1000-1130 A brief visit –enjoying with Murray W close views of Long-billed Dowitcher on the E flood . Not as well defined as Jonathan L`s Facebook pics of yesterday; nonetheless even point and shoot through the `scope, produces a recognisable image with the plumage characteristics pronounced. Prominent supercilium; barred flanks; and bold spotting on both vent and under-tail coverts. Q.…
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Oare Marshes
September 13 An adult Sabine’s Gull was seen by Arnie Van Orsouw as it flew up the Swale close inshore, passing the sea wall hide then returning east, at 11.20 am. This is the first here since 2014. Whilst on the subject of gulls, the Bonaparte’s Gull appears not to have been seen since 6th? Geoff Burton
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
12-9-17 Common buzzard x 3 (soaring high in the sky over the East Lake and calling). 10-9-17 Includes Webs count Mute swan x 4, greylag goose x 335, Canada goose x 233, Egyptian goose x 2, grey heron x 3, little egret x 2, cormorant x 10, lapwing x 65, green sandpiper x 2, kingfisher x 2, moorhen x 19,…
Oare Marshes
12 deg C initially; SW gale and pulses of rain but did brighten somewhat later! From E flood hide I counted c 550 Golden Plover and c 95 Avocets The Long –billed Dowitcherwas near the road feeding amongst a Lapwing flock , but was spooked by the Peregrine and lost amongst the host of Black-tailed Godwits. 12 Ruff/ Reeves were…
Oare Marshes
An ambulance was on call at one of the houses along the approach to the reserve so we parked up and watched the mixed Yellow and Pied Wagtail gathering in the fields while we waited; a Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat were in the same area. Once on the reserve, the first unexpected encounter involved a juvenile Cuckoo feeding on…
Oare Marshes
September 6 06:25-13:35 – cloudy with a moderate westerly wind. Murray was there when I arrived and we spent a pleasant morning teasing out all the species we could find. These included the adult Long-billed Dowitcher on the east flood and the Bonaparte’s Gull on the mudflat east of the causeway. The juvenile Cuckoo was seen in the hedge to…
Oare Marshes
1000—1200 2 Green Sandpipers were at the west side pond and a Buzzard circuited the shrubbery. 2 Cetti`s were singing in different locations and both Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat plus Chiffchaff were on the fruiting brambles. c 70 Ringed Plover were again on the E flood close to the road plus one Curlew Sandpiper.Walked W as tide filled with Curlews…
Oare Marshes
0800—1530 An excellent turn-out from the KOS for this month`s Field Trip led by Ray O`Reilly. Swift and juv Cuckoo were amongst the first sps encountered, together with Sparrowhawk. Spotted Redshank; Whimbrel; Little Stint and Common Sandpiper were amongst the wader flocks with Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwit numbers remaining significant. Water Rail gave good views and Yellow Wagtailswere at…
Oare Marshes
1500—1645 Warm; ebbing tide; light E breeze. Undoubted highlight (1545-1610) was an Osprey flying E along Swale below Harty skyline; spending some time hovering and plunging (not seen to take a fish) and gradually moving into the mouth of the Swale and finally lost in Whitstable Bay`s haze. 72 Common Ternsalighted in Horse Sand`s shallows—bathing and preening before continuing W…
Oare Marshes
Contrasting days weather-wise, but wonderful opportunities today for long lenses as opposed to hand held digis; with near images of Red-necked Phalarope; reflections in still waters of Spotted Redshanks, and for some ,with patience, perhaps combinations of Bonaparte`s Gull; Long-billed Dowitcher and Red-necked Phalarope. The supporting cast of waders clearly provides an opportunity of twenty plus wader sps presently at…