OARE MARSH AND SHEPPEY
Sunday, 21st September 2008.
We had been promised some good weather for today and, although it was a little misty when we set off it certainly looked promising. Our little party comprising Libby, John, Leon and myself were dressed for warm weather although we all carried warm / wet gear just in case. We met, as usual, at the Green Man and were soon on our way; Leon and I were particularly looking forward to this outing, as we had not been to Oare Marshes before.
ACROSS TO HARTY FERRY INNPhoto: Leon Rusk
IT IS A BIG PLACE!
By the time that we reached Oare the weather had really brightened up; there was not a cloud in the sky and there was no wind to speak of. I had always thought that this site was quite small but I was to be proved to be quite wrong!
IT IS A BIG PLACE!Phto: Leon Rusk
A GLORIOUS MORNING!
Almost at once we started seeing (and hearing) many different birds in the variety of habitats that make up the area. A flock of Greylags flew in for breakfast and, as we watched them, a Cettis’ Warbler burst into song almost right next to us giving us quite a start!Libby had said that the bird she most wanted to see on this day was the Bearded Reedling; she would not have to wait too long as we very soon heard their distinctive ‘ping-ing’ as they moved along the reed beds towards us! Initially they seemed to stay very low in the reeds, surprising us as we thought that they might show well as the weather was warm and calm. We did not have to wait long though, as we walked along looking at the mudflats checking for waders, the little birds started to show themselves atop the reeds.
A GLORIOUS MORNING!Photo: Leon Rusk
MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD!
As it got warmer, so they got bolder; small flocks of them were making short flights along the beds all the while ‘ping-ing’ away to their hearts content! At one point we were lucky enough to have a male sit right on top of a dead branch on a bush that gave us a fantastic view, very close up!There was a group of about seven Grey Seals on the other side of the Swale, on Sheppey. Libby was the first to see them and pointed them out to the rest of us. Some idiots on a small hovercraft thought it funny to cross the mudflats to frighten both the seals and the large groups of gulls and waders. Just the noise of the thing was enough to give me the start of a headache.
MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD!Photo: Leon rusk
FAVERSHAM CREEK MEETS THE SWALE
We moved into the hide by the Faversham Creek and settled to watch the waders that were left on this side of the Swale. A good number of them there were too, although not a great number of different species! There was an untold number of Redshanks; I had never seen so many in such close proximity! Blackwits were abundant as well, keeping company with gulls and smaller waders. All the while, Libby kept popping out of the hide to watch the ‘Beardies’ that were now showing almost constantly.
There were some small waders that we could not identify as we were looking directly into the still low sun and the glare was incredible!Moving on we met some friends of Johns’, his local RSPB group I understand. They were engrossed in the ‘Beardies’ as well, their ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ heralding each new appearance!
There were some small waders that we could not identify as we were looking directly into the still low sun and the glare was incredible!Moving on we met some friends of Johns’, his local RSPB group I understand. They were engrossed in the ‘Beardies’ as well, their ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ heralding each new appearance!
FAVERSHAM CREEK MEETS THE SWALEPhoto: Leon Rusk
SPOILT FOR CHOICE!
As we moved up Faversham Creek someone (Leon I believe) caught sight of a Peregrine Falcon coming towards us. ‘Coming towards us’ is, probably, a bit of an understatement as the bird was in mid-stoop! It missed its’ intended victim, which was only a few yards from us, and then span around to go back to try again just feet above our heads! What a show! None of us had seen anything like it before and I do not think that we will forget that in a hurry! Although we were to see several raptors during the course of the day, nothing was to come close to comparing with the thrill we all got watching the Peregrine!
SPOILT FOR CHOICE!Photo: Leon Rusk
FAVERSHAM CREEK
At the hide in the centre of the reserve we were to meet more of Johns’ friends and spent a short while in their (very knowledgeable) company. A first for Leon and I, Spotted Redshank was picked out by one of the ladies. There was another bird on one of the islands that everybody was uncertain of. I spent the best part of forty minutes watching the bird, just to see its’ legs! When I did I told john that I thought the bird was a Pectoral Sandpiper and why I thought so. The legs, a pale yellow, had been the clincher but everything else fitted. After some discussion we all agreed upon its’ identity.
FAVERSHAM CREEKPhoto: Leon Rusk
SEALS ON THE DISTANT POINT (REALLY!)
Crossing the site we went to another hide where we watched for the Spotted Crake for a while. Not realising how much time had passed we ate our lunch in the hide. We did not see the Crake and very little else.
Our bags were then left back at Johns’ car and we walked along the sea wall to look again for the Crake. Nothing, not a sausage, but w did have some fine views of a Hobby quartering the area and giving a fine exhibition of its’ aerobatic skills. There was a chap only a few yards away from it at times and he missed most of the show!Elmley, on the Island of Sheppey, was our next destination; Leon and I had been there before and were looking forward to going there again. During the drive there we saw lots of Harley Davidson’s on what must have been a ‘ride-out’ for some club or other. There were also lots of other ‘bikers out and about, some in small groups and others solitary. Everyone seemed to be out taking advantage of, possibly, the last good weekend of the year!
Our bags were then left back at Johns’ car and we walked along the sea wall to look again for the Crake. Nothing, not a sausage, but w did have some fine views of a Hobby quartering the area and giving a fine exhibition of its’ aerobatic skills. There was a chap only a few yards away from it at times and he missed most of the show!Elmley, on the Island of Sheppey, was our next destination; Leon and I had been there before and were looking forward to going there again. During the drive there we saw lots of Harley Davidson’s on what must have been a ‘ride-out’ for some club or other. There were also lots of other ‘bikers out and about, some in small groups and others solitary. Everyone seemed to be out taking advantage of, possibly, the last good weekend of the year!
SEALS ON THE DISTANT POINT (REALLY!)Photo: Leon Rusk
LITTLE STINT ( IT'S THERE, HONEST!)
Any body that has been to Elmley will know that there is quite a drive from the ‘front gate’ to the entrance. (!) As we made our way, slowly because of the surface, across the site John told us to watch the gate and fence posts, as you never know what might be perched on them. A split second later Leon spluttered: “There! On the gate! It’s enormous!” We inquired as to what it was to be informed that it was a … “bloody great owl!” I could not see through him so I climbed out to have a look through my ‘bins. “Funny looking owl” I ventured. “What do you think it is?” I asked. Quickly Leon said, “I think it’s a Short Eared ……”, “Cormorant!” interjected John. A Short Eared Cormorant, certainly a ‘lifer’ for me! The boy was crestfallen and very embarrassed. So I said that I would not mention it here! Yeah.
You nearly always get a good welcome at whatever ‘birding’ site you visit but Elmley went way over the top. As we drove along the entrance road they had obviously booked the Red Arrows to greet us as they flew, not very high, right over the car! A bit over the top perhaps, but, ‘thanks’ anyway!
LITTLE STINT ( IT'S THERE, HONEST!)Photo: Leon Rusk
ST THOMAS', A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHURCH!
Disappointment was soon to follow. There had been an outbreak of the blue/green algae at the site and so there was very little to be seen according to the notice that was on display. No wonder they had over-compensated on the welcome!
Thinking it a little early to go to the Raptor Observation Point at Capel Fleet, John said that we could go and see some other places that we could come back to later in the year to view certain birds. We had a look at several places and even visited a small church (St Thomas’ at Harty) whilst still being able to carry on ‘birding’!The wind had got up quite a bit by now, the temperature had dropped a little and there was some evidence of clouds moving in from the east. It was still very pleasant though; a Marsh Harrier was having no trouble moving about, quartering the fields below it.
Thinking it a little early to go to the Raptor Observation Point at Capel Fleet, John said that we could go and see some other places that we could come back to later in the year to view certain birds. We had a look at several places and even visited a small church (St Thomas’ at Harty) whilst still being able to carry on ‘birding’!The wind had got up quite a bit by now, the temperature had dropped a little and there was some evidence of clouds moving in from the east. It was still very pleasant though; a Marsh Harrier was having no trouble moving about, quartering the fields below it.
ST THOMAS', A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHURCH!Photo: Leon Rusk
WATCHING MARSH HARRIERS!
Having spent some time at each location, it seemed that we were soon on our way back to the Raptor Observation Point. Leons’ face lit up as soon as we left for it; John had told him that it was possible that we might see an owl of some type (!) a little later in the evening!Shortly after arriving, I had to put on my windproof coat as the temperature seemed to be dropping quite rapidly. John and Leon did the same. Several other people who all donned their coats soon after arriving soon joined us. The reason that we were feeling the cold is, of course, that being on top of the mound you get the full force of the elements! If you dropped down to the carpark you could soon warm up!
WATCHING MARSH HARRIERS!Photo: Leon Rusk
RAPTOR VIEW POINT
Although we had to wait a while for the birds to show, we soon had a good number of Marsh Harriers occupying the fields around us. There were plenty of Kestrels as well; in fact, wherever you looked you were likely to see one! A Peregrine also put in an appearance although it did nothing so spectacular as the one that we had seen earlier!John had located an owl box that he thought might contain ‘the’ owl; I trained my ‘scope on it so that we could keep a close watch on it every now and then.
RAPTOR VIEW POINTPhoto: Leon Rusk
NO OWLS (OR SHORT EARED CORMORANTS) HERE!
We had a marvellous view of the Peregrine a little later; it had come back and I was lucky enough to get on it as it started a ‘stoop’ that was to scatter an enormous flock of Starlings in the adjacent field. It missed but did come down to land in the field where it was quickly dive-bombed by the resident Lapwings.
There was movement at the owl box. There was also a Kestrel at the owl box! “ It has just come out of the box and is now perched on the roof”, John informed us. I thought that I caught the merest of quivers on my young chums’ bottom lip.We were now losing the light quickly and it was getting much colder, poor Libby was shaking a little. So, having had a cracking day, we decided that it was time to make tracks home. It took a little while to drag a certain ‘owl enthusiast’ from the observation mound but we were soon on our way!
There was movement at the owl box. There was also a Kestrel at the owl box! “ It has just come out of the box and is now perched on the roof”, John informed us. I thought that I caught the merest of quivers on my young chums’ bottom lip.We were now losing the light quickly and it was getting much colder, poor Libby was shaking a little. So, having had a cracking day, we decided that it was time to make tracks home. It took a little while to drag a certain ‘owl enthusiast’ from the observation mound but we were soon on our way!
NO OWLS (OR SHORT EARED CORMORANTS) HERE!Photo: LEon Rusk
John dropped us off at the ‘Green Man’ where we had a couple of pints and enjoyed the day once more; once again we had seemed to pack so much in to one trip
BIRDS SEEN: Rook, Mallard, Collared Dove, Starling, Little Grebe, Wood Pigeon, Heron, Black Headed Gull, House Sparrow, Greylag Goose, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Coot, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Sandpiper, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Gadwall, Teal, Great Black Backed Gull, Bearded Reedling, Cettis Warbler, Lapwing, Cormorant, Curlew, Linnet, Reed Warbler, Carrion Crow, Common Snipe, Peregrine Falcon, Ruff, Hobby, Kestrel, Shoveller, Greenshank, Golden Plover, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Swallow, Red Legged Partridge, Wren, Marsh Harrier, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Whinchat, Green Sandpiper, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher.
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