Trip reports

Sheppey

Friday, 23 January 2009

A day of heavy, driving rain followed by strong cold winds - not a day for group birdwatching. We didn't go to Shellness as planned, instead we watched mainly from the car!
We did see a number of waders from the sea wall, including many Oystercatchers and some Sanderling and, as the rain eased, large numbers of wildfowl and waders on the flooded fields near Muswell manor; a Grey Plover in almost full breeding plumage caught the eye.
Then we drove the Harty Ferry road. Our best views came towards the end of the road, not far from the church: a flock of Fieldfare in and around the hedges, then a flock of some 40 Blackbirds in an adjacent cultivated (maize) field, and then just behind them male Marsh Harriers and a female Hen Harrier gave us superb views as they quartered the now sunlit green and golden-brown reeds. Corn Buntings on the fence by the raptor watch-point brought us up to a decent total of 49 species.