Trip reports

Oare Marsh

Sunday, 16 September 2007

As the car park was full we pulled up on the verge which meant that we were treated to a green sandpiper on the new scrape as the group assembled. With the tide low it was decided to visit the flood hides first. Our first view of the east flood from the road was against the light so we did not stay long. Even so we found rough and curlew sandpiper among the numerous birds on show. A visit to the West flood hide did not identify any interesting birds, a stock dove was seen on a pole near the paddocks. We returned to the east flood hide where the change of outlook allowed a better inspection of the waders. In addition to the species spotted earlier there were black tailed godwit, lapwing, ring plover, snipe, redshank and dunlin. just as the small dunlins were being inspected for little stint no less than 3 peregrine falcons appeared with one bird diving unsuccessfully at speed over the scattering birds. The little waders had disappeared so we continued without a little stint. At the creek an inspection of the mudflats revealed a greenshank and a small number of grey plover. In the distance a small party of crows circled and mobbed a common buzzard. The water in the east flood appeared to be quire low, which may be behind the ease with which common snipe could be seen along the water's edge. A pair of spotted redshank were found feeding at the back of the flood. A short sea watch from the sea watching hide picked up a marsh harrier crossing from Sheppey to the mainland across the Swale. On the mud flats were curlew, more ringed plover, dunlin and a couple of knot. A Cettis warbler was singing strongly from the car park tree as we returned to the cars for lunch. After a short break we walked to Dan's dock which added great crested grebe and a kestrel to the days sightings, but not a lot else. Returning to the causeway the incoming tide had pushed the birds closer and we found a single bar tailed godwit and a small party of sandwich terns. To finish the day we returned to the seats by the road to view the assembled high tide roost. A large number of black tailed godwits had flown in and had been joined by a large group of golden plover. The curlew sandpipers were in double figure and a large party of starlings rested on an island. A few swallows and house martins were seen passing through and a family of yellow wagtails were feeding on the exposed mud. After a detailed search a little stint was found and soon after we realised that there were at least three.