Trip reports
Isle of Sheppey - Shellness and Swale NNR
Monday, 23 January 2012
There we saw several species: probably my best ever view of a Sanderling which dashed around 'clockwork-like' just in front of us. Then on to the car park by Shellness Hamlet, passing Golden Plover, Lapwing, and Brent Geese in the fields.
High tide (and a new moon) - surprisingly the path to the shell beach was not under water (possibly due to the influence of the westerly wind). Masses of birds! On the Swale sightings included large numbers of Great Crested Grebe, a flotilla of Mallards with a couple of Wigeon, a small party of Goldeneye and more distant ducks we couldn't make out. On the beach, around 300 Oystercatcher on the far side of roughly the same number of Knot and a few Dunlin: the Knots' scaly patterns giving a shimmering, rippling effect to the flock. Closer to us Turnstone and Grey Plover, and further on by the saltmarsh many Shelduck - later, as the tide dropped and the mud was exposed, more waders appeared including some Avocet.
Back to the cars for lunch, and a respite from the wind. Then, a rather wearying walk into the wind along the sea-wall towards towards Sayes Court, passing saltmarsh and grazing marsh. Few birds: some excellent Redshank, a Merlin or two, Curlews, and our best view of a ringtail Hen Harrier (resting on the ground before flying unhurriedly away). Around 3.00, as the sun came out, we had our first view of a Short-eared Owl flying low from behind a barn, then dive-bombing a Marsh Harrier several times! - before flying high and circling round to land on a post in front of us. The saltmarsh was now bathed in a beautiful golden light, which allowed wonderful views including 3 more Short-eared Owls which began hunting around the car park and the track.
After passing a flock of House Sparrows beside the track, we stopped at the lay-by to enjoy the now superbly lit views of shingle and sand, contrasting with stretches of dark mud glinting with pools of light, and a grey- green sea.
Nick Barlow