Windy Birding.

Why do I seem to pick the windiest days when I venture south or eastwards to do some coastal birding?

Just over a week ago I headed southwards to Farlington Marshes and completed a full clockwise circuit;  wandering alongside the stream watching Little Egrets and Black-tailed Godwits feeding; then out to the sea wall with high tide some 2 hours away the mudflats appeared empty until I used the scope then various waders and gulls came to life. I stopped to chat to a delightful couple who requested confirmation that we were all looking at two Little Stints (addition to the year list but no pics) feeding alongside a Common Sandpiper.

As high tide approached the main pool started to fill up with waders including 20+ Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing, numerous Black-tailed Godwit plus Grey Plover sporting their black waistcoats. Attempts to digiscope the waders in such windy conditions did not produce the quality I had hoped for. 

Yesterday I drove eastwards to Oare Marshes on the North Kent coast and it was even windier so in the words of at least one other birder 'not the day for photography'... that was an understatement! A clockwise walk took me along the seawall looking out over the mudflats and then alongside Faversham Creek producing 50+ Common Ringed Plovers, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover, Black-headed and Herring Gulls, and flock after flock of Black-tailed Godwits flying into the East Flood on the rising tide.

I estimated that around 1500 Black-tailed Godwits eventually congregated on the flood but too far away for a clear photo. I did manage a passable shot of 3 Common Ringed Plovers feeding with a Ruff and one of many Black-headed Gulls. Also present were 15 Avocet, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Shoveller, Coot, Shelduck, Lapwing and a single juvenile Little Stint. Other sightings included a Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipits and Bearded Tits... typically heard but not seen.

Despite the wind there were other views to maintain my interest as I wandered across to the West Flood with brief sightings of butterflies; a male Clouded Yellow, Gatekeeper and a Common Blue maintaining its grip in the strong wind and a male Ruddy Darter. As a Kestrel hunted overhead a Kingfisher flashed past me across the meadows. I headed for home as the skies darkened and eventually drove through the heavy oncoming rain storm.   FAB.   

Reunion in Kent.

On Tuesday I arranged a day out with David, an ex-RHS work colleague, who has moved to Kent to restart his life again. Our day started at Oare Marshes where I  met David, his wife June and most unexpectedly Rob, one of their sons, who has got the birding bug. 

With a nearly clear blue sky and not a breath of wind we headed out along the sea wall and scanning the bushes around the car park produced Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. The mudflats were littered with Redshanks but our attention very quickly turned to a pale ghostly shape quartering over the inland marsh.

The direction of the sun and the flight path of the Barn Owl failed to provide a very close encounter but we watched this individual for over half an hour as it searched for a meal and I managed a few record shots.

Our eyes soon returned to a search of the sky over Sheppey and we soon latched onto several Marsh Harriers and possibly a Buzzard. Bearded Tits were often heard as we wandered slowly but never showed themselves. At the sea wall hide we added Avocets (40+), Shelduck, Cormorant, a female Sparrowhawk mobbing a Harrier plus the usual Gulls. 

The East Flood held the expected Mallard, Tufted Ducks, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Shovellers, Coot, Moorhen, Redshank, Lapwing, a single Ruff, a dozen Common Snipe and masses of Golden Plover (pictured above). The waders took flight as a Peregine flew fairly high over the marsh heading westwards without stopping to hunt for a meal. On the western side we added Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel plus Starlings, Dunlin and Pied Wagtails.

David & Rob.

After consuming our packed lunches we headed inland towards 'Stodders' and my hosts stopped on the edge of an area of farmland to enable me to scope out two Whooper Swans (tick for 2010) distantly amoungst a group of Mute Swans but no sign of any Bewick's. Our afternoon was spent at Grove Ferry.

Scanning from The Mound we found the usual Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal and Mallard on the pools but no other waders. The chat soon got around to our chances of finding a Bittern and scanning with the scope along one of the furthermost reed banks I located the camouflaged 'head up' shape standing partly hidden by the reeds.

This digiscoped image has been heavily cropped but you should be able to make out the browner shape of the Bittern just off centre-right. It soon started moving and then disappeared from view. During our leisurely stroll to two of the hides we heard both Water Rail and several Cetti's Warblers. A number of sightings of Marsh Harriers, mainly males and just when neither of us had our cameras ready a fly past by another Bittern!

 

Unfortunately this was all I could manage as it disappeared to our left in the fading light. My day in Kent ended at David's new home with a fish pie supper which was greatfully appreciated after a glorious day out on the Kent marshes in good company before I made my way home in the dark.  FAB.

Calm on The Swale.

Evidence of the calmest day so far this year....a barge at rest on The Swale.

Taken yesterday during a few hours birding at Oare Marshes.

For more Watery Wednesday images click the link here.  FAB.

Oare Marshes - A day alone!

Last weekend I decided that I needed some time to myself and headed to one of my favourite locations, Oare Marshes, on the north Kent coast. When I started out on the two hour drive the weather looked promising but the closer I got to my destination the clouds thickened and there was the hint of rain in the air (not going to be good for taking pics!). This long distance view over the fields showed a lot of activity on The Swale with many sailing vessels on the water and explained why there was no space in the very small car park. A view of the East Flood taken from the car before I located the last available roadside space to park the car. This is the place to view waders resting around the shallow pool and on the low islands at high tide.

Most of the waders, Black-tailed Godwits (too many to count), Redshanks, Golden Plovers and Lapwings had decided on this day to stay well away from the road and the poor light made it difficult to get any decent pics. However there was one Ruff feeding fairly close by.

Then a single Lapwing walked past.

It then flew up into the air uttering it's unmistakable 'peewit...peewit' call as it joined its friends.

The Golden Plovers showing their black bellies were all grouped together and I managed this record shot by digi-scoping.

My previous post shows the effect on the waders when the cows walked through the pool. During the mahem that ensued I saw 10 Avocet take flight but they failed to re-land on the flood. Other sightings included a single Greenshank, Cormorants, Grey Heron, Mute Swans, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Teal, Coot, Moorhen and Shovellers.

From the hide I carefully searched through the 100's of Black-tailed Godwits and eventually located a single Dunlin and then a Curlew Sandpiper (another first for 2009). In the far distance a Marsh Harrier was drifting over Mocketts Hill on the other side of The Swale. Leaving the hide my attention turned to a small flutter, a Skipper, that eventually stayed still long enough for this shot.

A moment later my peripheral vision caught sight of a blue shape perched on a post in a ditch near the path and as I turned around a Kingfisher took flight, obviously aware of my presence, and headed towards the sluice gates. A few moments later it returned and flashed past me in the opposite direction and disappeared. (One day I'll get a photo!) Below is the view up into Faversham Creek with the tide receding.

From the creek I looked back onto the flood pool and whilst battling the strong wind I located these few Black-tailed Godwits sleeping and feeding.

While also watching 2 Little Grebes constantly diving I just caught a hint of the sounds of Bearded Tits calling as they moved through the reeds but never showing themselves. This Black-headed Gull was searching the seaweed for a meal as the tide continued to turn exposing larger expanses of mud.

Using the scope I was able to locate a few Common Plovers, Oystercatchers and a single Whimbrel easily distinguished from a Curlew by its smaller size, striped head markings and its shorter decurved bill. A small group of young Pied Wagtails also moved past searching for flies.
Heading west towards Dan's Dock there were at least a dozen Little Egrets on the West Flood plus lots more Coot and then another distant Marsh Harrier floating over the reed bed. Single House Martin and Swallow flew westwards. Various 'flutters' (Painted Lady, Gatekeeper & Common Blue) appeared and disappeared, blown about by the strengthening wind. My attention then turned to these other residents. First a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and then....

this female Common Darter perched on the pathway just long enough for a few quick shots.

A few minutes later I took this pic and the realised that it was a Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum), distinguished from a Common Darter by the lack of pale panel markings on the thorax, the noticeable constriction of the abdomen around S4 plus two black marks on S8 & S9.

This is the view towards Uplees Copse from Dans Dock with the sound of a Skylark somewhere in the sky above me.

One day I will walk the full circuit but on this occasion I decided to return to the car and head home after a very enjoyable and productive few hours in the company of wildlife that keeps me sane. FAB

Mobile Bird Scarers.

During a recent visit to Oare Marshes I witnessed these cows crossing the East Flood and the resulting effect on the various waders that were quietly feeding or sleeping until their space was invaded!

I will post my other sightings and a few pics when I can find some time away from other issues that are needing my attention at this time. FAB

Reed Buntings at Oare Marshes

Today I spent most of the day at Oare Marshes a KWT Reserve and logged a total of 54 species. My first encounter was a small group of House Sparrows and Reed Buntings feeding on fat-balls and seed on the edge of the car park. One individual kindly posed for me.

As it was low tide when I arrived I decided to take the path to Dan's Dock and was rewarded with more sightings of Reed Buntings everywhere plus dancing Skylarks, a few Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Most unexpectantly a Goldcrest also made a brief appearance. A male Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by Crows on the other side of The Swale. Sparrowhawk & Kestrel were also seen. On my return walk I snapped these three "Tufties".

Konik are an unusual breed of small horse, or pony, originally from Poland. This stocky and hardy breed shows many of the characteristics of the Tarpan, which was the original wild horse of Europe's Forests. Koniks have proved to be ideally adapted to year-round grazing on grassland and wetland habitats and they have been used by several conservation organisations to help manage nature reserves both in Britain and Europe.

These two were having a running battle but when I got close enough for a picture they stopped fighting - just my luck!

Very few waders flew into the East Flood as the tide rose apart from good numbers of Common Redshank plus one Ruff (new tick for 2009) and I spotted at least 12 Common Snipe but none of them were particularly obliging nor was the light! So only managed a 'rear' view.And once again, nearly the last bird seen was another Reed Bunting...I lost count but it was definitely their day.