Trip reports

Oare Marshes - by Geoff Allan

Sunday, 28 September 2008

Weather: - Sunny, Light winds, Hot Later.

I arrived just a tad early at 08-30 to be greeted by just myself. The rest of today's group of 8 members started to arrive at about 09-00, with Alan and Angela LAST to get there. Today's walk started along the sea wall easterly direction with the sun out of our eyes (I think of these little things Frank). The tide was out but the Swale gave us Black-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and numerous Gulls of which Black-Headed was the most common. Geoff (not me) called a Reed Bunting and it was at this time that we saw our first Bearded Tit, just a brief glimpse, but it was a taster. We moved off following the sea wall hearing more Bearded Tits but no sign, however that was soon to change. Someone called out Bearded Tit on a twig and there it was just sitting there waiting to be photographed. It had even arranged itself to be in the best light for the cameras. That is those who remembered them Graham. We then went along to where the hide is but did not go in as better views were to be had outside. It did not take long for the Bearded Tits to start to take advantage of the sun and their audience. We stood there for nearly an hour totally engrossed in the display that was put on for us. I have been bird-watching for many years and this was my best ever sightings and display. We had to leave there at some point so I called the group to order and we moved off. It was at this point that someone voiced their opinion that and to quote "aren't Bearded Tits boring it would be nice if a Peregrine would come and take one". To save Dave Braddock embarrassment I won't name him. We stopped again at the back of the pools where Mary picked up a Pintail, there were also Common Snipe, Teal and Little Grebe but strangely no Mallard or Gadwall. We went across the sluices and into the hide. Here we had good numbers of waders including 300+ Black-Tailed Godwits, about the same number of Redshank and a couple of Little Stint. Shoveler were in good numbers and there were also a few Lapwing about. When we left the hide, some of the group who had stayed outside, reported (much to the delight of Mr Braddock) a Peregrine on the Pylons. Next stop was the front of the ponds. Here we found Greenshank and a few Mallard and best of all really close views of a Little Stint. We then moved off for the (Alan's) best part of the day. Lunch. After lunch we headed back along the road to the west hide. On the way we saw a juvenile male Marsh Harrier and when we got to the hide it gave us Little Egret but little else. So it was back to the main pools where we found Golden Plover, Ruff, Dunlin and a Spotted Redshank. By now it was getting on for 16-00 and the wind had got up and turned a bit cooler so it was time to call it a day. The total was not high at only 43 species, but you would have to go a long way to get a better day out what with the Bearded Tits and the company.

Geoff Allan