Trip reports
Oare Marshes, North Kent
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Thirteen of us made a trip to the Kent Wildlife Trust reserve on the Swale estuary near Faversham. We had fantastic weather - dry, sunny and mild, with great light for bird-watching. There was a corn bunting, along with several reed buntings, close to the car park - and sky larks were up. Looking out from the sea wall, at least 30 avocets were feeding on the mudflats, and we had sightings of both marsh and hen harrier over the Isle of Sheppey. Turning back inland, we had glimpses of bearded tits and heard a Cetti's warbler in the reedbeds,. Favourites on the east flood were several pintails in full breeding plumage, around 20 common snipe and a small flock of golden plover. We had a total of 63 bird species and one peacock butterfly. We also saw a group of grey seals hauled out on one of the sandbanks, and had good views of the small herd of Konik horses that graze the reserve.