Oare Marshes Latest Sightings

September 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.

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

September 30th

(07:15-12:00) Bright and sunny with a light W breeze. A juvenile Hobby was hunting around the reserve all morning. At around 07:30 a shout from Mick Kidgell and friends just got me onto an Osprey flying low S to the west of the cottages. In the scrub/paddocks there were still 2 Blackcaps and 1 Lesser Whitethroat, plus 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and 2 Mistle  Thrushes. A male Sparrowhawk caused a bit of panic as it flew over the East Flood. A Little Owl was calling from some bales of straw behind the cottages. 2 Greenshanks were along Faversham Creek. Lots of Bearded Tit activity in the sunshine this morning with circa 25 birds noted in and over the reeds around the flood. 2 Rock Pipits were along the foreshore east of the Watch House. 4 Curlew Sandpipers were on the mud east of the slipway. A Wheatear was at Dan's Dock, and at circa 10:05 a Lapland Bunting (at last!) flew high E over the saltmarsh - not much of a view, but it called clearly several times. At Uplees there were 2 Whinchats still, plus 2 Chiffchaffs and a singing Cetti's Warbler. 2 Common Buzzards were over Mocketts and another 3 drifted north across the Swale. Back at the East Flood the adult White-rumped Sandpiper was showing very well close to the pull-in, plus 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Turnstone amongst the circa 500 Golden Plovers, and also a female Pintail.

(Murray Wright)

September 28th

(13:45-16:50) 5 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail (heard only), 59 Avocet, 980 Golden Plover, 8 Knot, 1 Little Stint (adult), 1 White-rumped Sandpiper (still on East flood), 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 270 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 35 Common Tern (flew over high in a tight group), 3 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, 2 Rock Pipit (the first of the autumn here).

(Barry Wright)

I finally caught up with the White-rumped Sand this morning - hard work though with birds seemingly constantly on the move from the creek and flood. I saw it in the SE corner nearer the sluice and again (pointed out by Barry Wright, Simon Ginnaw and Bob Bland) from the road around 13:30. Others on show on/around the East Flood amongst the massed Golden Plovers and Godwits were 3 Curlew Sands, 20+ Avocet, at least 7 Ruff, Hobby over , 15+ Swallows, 6+ Dunlin, 16x Brent over the Swale E (12:30), numerous Bearded Tits, Water Rail (heard), 2x Cettis (heard), a Wheatear (balancing on the reeds at the back of the hide-didn't expect that!).
(Adam Whitehouse)

 
September 27th

The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was still on the East Flood again at 13:00, plus an immature Spoonbill again, 6 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Spotted Redshank, plus 6 Lapland Buntings reported flying over, but no further details.

(per RBA)  

September 26th

(07:00-14:30) Cloudy with squally showers and a very strong NW wind. With the wind having moved more round to the west, but stronger than yesterday and a bit more 'weather' about today another good seawatch ensued, which included all four skua species and more. There were lots of birders in and around the Sea Wall hide this morning including John Pymm, Dick Bailey, Keith Privett, Murray Orchard, Bob Gomes and John Tilbrook, plus a scarce migrant from Essex in the shape of Sean Nixon. Best of the skuas was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua which flew straight in from the west and disappeared high into the sun(!) over Faversham creek at around 10:25. Runner up in the skua stakes was an adult pale-phase Pomarine Skua which flew passed at around 11:40. Totals of Bonxies and Arctic Skuas this morning were 28 and 6 respectively. At around 12:00 John Tilbrook picked up a Grey Phalarope making its way along the southern edge of the Swale and into the creek - it gave reasonable views for several minutes on the water, before flying out of the creek then doubling back and apparently disappearing up the creek - it was also reported briefly on the East Flood before flying off west. Lots of Gannets again this morning with a minimum of 195 noted - just a few more adult-like birds, but still predominantly juveniles, so they appear to have had a good breeding season somewhere! Other counts included: 13 Little Gulls, 22 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 5 Brent Geese and 39 Wigeon, plus 2 Merlins flew north across the Swale. Later on Steve Arthur saw 2 Guillemots fly west along the Swale - the first reported here this year. A juvenile Sabine's Gull was reported from the Sea Wall hide from 16:30-17:45 (per RBA). Murray O picked out the adult White-rumped Sandpiper feeding on the mud on the east side of the creek - and it was later roosting again on the East Flood close to the road, the closest I've managed to get to it so far, but shame about the light!

(Murray Wright)

September 25th

(07:00-15:00) Bright and sunny with a strong NNW wind. With the wind still looking good for seawatching I headed to the Sea Wall hide with Richard Roberts. A promising start with upto 125 Gannets in the first hour and a half, many heading close-in west up the Swale. However, other than the unprecedented and impressive number of Gannets, which totalled 306+ by the end of the session (a 'flock' of 41 were flying past the Sea Wall hide as I got in the car at 15:00!), it was relatively slow going. Mike Buckland joined us mid-morning and at around 10:45 we picked up the best bird of the day in the shape of a(nother) juvenile Sabine's Gull flying west along the Sheppey bank of the Swale over an immature Spoonbill(!), which was feeding along the water's edge. The Sab's lingered off of Harty Church until 14:15 at least, spending a lot of time on the water but making regular short flights catching insects. Only 2 Bonxies and 2 Arctic Skuas were seen all day, plus just 1 Arctic Tern, 4 Common Terns, 3 Little Terns and 1 Mediterranean Gull. Also noted over the Swale were 2 Peregrines, 1 Merlin north and 2 Sparrowhawks north. Heading back to the car around the East Flood with Geoff at around 14:30 we came across the adult White-rumped Sandpiper showing well again in the south-east corner with a juvenile Dunlin for comparison, plus a juvenile Little Stint nearby. The immature Spoonbill had relocated to the flood, where there were also 67 Avocets roosting.

(Murray Wright)

September 24th

(13:00-18:30) Overcast and murky with heavy squally showers clearing away on a strengthening NNW-N wind. When I reached the Sea Wall hide the wind was relatively light with very little moving on the Swale, but as the rain moved through and the wind increased to gale force after 14:30 the Swale started to fill with birds! I was joined early on by Steve Ray and Steve Coates (who both left far too early!), Patrick Worsley (who'd predicted great things for this afternoon), Andy Bowers (sensibly wearing shorts!) and later by Julian Russell for what was arguably the best sea-watch we've had at Oare. The pick of the birds were 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls: the first at 17:10 was picked out by Pat right under our noses in the company of a Kittiwake flying along the mud in front of the hide, it landed on the water several times before heading east out of the Swale; the second at 17:50 was picked out by Julian flying overhead amongst a flock of terns, then low across the East Flood and then back out to the Swale. A close runner up were a group of 4 superb ad Pomarine Skuas which again came in close, spent some time loafing on the water in front of us and were still lingering when I headed off. At times there were Gannets, skuas, terns and Kittiwakes everywhere, on the water, in the air over the Swale, overhead and over the reserve - something like a seabird only sequel to Hitchcock's 'The Birds' (cheers Pat)! We must have missed a few bits and the counts are minimums at least - virtually everything was seen after 15:00: 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls, 4 adult Pomarine Skuas, 49 Arctic Skuas, 91 Bonxies (included 'flocks' of 31 and 26 which came directly overhead), 85 Gannets (probably many more and nearly all juveniles and immatures), 10 Black Terns, 15  Little Terns, 9 Arctic Terns (surely many more sneaked through), circa 200 Common Terns, 12 Little Gulls, 11 Sandwich Terns, 93 Kittiwakes, 12 Brent Geese, 37 Wigeon and 3 Whimbrel. Also, 3 Marsh Harriers flew north across the Swale and 1 flew south. I didn't pay much attention to the East Flood and there were no positive reports of the White-rumped Sandpiper today, however, there was an immature Spoonbill present late afternoon. A fantastic afternoon's birding in great company!

(Murray Wright)

September 23rd

(08:00-14:00) Mostly cloudy with a few spots of rain later on and a freshening SSW wind. Almost the first bird I saw this morning was the adult White-rumped Sandpiper on the East Flood again, which was feeding around the main island with the roosting Black-tailed Godwits. It showed well on and off for the entire session spending a fair amount of time in the south-east corner in the company of single juvenile Little Stint and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. A juvenile Turtle Dove was sat on top of the 'Little Owl' hawthorn behind the cottages (no Little Owl though!). 6 Grey Herons flew west. 2 Hobbies and 2 Peregrines were noted over Mocketts. My first Merlin of the autumn flew south across the Swale. An immature Spoonbill was feeding around Horse Sands and roosted on the flood over high tide. The first 4 Brent Geese of the autumn were on Horse Sands and a flock of sixteen were reported flying west along the Swale. A juvenile Arctic Tern flew west along the Swale - my first here this year. 11 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were on the mud east of the slipway, and a Common Tern was roosting on the posts. Other bits on the flood at high tide included 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, circa 200 Dunlin, 15 Knot, 14 Ringed Plovers, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Turnstone, 2 Greenshanks and 38 Avocets. Lots of Swallows plus smaller numbers of House Martins and a few Sand Martins were moving south all morning.

(Murray Wright)

September 22nd

(07:00-13:00) Sunny and warm with a brisk ESE breeze. A juvenile Cuckoo was the 'pick' of the birds in the scrub/paddocks, plus a pair of Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, several Common Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mistle Thrushes and a flock of circa 50 Goldfinches. A Little Owl was perched in one of the (previously) favoured hawthorns behind Harty Cottages. A Turnstone was on the East Flood and three more circled over before flying back off to the Swale. Single Wheatear and Whinchat were at Dan's Dock. At Uplees there were three more Whinchats, 2 Stonechats and 2 Chiffchaffs in and around the copse, and on the mud a faded summer plumage Knot, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel and circa 50 Golden Plovers. From the slipway there was an adult Little Stint and 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers on the mud amongst the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers, plus 6 more Bar-tailed Godwits. I didn't see the adult White-rumped Sandpiper today but it was reported on the East Flood at 14:45 (per RBA). Birds that I did note on the East Flood before I left were: 2 Little Stints (an adult and a juvenile), 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, circa 25 Knot, circa 200 Dunlins, 13 Ringed Plovers, 2 Greenshanks, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 37 Avocets, 9 Wigeon, 23 Cormorants and 4 Little Egrets. An odd looking Sparrowhawk with a black 'hood' and very heavily barred underneath caused some surprise to the gathered birds and birders alike (see Alan Prowse's picture below)! As did a shout of 'Glossy Ibises overhead' which drew my attention to 9 Grey Herons circling over and flying west!

(Murray Wright)

An immature Spoonbill was on the East Flood this evening, plus 1 Little Stint and 7 Ruff.

(Julian Russell)

September 21st

(12:30-16:00) Sunny but clouding over a bit with a light ENE breeze. I arrived around high tide. The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was found in the south-east corner of the East Flood again, however, at around 15:30, while enjoying the bird with Tony Morris and several other birders, it flew out of view onto Faversham Creek. Amongst the other waders gathered on the flood were 2 Little Stints (an adult and a juvenile), 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, circa 100 Dunlins, 10 Knot, circa 750 Golden Plovers, 5 Greenshanks, circa 350 Redshanks, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, circa 800 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Ruff and 38 Avocets.

(Murray Wright)

September 19th

(06:15-11:15) Overcast with a strengthening SW wind. A Spoonbill-less visit! The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was still present but proved a bit difficult in the gusty wind this morning, and spent most of the time sleeping amongst the main wader roost, but was reported as showing well from midday. Also noted on the flood this morning 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Knot, circa 65 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 15 Ringed Plovers, circa 200 Golden Plovers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 22 Avocets (63 were at the mouth of Faversham Creek an hour before high tide). A Sparrowhawk flew west over the flood and a Common Buzzard flew south over the fishing ponds.

(Murray Wright)

September 18th

(06:30-12:30) Sunny with a fresh WNW breeze. The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was present again on the East Flood, a bit elusive and uncooperative early on, but showing well again for the crowds in the south-east corner from late morning. There were also 2 juvenile Little Stints and 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers on the flood, and 3 of the Spoonbills (an adult and two imms.) appeared on the flood briefly mid-morning before flying back off over the Swale. A juvenile Gannet made a strange sight flying inland over the cottages and narrowly missing the powerlines, it later flew back out of Faversham Creek. A short seawatch produced just 2 more distant Gannets. 3 Green Sandpipers were on the West Flood.

(Murray Wright)

September 17th

(07:00-13:00) Sunny with an autumnal chill when I arrived and Murray was already checking the SE corner of the east flood for Nearctic vagrants. It was high tide and there was a single Common Tern on one of the causeway poles and a Sandwich Tern flew east. The only terns I saw all morning. A Wheatear was on a telegraph pole by the car park. The flood was back lit by the rising sun, making viewing from the road difficult, but three Spoonbills could be seen, fast asleep as usual. Steve Ashton was on duty by the bushes at the entrance to the east flood where the Redstart had been showing. I met Murray by the east hide and he confirmed that he had no luck with the White-rumped Sandpiper but that a Grey Wagtail had flown over and that Steve had seen a Willow Warbler. The bushes behind the east hide contained several Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat. We checked the scrub and bushes by the cottages; two more Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler were seen here. A party of four Mistle Thrushes arrived. At about 8.30 a.m., we saw a group of five Pink-footed Geese flying west over the fields behind the scrub and we had several sightings of hunting Sparrowhawk. Murray departed to tackle his domestic chores, and I returned to the east flood. Looking from the bench beyond the east hide, I found the adult White-rumped Sandpiper on the edge of the godwit flock by the main island where a Curlew Sandpiper was the only other small wader present. I pointed the bird out to a nearby birder, Nick Upton from Bangkok; he was more used to Spoon-billed Sandpipers! But, I digress. I continued the circuit and made the long trek to Outer Uplees. A Buzzard was hanging in the wind over Mocketts Hill, there were single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers near the causeway and, on arriving at Uplees copse, there were two Wheatears on the grass sward, four Whinchats in a single bush and a Hobby flew low over the sheep fields behind the copse. A fruitful morning with a total of 83 species with the geese a new species for my Oare Marshes list.

(Geoff Burton)

September 16th

(06:30-14:00) A sunny start but soon clouding over with a cool NW wind. The 16th September - an auspicious date on the Oare Marshes calendar, could lightning strike twice? Well no, but an enjoyable and successful day's birding all the same. I met fellow T.C. member Francis Tusa at the pull-in. There were still 4 Spoonbills present on the East Flood until about 10:30 when they flew off and joined the other four along the Sheppey bank of the Swale, but around midday five of them flew off high south. Early on there were 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Knot and a few Dunlin amongst the roosting Black-tailed Godwits on the flood, plus 29 Avocets. The male Redstart showed well on and off in bushes either side of the road near the disabled parking bay. Other bits in the scrub and around the paddocks included 1 female Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, several Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs (one singing occasionally), 2 singing Cetti's Warblers, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Jay. A Hobby was hunting over the west side, and there was a steady trickle of Swallows and House Martins west. Still plenty of Yellow Wagtails around the reserve with circa 25 feeding amongst the cattle. 2 Kingfishers were seen at the sluice. Just north of the sluice Francis picked out a lone small wader on the mud in the south-east corner of the flood. At first we thought Dunlin, but as we got closer and the bird revealed itself a bit better it became obvious that it was a White-rumped Sandpiper, an adult moulting into winter plumage, eventually giving good views of it's white rump too! This is the second Oare record the first being in August 1998. It showed fairly well but didn't come close enough for me to get anything other than the dodgy record shots below. It attracted a trickle of birders, and was reported as still present until dusk. A couple of Sparrowhawks flew over disturbing the flood (but not the W-r. Sandpiper which simply crouched low until the danger had passed). 47 Avocets and 2 Greenshanks were at the mouth of Faversham Creek. A juvenile Peregrine flew north across the Swale to Sheppey, and there were 6 Great Crested Grebes on the water. A Wheatear was along the sea wall west of the Sea Wall hide. A single Common Buzzard was over Mocketts. Additionally Charles Trollope noted a Little Stint on the mud just over the sea wall from the car park and about 5 Ruff on the flood.

(Murray Wright)

September 15th

(07:45-12:30) Mostly bright with a stiff WSW wind. The 8 Spoonbills were still on the East Flood this morning and were present on and off all day moving between the flood and the Swale - at 10:20 they were flushed by a passing Spitfire(!) and flew high south, but by early afternoon they were back on the flood, and late afternoon they were feeding along the Sheppey side of the Swale. Also on the flood there were 18 Ruff, 173 Golden Plovers and 27 Avocets. 2 Chiffchaffs were in the copse opposite the cottages. A smart male Redstart was in the bushes behind the East Hide, plus 4 Chiffchaffs. While watching the Redstart I noticed a pair of Magpies flush a Little Owl from the trees behind the cottages and it alighted on one the sheds - this is my first record of this species here since October 10th last year! A Whinchat was on the bushes between the sea wall and the East Flood, and two more were on brambles in the West Flood. 2 Common Buzzards were hanging over Mocketts, from where circa 500 Wigeon dispersed to the west late morning. There was a Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs at Uplees, plus 2 Whimbrel on the mud. 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were amongst the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers east of the slipway.

(Murray Wright)

September 14th

(13:10-17:20) Overcast and drizzly with a strong and gusty WSW wind. Julian reported 8 of the Spoonbills still present on the East Flood early morning. When I arrived there were still 7, but 10 minutes later at 13:20 they flew off, circled  up and disappeared off to the east; a bit later I could see 8 feeding distantly along the Swale just to the east of Castle Coote; and with the tide rising all 8 arrived back on the flood at 15:28, where they were still present when I left - I wonder where yesterday's ninth got too? The eclipse drake Pintail was on the West Scrape. 7 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 12 Little Egrets were around the mouth of Faversham Creek, and a large (juvenile?) Sparrowhawk flew south across the Swale and alighted briefly on the Sea Wall on the east side of the creek. With the water level dropping an inch or two again on the East Flood (where depth really does matter!), at high tide there were 10 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, circa 100 Dunlins, circa 25 Knot, 23 Ringed Plovers, circa 25 Golden Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers, 1 Greenshank, circa 350 Redshanks, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, circa 800 Black-tailed Godwits and 19 Avocets. No major celeb's this afternoon, but Nigel Jarman was a month tick at least!

(Murray Wright)

September 13th

(14:30-17:15) Grey and overcast with a few spots of rain and a brisk WSW wind. I hadn't planned to visit today, but at a bit of a loose end(!) this afternoon I thought I'd pop down and see what high-tide had to offer. I met Geoff, Steve Ashton and Mick Sinden at the pull-in. A quick look at the East Flood showed the wader roost was building up nicely. Geoff suggested a look at the Swale from the slipway while there was some mud still available. We hadn't got far along the road when we picked up some large white birds flying in from the east - 9 Spoonbills! They circled over the flood for a bit before landing (two adults and seven immatures - I think?) - easily the largest flock I've seen at Oare, or in Kent and the U.K. for that matter. Two other birders present had seen them from the Sea Wall hide feeding along the Swale near Castle Coote circa 45 minutes earlier. They preened, slept and fed etc. and were still present when I left. Mike Gould who'd joined the 'snappers' present got the excellent photo below. Also on the flood at high tide there were 2 adult Little Stints, 1+ juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, circa 50 Dunlin, 8+ Knot, 14+ Ringed Plovers, circa 200 Golden Plovers, 6+ Bar-tailed Godwits and 19 Avocets, plus 20 Shovelers and 32 Cormorants, and a Hobby zipped through. Plenty of hirundines were moving west with a steady passage of Swallows and House Martins, and smaller numbers of Sand Martins. Another Oare tick for me was Vic Reeves and family who'd also seen the Spoonbills. In hindsight I'd liked to have asked Vic what the Singing Mound was up to these days (a favourite Novelty Island act of mine on 'Vic Reeves's Big Night Out'), but I guess I'd have been too shy/in awe to ask! Quite an afternoon!

(Murray Wright)

September 12th

(06:30-12:00) Bright and sunny with a freshening W wind. A fairly quiet low-tide visit. There were 27 Ruff and 2 Avocets on the East Flood first thing, and 37 Yellow Wagtails flew west. 2 Jays were in the copse opposite the cottages, plus 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and plenty of Common Whitethroats still. 3 Sedge Warblers and several Reed Warblers were in the bushes around the carpark. 2 Green Sandpipers were on the West Flood. A Wheatear was at Dan's Dock, plus a Hobby and a juvenile Marsh Harrier over the sheep pastures. 3 more Wheatears were at  Uplees, plus 1 Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 female Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler, circa 25 Goldfinches and lots of Meadow Pipits, plus a Whimbrel was on the mud and a few Swallows and House Martins were moving south. 2 Common Buzzards, 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers and 3 Kestrels were sparring over Mocketts. A winter adult Little Stint was by the slipway, and 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 7 Avocets were on the mud to the east amongst small numbers of Dunlins and Ringed and Grey Plovers. Before I left there were 7 Knot and 1 Greenshank amongst the gathering Black-tailed Godwits on the East Flood.

(Murray Wright)

September 10th

(12:30-17:00) Mostly cloudy with a brisk SW breeze. Another high tide visit. On the East Flood there were 1 adult Little Stint (two more circled with Dunlin a few times before flying off west), 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers (seven reported), circa 20 Dunlin, 9 Knot, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Ringed Plover, circa 50 Golden Plovers, 5 Greenshanks, 14 Avocets and 2 Common Terns, plus a pair of Gadwall. 2 Common Buzzards were over Mocketts, and a flock of circa 25 Wigeon flew east. The large Starling flock contained two striking pale gingery/leucistic individuals. Steve Bartholomew and Stephen Elves had a juvenile Cuckoo in bushes along Faversham Creek.

(Murray Wright)

September 9th

(07:30-15:30) Bright and sunny with a light SW-NW breeze. A Chiffchaff was in bushes near the West Hide. 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 4 Greenshanks were at the mouth of Faversham Creek. A single Green Sandpiper was on the West Flood. A flock of circa 200 Bar-tailed Godwits flew west along the Swale. Two more Chiffchaffs were in Uplees copse with 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear nearby, plus 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and circa 250 Golden Plovers on the mud there. On the East Flood at high tide amongst the Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank there were 1 juvenile Little Stint, 8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 8 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, circa 50 Golden Plovers. 2 Greenshanks, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Ruff, 1 Turnstone, 14 Avocets and 4 Little Egrets. A Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawks and an all dark juvenile Marsh Harrier over the flood did their best to stir things up.

(Murray Wright)

September 8th

(10:00-16:00) A mostly grey and overcast day with rain early on and a NE-NW breeze. Brighter later on. The Hobby was over the west side on and off all day. 3 Peregrines (two adults and a juvenile) were over Faversham Creek fighting over/playing with a recently caught Redshank before the juvenile missed catching it and it (i.e. the deceased Redshank!) spiralled into the creek. From the Sea Wall hide prior to high tide there were 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers on the mud, plus 5 juvenile Knot, circa 25 Grey Plovers, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 14 Avocets, 2 Greenshanks and lots of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers. I met Rob Clements along the road around high tide who promptly picked up a Common Buzzard coming over the East Flood and heading north to Sheppey, plus a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew east. On the flood at high tide there was a juvenile Little Stint and 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers pretty much as close to the road as they could get - a shame the light was so grim! Also on the flood there were 2 Dunlins, 2 Ringed Plovers, circa 25 Golden Plover (circa 700 reported yesterday), 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshanks, circa 750 Redshanks 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, circa 1000 Black-tailed Godwits and 8 Common Snipe. Dave Brown reported a Wood Sandpiper present on the flood on Monday. A quick look around the cottages produced a Jay in the dead trees opposite, and 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a female Blackcap  were in the same bramble patch as I headed to the West Hide (from where there was nowt!). There were 50+ Yellow Wagtails around the reserve, and a steady passage of Swallows were flying north into the wind all day.

(Murray Wright)

September 7th

I had a late trip to Oare this morning seeing 5-6 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 1000's of Black-tailed Godwits.

(Mike Gould)

September 6th

A gusting ESE wind; but the walk to Uplees produced a nice cameo of 4 Whinchats and the Stonechat together on a fence section; plus 3 Wheatears in the surrounds. A lone Whimbrel was on the foreshore, plus 7 Avocets departing to Sheppey. A mixed flock of c.180 Ringed Plovers/ Dunlin were feeding by the slipway below the Watch House. The Ruddy Shelduck continued to show well, plus 2 Wigeon noted, and the usual assortment of waders remain, dominated by the Black-tailed Godwits. Like yesterday no Stint or Curlew Sands that I could find. Just off the reserve in the shelter of the Gunpowder Works woodland, 2 Grey Wagtails were active in the main leat.

(Mike Roser)

September 5th

(06:00-12:00) A sunny start again but cloud gathering and a freshening SE breeze. A Hobby was sat on a gate on the west side first thing and watched late morning catching dragonflies over the West Flood. A flock of circa 75 Common Terns flew south-west, and a mixed flock of 6 Turnstones and 11 Ringed Plovers flew south over the reserve. 2 Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns were fishing off the slipway. I met up with Geoff Burton along the road making a 'rare' early morning appearance. The female Ruddy Shelduck was on the East Flood again and a Green Sandpiper dropped in. A Peregrine was perched on one of the Nagden pylons. A juvenile Turtle Dove was in the dead trees opposite the cottages, plus a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. 5+ Lesser Whitethroats were in the scrub, plus lots of Whitethroats still, and 1 or 2 Willow Warblers were singing occasionally. 1 Sedge Warbler and several Reed Warblers were noted around the reserve still. 5 Long-tailed Tits were in the bushes near the East Hide. Disappointing numbers of waders on the flood at high tide with no more than 200 each of Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, and circa 100 Golden Plovers, plus 1 Dunlin(!), 1 Knot, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 12 Ruff, 3 Turnstone and 5 Common Snipe, and there were also 2 Wigeon and 1 Sandwich Tern. 2 Whimbrels flew west and several more were noted along the mud. A Wheatear was at Dan's Dock. The male Common Redstart was heard calling at Uplees copse and eventually showed well (if a little briefly), plus a juvenile Cuckoo there before flying north across the Swale, 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear. Geoff finished the session on 82 species for the morning (with Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush, and Avocet all missing - and no Curlew Sands or Little Stints either!), his first 80+ count this year, but still a bit down for September, which can produce 90+ species in the right conditions.

(Murray Wright)

September 4th

(06:00-12:00) A sunny and calm start but cloud building later on the E breeze. A pleasant session around the patch with Richard Roberts. 2 Grey Wagtails flying west early on were our first here this year. A Common Swift flew east. There were still 3 juvenile Turtle Doves on the wires over the stubble south-west of the cottages, and 2 Lesser Whitethroats were in the scrub nearby. A Peregrine was on the first pylon east of Faversham Creek. A single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was the 'pick' of the waders on East Flood at high tide and a year tick for Richard. Julian Russell saw the male Common Redstart in Uplees copse, however, a couple of hours later when we got there we were unable to relocate it, noting just 2 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears, several Whitethroats and a flock of circa 25 Goldfinches. A Common Sandpiper was calling along the Swale near Dan's Dock. On our return to the East Flood yesterday's Ruddy Shelduck had reappeared - another new bird for Richard.

(Murray Wright)

September 3rd

(12:30-16:30) Sunny with a brisk E breeze. Myself and Mike Stevens spent a fairly quiet afternoon wandering around the East Flood at low tide, where the only bird of 'note' amongst the regular species seen was a Ruddy Shelduck (apparently unringed!) - an addition to the exotics year list at least! Also, there were 4 Wigeon and 2 Greenshanks on the flood.

(Murray Wright)

September 2nd

(06:00-10:15) Fine and sunny with a fresh ENE breeze. Although it was high tide around 06:00 there were few waders on the East Flood and most of what were present when I arrived soon departed after a couple of, apparently unsuccessful, blasts from the wildfowlers hidden on the other side of the sea wall. However, there was 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin(!) amongst the small number of Golden Plovers and Black-tailed Godwits left, and there was a juvenile Mediterranean Gull amongst the Black-headed Gulls. 8 Common Terns flew south-west. A Hobby was hunting over the west side again. A smart Spotted Flycatcher on the wires opposite the cottages before flying into the gardens was the first here this year. 3 Blackcaps were in the copse neaby. 2 juvenile Turtle Doves were feeding amongst the Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves in the stubble fields south of the cottages. A Whinchat was in the field behind the East Hide. A text from Mike Roser at Uplees reporting a male Common Redstart in the copse had me 'hurrying' there, passing a couple of Wheatears on the way, for what was the second welcome and most attractive addition to the OM year list of the morning, though sadly too quick for me to get any worthwhile pics of.

(Murray Wright)

(08:00-11:00) Contained myself to the W side on a superb early Autumn morning. Common and Lesser Whitethroats were in the copse, with Jay and the resident Green Woodpeckers. A Greenshank flew over, calling; and 3 Wheatears were in the surrounds. A male Common Redstart was elusive, but an OMYT, and finally gave reasonable views for MW and TR as well. A gyrating Hobby was picking off dragonflies practically over my head as I left to watch another less impressive aerial performer - G-LAKE a Renegade single-prop amphibian do several runs into the ebbing Swale. With mussel scouring trawlers, buried diggers, pipe laying, and groyne replacement there can't really be too much more disturbance to come for this area - oh, of course it must be wildfowling time, and perhaps paintballing - how forgetful!!

(Mike Roser)  

(12:00-16:15) The Spotted Flycatcher took a bit of finding but eventually it appeared, showing well at times as it launched itself from exposed, dead branches about 50 yards along the track opposite the cottages. In front of the Sea Wall hide were about 40 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey plover and 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers. As I walked towards the sluice, a calling Spotted Redshank flew high over the opposite bank. The roost on the flood was smaller than in recent days with only about 900 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Avocets, 11 Ruffs, c 240 Golden Plovers and about 300 Redshanks. Earlier in the day a Peregrine had disturbed the waders on the mudflats and as I left a Hobby appeared over the west side, caught what appeared to be a dragonfly and promptly dropped it. A birder from Croydon with whom I'd chatted earlier in the afternoon hoved into view just before I departed; he'd ventured out to the copse, picking up Wheatears and Whinchats along the way but had found no trace of this morning's male Common Redstart.

(Mike Stevens)

September 1st

(07:00-11:00) A beautiful sunny September morning with a light ENE breeze. Not a lot to report this morning. There were 2 Whinchats sitting on a fence behind the East Hide, and 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were feeding amongst the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers east of the slipway.

(Murray Wright)