Trip reports

Shellness

Sunday, 1 February 2009

Ten plucky members met at Shellness to brave the brisk east wind, that was forecast to feel sub zero with a large chill factor. We were certainly exposed to a savage blast straight off the north sea. It was difficult to stand straight and the wind shook both scopes and bins making viewing the birds on the mud flats very difficult. After a few hundred yards we decided that enough is enough and we returned quickly to the car park sheltering behind the sea wall embankment. Here we were fortunate to see a weasel in the grass of the sea bank run across the road just in front of us. Back at the car park we sheltered behind a large van. Here at least we were able to spend a few minutes bird watching. Out on the mud a godwit, light in colour with a distinct up turned bill was identified as a bar-tailed godwit. Also present were dunlin, turnstone, oyster catcher and sanderling. A new plan was agreed. We travelled back across the Isle of Sheppey to the Elmley reserve where we used the cars as mobile hides on the long entrance track. Lapwing and golden plover were found in the long grass. We saw that many of the water filled ditches were frozen. Travelling in separate cars means that not everybody will see the same things. A small flock of coot had gathered on the grass. One car became aware that a peregrine was feeding on the ground in the grass some distance out, while a marsh harrier saw seen circling further back. Another saw a snipe fly past. Everyone saw the large numbers of curlew and starlings. Closer to the reserve there were a few red legged partridge sheltering in long grass. On the pools behind the reserve car park were a large flock of wigeon with a few mallard. At this point a bank of heavy cloud drifted over us starting a steady snow fall. So our day finished early, but we all made it home safely