We arrived at 6.15am picking up Barn Owl and Turtle Dove straight away to give the Jims a couple of late year ticks. A Garden Warbler was a surprise tick as I don't think we've seen one before at Oare. Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Lapwing, Avocets, a couple of Dunlin and a single Golden Plover made up the waders on east flood. A Garganey was reported by another birder but looking into the sun we couldn't find it. We walked along the bank but couldn't find the Bonaparte's Gull but did pick out a few Whimbrel and some Curlew along with an Oystercatcher to add to the wader count and a single Med gull too. A walk around the flood delivered a few more of the expected ticks but two Raven calling from the pylons were another first for Oare and then several Corn Buntings were heard and a couple seen for what I think is another first for Oare.
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| Bonaparte's Gull at Oare (always distant) |
As we got back to the hide I picked up the Bonaparte's Gull feeding out on the mud. This bird has been returning to Oare every year since 2013 and I've connected with it every year since 2013 apart from 2019. I've also seen three other Bonaparte's gulls in the UK with one at Abberton in 2019, Eastbourne in 2013 and Crossness in 2012.
On the journey home we stopped at a church that has held Spotted Flycatchers before but this year we weren't so lucky.
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| Juvenile Green Woodpecker |
year list now 225
onwards and upwards!
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