18.11.2016 0730—1200

Eye-watering in a chill 3deg SW at low tide. Walked W with a male Marsh Harrier quartering the dykes; Cetti`s singing mid-marsh (three on the circuit) and five Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes in the main dyke. Goldfinches worked both saltings and Teasel heads. Wigeon lined Sheppey shoreline in impressive numbers stretching W—an estimate of 3500 after several counts was not excessive. 29 Great Crested Grebes were in the Swale and South Deep channel and two pairs of Stonechats were either side of Uplees copse. A Green Sandpiper was mobile along a marshland ditch and seaside Green Woodpeckers undulated off the seawall. 16 Pintail were with Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon on the E flood. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the rear of E flood and a ringtail Hen Harrier disturbed the Lapwings as it ranged along the seawall main dyke.

Three duck Common Scoters were mussel diving off the point; a drake Red-breasted Merganser flew E and c 100 Avocets swept the creek banks. 33 seals were hauled up on Horse Sands where several hundred Golden Plover were roosting. A further pair of Stonechats were on the E flood plus 11 more Great Crested Grebes around the creek mouth. A Kingfisher and Peregrine were also reported.
Mike Roser