Trip reports

GROUP TRIP TO NORTH KENT COAST

Saturday, 13 December 2008

November might not be everyone's idea of the best time to visit the coast and marshes of north Kent - unless you're a birder that is! OK. so the weather forecast was dire, but we're a hardy, optimistic lot and our optimism was rewarded, on the whole, by cold but mostly dry weather. We did wonder on the second day when we woke to a blizzard, but it turned to heavy rain and by the time we arrived at Oare Marshes it had stopped, and apart from a downpour at South Swale, when most people were either in the hide or having a coffee break in the coach, we had reasonably dry weather. We didn't see snow buntings as hoped at Reculver, but I met a shooter who was very knowledgeable about wild fowl and told me his favourite duck for the pot is pintail, followed by widgeon. Just thought I'd tell you that in case you are ever tempted.
Monday was the day for Dungeness RSPB Reserve. I love this this place, it's so bleak and drear at this time of the year. When you are frozen to the bone you can nip in to the visitor centre for a warm and a cup of coffee. Plenty of birds were seen, but my highlight was five marsh harriers in the air together quartering the area.
Tuesday we did the rounds again of Reculver (one snow bunting seen), Herne Bay, Swale, Joss Bay and finally Sandwich Bay where we called in at the Bird Observatory. The Warden directed us to a walk through farmland where we were certain to see barn owls. It was a long walk, but the day was sunny and we were rewarded with a tree full of corn buntings, yellowhammers, reedbuntings and greenfinches. Later, wandering back in the failing light we saw the barn owls - not three as expected, but four. When was the last time you saw four, or even two barn owls aloft at the same time hunting for dinner? Magic!
Wednesday we visited Elmley RSPB Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey and investigated its marshes and creeks. Again, plenty to be seen including a hen harrier and marsh harrier having a spat. Not often you get the chance to compare the two birds in the air. My best sighting however, was a merlin sitting on a
post. From there we went to Leysdown on Sea and witnessed a rather sad sight when walking along the sea wall. One of the Group inadvertently put up two red-legged partridges which had been sheltering under the wall. Panicked, one of them flew out to sea before landing rather heavily in the water where it continued to swim further out until it tired and drowned. Further along in the marshes we spotted beaters and wildfowlers and surmised that the partridges had been hiding from the guns and perhaps been injured. This unhappy episode left us all a little subdued.
Thursday we travelled home, but not before we visited Riverside Country Park near Gillingham, a bit of a misnomer in my view as it was marshland alongside the Medway river. Against expectations, it was a wonderful place, and I could have stayed there all day but we wanted to get in Cliffe (of airport infamy) before we departed homewards.
The Group total of birds seen was 99 and these included spoonbill, ring-necked parakeet, short-eared owl, black-necked grebe, peregrine, and all the waders and waterfowl that you would expect to see in these places. An excellent five days birding in good company - what more can a person ask ?

Frances Evans