It rained steadily for most of the day but this did not prevent it from being, perhaps, the best day of the autumn so far. The bird of the day was a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope found by Roger Lawrence on the east flood at 9.08 am. There were no other birders in the vicinity at the time and Roger had…
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Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
29-8-17 Nuthatch x 1 (calling behind the visitor centre). 27-8-17 Osprey x 1 (on the East Lake but flew west at 9:30 a.m.), green sandpiper x 1, grey wagtail x 1, little grebe x 1, kingfisher x 2. 26-8-17 Osprey x 1 and marsh harrier x 1 (late afternoon from Tyler Hide).
Oare W
Initially foggy and autumnal, developing into a hot sunny morning. Walked westward and deep into TQ past the FSB. Sandwich Terns were calling, and a mournful whistling came from a flock of c 40 Golden Plovers appearing out of the mist. 22 Linnets were atop the seawall in the seeded flora; with Shoveler and 2 Little Grebes just discernible in…
Oare Marshes
A brief but very enjoyable evening visit. Highlights were the adult Long-billed Dowitcher showing rather well, a juvenile Little Stint, eight Ruff (including a juvenile female), six Whimbrel, five Snipe, four Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Common Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns, a Bearded Reedling and at least seven Yellow Wagtails. Hurried and rather rough higher counts included 500 Grey Plovers…
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
24-8-17 Kingfisher x 2 (Carter Hide and Willow Hide). 23-8-17 Green sandpiper x 1, teal x 5, pochard x 2 (females), shoveler x 2, sand martin x 40, house martin x 10, swift x 1, kestrel x 1, swallow x 5, nuthatch x 1, chiffchaff x 23, garden warbler x 1, bullfinch x 1. 23-8-17 Kingfisher x 1 juvenile (Carter…
Oare Marshes
0730—1230 Persistent light rain with full cloud; humid and windless. With Swallows gathering on wires, it felt like Autumn`s approach, and several Sand Martins were over the E flood too. In the NE corner, 2Ruff, and a Spotted Redshank now in winter dress, were tarsus deep and a Water Rail gave good views as it moved through the reed margins.…
Oare Marshes
A productive few hours included the adult Long-billed Dowitcher, the adult Bonaparte’s Gull, an adult Curlew Sandpiper, two adult Spotted Redshanks, two juvenile Little Stints, four Whimbrels, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, two Ruffs, a Greenshank, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 180 Golden Plovers, 150 Avocets, 60 or so Grey Plovers and three Turnstones among a typical suite of waders and wildfowl. A handful of Mediterranean Gulls were around, including at least four juveniles, as were six Yellow Wagtails and two Bearded…
Oare Marshes
From 11.30, a warm and sunny day: Cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, mallard, shelduck, tufted, kestrel, sparrowhawk, buzzard, marsh harrier, coot, moorhen, oystercatcher, ringed plover, little ringed plover, golden plover, lapwing, dunlin, common sandpiper, redshank, black tailed godwit, curlew, whimbrel, snipe, ruff, long billed dowitcher, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, bonaparte gull, medi gull, herring gull, common tern,…
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
11-8-17 (highlights from Monthly transect) Little egret x 1 (From Willow Hide), kingfisher x 3 (1 on West Lake, 1 on the river close to the North Lake, 1 carrying food in front of Slingsby Hide), chiffchaff x 10, nuthatch x 2, bullfinch x 1. 9-8-17 Common sandpiper x 1, sand martin x 10. 5-8-17 Ringed plover x 1, little…
Oare Marshes
9th August – 08.00 to 12.00. Dry but with threatening clouds to the West, NW wind. The Long-billed Dowitcher found yesterday was still present on the East flood. The bird an adult seemingly moulting out of summer plumage, was watched by many during the morning, roosting and feeding amongst Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Redshank and Dunlin giving good size comparisons. Other…