Oare marsh Kent

I could have driven the 500 miles to see the Long-tailed Shrike in Fife today but I would also have had to drive 500 miles home and I just couldn't be bothered to do it so instead I booked a trio to Oare marsh in Kent with Dad and Jim. We set off at 5am after watching England beat Mexico in the early hours and arrived at Oare around 6.15am.

We set up to scope the east flood only for another birder to tell us exactly where the Bonaparte's gull was among the c350 Black-headed Gulls which made the search a lot easier for us. (The Bonaparte's Gull is now 16 and has been returning to Oare for 14 years. I first saw this bird in 2013 I've seen it in 13 of those 14 years it's been coming to Oare.) A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in front of the viewing area and two Turtle Doves were sat on wires behind us. 

Out on East flood we had c150 Black-tailed Godwit along with good numbers of Redshank, Lapwing and Avocet. I picked out a few Knot and Dunlin along with singles of Greenshank, LRP, Common and Green Sandpiper and a few Med Gulls. We saw four Cattle Egrets on west flood and a Peregrine sat on a distant pylon too. Before the walk around to the hide we added Raven and Sparrowhawk.

Along the walk we had Bearded Tits, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warbler along with Reed Bunting and a fly over Bunting that was very likely a Corn Bunting. We refound the Bonaparte's Gull out on the mud later in the morning allowing a couple of record shots. Two juvenile Yellow Wagtails were seen to finish the day and I added a few other ticks bringing the days total to 69 and making an enjoyable few hours with Dad and Jim before we headed for home. 

Bonaparte's gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Black tailed Godwit

Godwits

Godwits

Med Gull

Year list now 224