Author: Michael

Oare Marshes

0730—1200 Another `tropical` morning; a veil of high, hazy cloud and a warm E breeze which freshened as the tide turned. The Spoonbill was busy sweeping and preening early on, but took sanctuary and rested later among the circa 500  Black-tailed Godwits, and Cormorants . A range of duck sps are hurrying to eclipse on the E flood including a…

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Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

11-6-17 including Webs count: Mute swan x 6 (2 on nests), greylag goose x 280, Canada goose x 202, Egyptian goose x 9, cormorant x 1, grey heron x 4 adults and 3 juveniles, great crested grebe x 14 adults and 4 young, mallard x 48, tufted duck x 7, gadwall x 2, shelduck x 2, lapwing x 19 Adults…

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Oare Marshes

June 8 15:20-17:00 – sunny with a fresh SW wind. The flock of Black-tailed Godwits on the east flood had increased to about 260 birds. There were also two Lapwings and five Avocets, the pair of Mute Swans with their three cygnets, a drake Pochard and a returning duck Teal. Overhead, there were about 200 Swifts. A juvenile Great Spotted…

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Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

31-5-17 Little ringed plover x 10,  shelduck x 2. 30-5-17 Red Kite x 1 (11:55 a.m.), common tern x 1 (sitting on island seen from Tyler Hide seeing off a gull). 28-5-17 Little ringed plover x 12, grey heron x 12, reed warbler x 10, common tern x 1, garden warbler x 6, swifts, house martins and sand martins. 27-5-17…

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Oare Marshes

1445—1600  At last; 20 deg plus, with the mistral blowing hot air. Cuckoos were mobile and called from the W side scrub, with a very rufous female prominently in attendance. ( Is Swalecliffe`s bird still on-site? ) Cetti`s were vocal; a Spoonbill swept the E flood shallows; Little Egrets probed the margins and a Greenshank was ever present. 17 Knot…

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Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

14-5-17 (Including Webs count) Mute swan x 3, greylag goose x 44, Canada goose x 69, Egyptian goose x 3 adult + 5 young, grey heron x 5 adults + 3 young, cormorant x 3, moorhen x 15, coot x 42, great-crested grebe x 17 adults + 4 juveniles, kingfisher x 2, lapwing x 14, little ringed plover x 7,…

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Oare West

13th May–1200-1430 .  Walked westward to Uplees copse; warm with broken cloud and sunny intervals. Blustery conditions still deter insect life, although a Small Copper, bright male Common Blues, Small Heath and a large, high,fast flying, presumed Hairy Dragonfly were on the wing in sunny aspects. 3 Whimbrel and a Curlew moved off the saltings as the tide rose; a…

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