0715-1215
Eye watering in 2 deg of near still W air, following Sunday`s extravaganza in the northerlies, per Murray W and Neil B.! Tide was on the turn as I walked W. A male Marsh Harrier harried by a continuously vocal Raven over the W flood was a good start—20+ Greenfinches were at Dan`s Dock and Skylarksong greeted the sun`s warmth. A pair of Stonechats were around the saltmarsh and a further pair W of Uplees copse. c 60 Avocets, 200+ Golden Plovers and similar numbers of Grey Plovers lined Sheppey banks. 2 Buzzardsand a Marsh Harrier were quartering the saltmarsh and a Green Sandpiper flew from a near dyke – white rump gleaming in the sun. Deep into TQ Great Crested Grebes were again numerous in the channels—-a duck Red–breasted Merganser was trailing two of the grebes. A Corn Bunting was in a favoured spot. Beyond FSB, the island`s margins were lined with  Wigeon; a conservative count of 1600—no doubt accounting for the flocks leaving Mocketts earlier. Little Egrets and Grey Herons were a continuous feature appearing  both leaward of the seawall and along the Swale`s margins. Shelduck numbers have been recently boosted and c 650 were along Sheppey banks too. Two flocks of c 80 Fieldfares flew W  during the morning; but Starling parties were near continous during the walk—-substantial immigration of this sp over the last few days!
Mike R