With a planned day off on Wednesday I picked up the Jims and headed down to Oare marsh in Kent for a mornings birding hoping we could catch up with Napolean the returning Bonaparte's Gull which returned some weeks ago. We got there for first, it was bright but very cold and we scanned the gulls on the mud at low tide without finding the target. We saw Curlew, Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher Redshank, Ringed Plovers and Knot out on the mud and scanning the East flood as we walked around we found a single Spotted Redshank hidden amongst the hundreds of Redshank. Large numbers of Blackwits and Golden Plover flew in from the Swale and two Spoonbill fed along the reed edges at the far end of the flood. More Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Knot and Avocet were seen and two young Curlew Sandpipers were seen too to give our second year tick of the day.
 |
| Turnstone |
Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were seen before a Peregrine flew over the flood swooping and putting up most of the birds followed by a Hobby. Bearded Tits pinged from the reeds and we saw Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Chiffchaff and Goldfinch too on the marsh.Pied Wagtail, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Heron and Little Egret added more day ticks
 |
| Garganey |
 |
| Reed Bunting |
 |
| Reed Bunting |
 |
| Spoonbill |
I walked out to West flood and found a Green Sandpiper and a Garganey which was nice. Turtle Dove, Wheatear and Whinchat were reported by people that walked other areas of the marsh but nobody reported seeing the Bonaparte's Gull so I guess it was feeding elsewhere today. Good to be out with the Jims but got home to news of an Aquatic Warbler at Landguard and didn't have the energy to make the trip up the A12 for it, let's hope I get another chance at some point as this is a bird I'd very much like to see but has become very difficult to connect with in recent years.
Year list now 213
No comments:
Post a Comment