Reculver & Oare Marshes, North Kent ... Thursday 4th November 2010

Arriving at Reculver Towers, we headed along the seawall toward Coldharbour Lagoon.


RECULVER TOWERS (Graham)

We were soon watching our target bird for the day - a HOODED CROW that had been present there over the past few days. It gave good views on the beach for a while before flying off over the fields.


HOODED CROW (Graham)


HOODED CROW (Paul)


HOODED CROW (Paul)

Other birds of note included 3 Little Egrets, a female MARSH HARRIER, a female MERLIN, around 10 Redshanks, 14 Turnstones, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Grey Plovers, about 20 Ringed Plovers, a pair of Stonechats and around 25 Golden Plovers out on the fields. A couple of largish flocks of Linnets and many Meadow Pipits were in the area. Large rafts of Mallards were out on the sea.


TURNSTONE (Graham)


STONECHAT (Graham)


Looking back towards Reculver Towers from Coldharbour Lagoon (Graham)

We failed to locate the Snow Bunting that had also been reported in the area so we headed to Oare Marshes NR.

A juvenile SPOONBILL was on the East Flood along with 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, around 30 Avocets, about 100 Redshanks, 7 Pintails and many Teal and Wigeon. Three Bearded Tits flew up from beside the road and dropped back into the reeds. A Water Rail was heard squealing and 2 Cetti's Warblers were also heard.


Juvenile SPOONBILL (Graham)


Juvenile SPOONBILL (Paul)


Juvenile SPOONBILL (Paul)


TEAL (Graham)


PINTAIL (Paul)


PINTAIL (Paul)


AVOCETS (Graham)

Out on The Swale, at least 300 Brent Geese were present and, at low tide, plenty of Dunlin were seen along with a few Curlew. The Avocets and many of the Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks had flown from the East Flood and were now feeding along the mouth of the creek.
We visited the hide at the West Flood but, apart from 2 males and a female Pheasant and a Green Woodpecker, little else was present.
We walked west along the seawall to Dan's Dock and noted 4 Little Egrets. Earlier, a Common Seal was in Faversham Creek and we noted another on Horse Sands as the light began to fade.


LITTLE EGRET (Graham)


COMMON SEAL on Horse Sands (Graham)

A difficult day's birding in the strong south-westerly wind but at least it was a mild day.

Paul & Graham