank along Faversham Creek. 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a dozen or so Great Crested Grebes were on the Swale. A female Marsh Harrier flew west through the reserve. The leucsitic Curlew was on the saltmarsh west of the slipway again.

(Murray Wright)

March 5th

(14:00-15.00)

Bitingly cold but very beautiful in the bright sunshine. In addition to the usual suspects I had a Little Stint fly out across the marsh and off across the Swale. The redhead Smew was on the dyke just before the hide and a Cettis Warbler sang briefly from the bushes on the western side of the road. Met Mike Gould and Steve Ashton who were shivering beside their cars, unusually comparing cameras!

(Chris Abrams)

March 4th

(07:30-11:45) Mostly cloudy with a strong NE wind. It was pretty much business as usual this morning. The redhead Smew was intially on the West Scrape and I later saw it drop into the dyke near the East Hide. There were also 5 Ruff and 300+ Golden Plovers on the scrape. 3 Skylarks were singing over the west side. The Spotted Redshank was at the confluence of Faversham and Oare creeks, and 2 of the wintering Greenshanks were opposite the Shipwright's Arms as usual. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Swale, and circa 75 Avocets were at the mouth of the creek. As I approached Dan's Dock I met Mike R who was watching the leucistic Curlew on the saltmarsh. I should of listened to Mike, but I plodded on to Uplees. Just beyond the dock a Peregrine flew west over the sheep pastures putting up circa 50 Curlew and a flock of circa 300 Starlings. At Uplees I saw nothing of note, and a stomp around the copse failed to produce any Woodcock. Heading back I picked out the Pale-bellied Brent Goose on the saltmarsh by the slipway Sheppey side. Opposite the cottages there were 4 Mistle Thrushes.

(Murray Wright)

(08:15-11:15) Walked westwards with the eye-watering NE initially behind me. Circa 450 Golden Plovers had their heads down on the West Flood and the leucistic Curlew was prominent in the saltmarsh - half an hour earlier I stopped the car to watch it fly from Graveney marshes north westwards, so it appears to be commuting from Whitstable environs. From Dan's Dock one of the many fragmented groups of Brent on the Sheppey saltings was a very obviously paler bird, with white flanks and continuously white-belly - a good bet for hrota in my book. 6 Red-breasted Mergs were on the Swale opposite Uplees copse and 12 Great Crested Grebes further west towards Fowley Spit, and 50 more Golden Plovers were in the muddy runnels near the shoreline. Circa 120 Avocets were dispersed either side of the Swale. A short stop and chat with MW  on return - the leuc Curlew still in place and the cold quite penetrating. I diverted to the rear of the East Flood and found the Greenshank opposite the Shipwrights Arms (just in Faversham creek). The redhead Smew was spooked from the dyke adjacent to the creek sluice (seems to have an affinity with the perimeter dykes as much as, or more so than the open floods).

(Mike Roser)

(14:50-17:00) A short visit at high tide. The redhead Smew was commuting between the east and west floods and a drake Red-breasted Merganser was in the creek. At 16:30, a, or should I say the, Great Northern Diver flew down the Swale and out beyond the bouys. The Barn Owl was hunting near the sea wall on the east side at 16:45.

(Geoff Burton)

March 2nd

(07:45-12:45) A good stomp round all departments in positively soporific conditions (well nearly). The mirror calm tide was bringing a large amount of detritus and associated flotsam into the Swale (aftermath of Sunday's weather?) and 'nose-in-the-air' seals were getting sunburnt through the debris. The West Flood had as much water as the East Flood and wildfowl were well dispersed across the reserve. At Uplees c.400 Golden Plover were initially on the mud prior to the rising tide ;most of the wader sps were represented along the mud banks, and a drake Goldeneye was a surprise just offshore. Cetti's was spasmodic with full song burst; 2 Fieldfares and a cock Stonechat were at the rear of the copse and Lapwings were in display mode with small passerines  very vocal. Back at the West Flood the redhead Smew was in the flooded portion adjacent to the road and a Barn Owl was hunting over the east side at 10:30 where Golden Plovers were the dominant sp with c.12 Ruff noted. 20+ Pochard were in front of the West Hide; a Rock Pipit was with numerous Meadow Pips and Pied Wags on the new aquisition. Little Egrets were more obvious than of late; 7 Red-breasted Mergansers flew east and a helicopter put up c.120 'grey geese' over the Sheppey NNR/Harty marshes at 12:15. Had a brief interlude with GJAB, both agreeing that BOP's were surprisingly thin on the ground - it remained so for me!! 

(Mike Roser)