We headed down the M20 into Kent this morning arriving at Walland marsh first thing where we quickly found the two Tundra Bean Geese that were reported yesterday. They were in the company of a few Mute Swans but as we watched nineteen Bewick's Swans dropped in calling and a Great Egret flew from a nearby ditch. As we explored the marsh we found a large flock of birds feeding on the seed crop and this contained by far the largest flock of Tree Sparrow I've ever encountered feeding with large numbers of Yellowhammer plus Reed Bunting and Linnets. A Merlin flew across the field as did Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Green woodpecker gave me a year tick whilst Stock Dove and Mistle Thrush moved the Jims closer to my total.
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| Tundra Bean Geese and Bewick's Swan |
Our next stop was the farm on the reserve where we enjoyed a few more day ticks before a brief sea watch where Red-throated Divers were moving through in large numbers and we picked up three year ticks with Gannet, Guillemot and Razorbill. A Cattle Egret in the sheep field along Dengemarsh road was a nice find too. Two Peregrines on the pylons by the power station were scoped but we failed to find any Black Redstart.
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| Cattle Egret |
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| The Bouy at Dunge |
As we headed home we stopped at Oare Marsh where we saw a Spoonbill asleep on the island which was later joined by a second bird. With it being high tide the flood was full of waders mostly Avocet and Blackwits with smaller numbers of Dunlin and Redshank. A Water Rail was feeding on a dead fish close to the first view point and a Kingfisher flew close along the channel a few times. Another Gt Egret was out on the flood and a Bittern flew from east to west flood which I think is my first for Oare marsh.
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Turnstone |
The trip list totalled 86 and moved the year list to 142 with 11 new birds today.
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