Trip reports

Field Meeting at Elmley

Friday, 1 February 2008

A telescope-falling, bitingly cold wind on Sheppey. We met at the Raptor Watchpoint, Harty Ferry road: birds included Marsh Harriers, the usual flock of nondescript Corn Buntings, Red-legged Partridge, and good views of Skylarks showing their distinctive white trailing edges to wings. 'Disenchanted' by the conditions, most of us moved rapidly on to Elmley.
From the cars, close standing water and sunshine allowed us spectacular views of countless Wigeon, Golden Plover and Lapwing with large flocks of Curlew. Near the Centre, we gained respite from the wind with the orchard acting as a windbreak: lots of the same species but also good views of juvenile Peregrine(s) 'loafing' on the grazing land -'how do they fly?' elicited an immediate 'open their wings and flap!' which made my day - we are all good friends!). A close Great Black-backed Gull and a Green Sandpiper were among our total of 31 species. Car-assisted birders told of few birds or species on the 'flood', echoing our experience over the past couple of years.