Following Rob Clements rough-legged buzzard that I missed on Monday, Phil Sharp came in on Wednesday (when I was away from the reserve) and found 2 shorelarks near to Southfleet hide. He even managed to get a photo. As far as I know, this is the first record of these fantastic northern larks at Elmley since 1997, when 2 birds spent 2 weeks in April along the same track, but just a bit nearer to Wellmarsh hide. I've not seen or heard any sign since, but they may well still be out on the reserve somewhere. Thanks to Phil for allowing me to use his picture. One of those weeks I guess...
Otherwise, things continue as you might expect: duck numbers are a feature - there are still in excess of 2000 teal on the Flood and wigeon numbers are building up slowly, with getting on for 5000 on the reserve & out on the Swale. Also on the Swale a few red-breasted merganser and a female eider. Pintail still don't appear to have arrived yet in any numbers and there's still very few brent or white-fronted geese around, but this weeks forecast of cold northerlies may will see a noticable influx of wildfowl.Raptors still feature: there's a male & at least one ring-tail hen harrier around, loads of marsh harriers, numerous buzzards, at least 3 peregrines and several merlin. Fingers crossed that the rough-legged buzzard re-appears. Short-eared owls are around on Sheppey (possibly up to 4), but are still not regular on the reserve, although barn owls are often showing really well. There was even one out hunting on Tuesday morning! A Cetti's warbler looks to have set up a wintering territory near to the bench on the way down to the hides, but is usually just heard. Plenty of "grey" waders (eg. dunlin, knot) out on the Swale or on the Flood on the bigger high tides, as well as the best part of 1000 golden plover in fields below Kingshill Farm. And there are still the occasional green sandpiper, spotted redshank & greenshank around. A few fieldfares can be found around the carpark and there is still at least 3 goldcrests in the orchard.