A New Tick at Elmley RSPB 17th November

It's been a while since I went to Elmley RSPB. I don't know why because it's a great place and it's not too far from me. So yesterday I took myself down there for the morning and boy, was it chilly! It was so cold I put a hat on and not many people have witnessed that I can tell you.

The three miles drive along the entrance track only produced Lapwings, pictured above and below, a Kestrel and the ever present Crows. I'd hoped for a Merlin or a Marsh Harrier, but no such luck on this occasion.

Last time I came here was in the summer as I recall, it was warm and I remember photographing newly fledged Swallows being fed by their parents in the bushes opposite the house. Today it was cold and the windblown, leafless bushes were scant shelter for House Sparrows, a couple of Blue Tits, a few Blackbirds and at least one Goldcrest which I managed to eventually pin down after walking up and down for about ten minutes following it's high pitched call.




I like this picture of a Lapwing but who's are those fingertips poking out from under it's tail feathers!!

The walk down to the first couple of hides is quite a long way and it was straight into the teeth of the wind. So it was a case of head down and quick march, consequently not a lot was seen apart from whistling Wigeon, calling Curlews, distant ducks, hunting Harriers and grazing Greylag Geese. Some of which, it was noted later were their smaller cousins, White fronted Geese.

From the relative comfort of the first hide I watched Shovelers paddling round the margins with their heads almost permanently under the water, only surfacing to draw a quick breath before resuming their feeding. Also here were more Wigeon, someTeal, a couple of Little Egrets, a few small groups of Grey Plover huddled in the lee of the islands, a single snoozing Common Snipe and the very elegant drake Pintail pictured below, also sheltering from the elements. Notable by it's disappointing absence was the immature Spoonbill which has been gracing this hide quite regularly recently.

I decided to continue walking down to Southfleet hide just in case the Spoonbill was on the flood there but unfortunately it wasn't. But as I was scanning the area in front of the hide, I spotted a Peregrine Falcon carrying a fairly large, dark bird. I wasn't sure what it was but as I watched, it appeared to try and get a better grip on the prey but instead managed to drop it. I watched the falcon circle around low a couple of times as if looking for it's lost meal, but I think it actually dropped it into the water and wasn't able to retrieve it. It eventually gave up and landed on a fence post in the distance and to my surprise, a couple of posts further down was another Peregrine, double trouble for the local meals on wings. As I watched the two falcons a third, unidentified bird of prey swooped low over them and was immediately chased off by one of the Peregrines.

Exciting stuff. But more excitement was to follow.

I left Southfleet hide and was walking back over to the seawall path when I noticed a couple of small birds on a gravelly raised area about halfway to the gate. I'd seen lots of Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings during the morning and fully expected them to be one of these species. But I was more than a bit surprised to see a bird with a yellow and black face, a black throat and brown streaked back. If my memory serves me right I said to myself 'what the hell is that' or something very similar. I grabbed my camera and fired off a couple of quick rounds before they flew a short distance and I think, landed alongside a couple more but I can't be sure.

I had no idea what these birds, pictured below were, and I certainly hadn't seen one before but with the aid of the photo's and a bird book and a bit of help from Warren when I got home, I was able to identify them as Shore Larks, a brand new tick. I was chuffed to bits to find them and the walk back to the car park, suddenly didn't seem too bad.

I didn't add much else to the mornings list but I did see this Grey Heron near the track on the way back, in what I thought was a perfect pose to finish off a perfect morning.

New Hythe & Oare Marshes Sept 20th

It's quite difficult to find any highlights from my visit to New Hythe this morning. I started out in sunshine and a warm southerly breeze and I was optimistic that something exciting would be found. Unfortunately my optimism was misplaced.

The river offered little on a fast rising tide apart from the usual Cormorants, Mallards and Moorhens. I fared little better with the Sunken Marsh which produced a lonely Reed Warbler, a fly over Stock Dove, a singing Chiffchaff and a couple of Cetti's Warblers as vocal as ever.

As I approached the mound a volley of warning calls alerted me to a low flying Sparrowhawk which left empty handed. Next up was a Kingfisher which announced it's arrival from Abbey Mead lake with it's usual high pitched piping and departed quickly over the mound to Brooklands lake next door.

The East Scrub gave me a Song Thrush, Long tailed and Great Tits and a couple of House Martins and a few Goldfinches. Thankfully I found a couple of Gadwall on Johnsons lake which went some way to brighten up a rather dull couple of hours.
It was at about this time that I started to think about the White Rumped Sandpiper that has been residing at Oare Marshes for a few days. I don't very often twitch individual birds but if I can combine it with a decent walk and a chance of some other interest and in this case the possibility of a Spoonbill or two, i'm happy to give it a go. Which is why I found myself taking a short cut down the Millstream and back to the car park.......................................

I'm not too hot when it comes to IDing waders, don't get to see very many at New Hythe. So trying to find a single Sandpiper was like looking for a needle in a haystack, as the two pictures above taken on the East flood illustrate.

But find it I eventually did. With a little help from a couple of friendly birders I managed to see it on the ground and also briefly in the air and so saw it's claim to fame, the white rump.

Other waders seen included; Avocet, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black and Bar tailed Godwits, Redshank, Ruff, Golden Plover and Little Stint. A couple of Curlew Sandpipers were also present but I couldn't pinpoint them.

I was pleased to see a Bearded Tit flying across the top of a reed bed and also a couple of Yellow Wagtails which were accompanying the cattle in front of the hide. No sign of the Spoonbills unfortunately but Little Egret and Grey Heron softened the blow. The only raptors seen were a Hobby and two Kestrels, disappointing but you can't win them all.

Surprise sighting of the day however was a superb Clouded Yellow butterfly, my first this year. I didn't manage to get a picture, they were hard to get today. The few that I did manage are shown below.

RUFF

LAPWING

GOLDEN PLOVER AND LAPWING

Elmley RSPB The Birds

I haven't been to Elmley for some time, it's a really nice reserve and I love the feeling of isolation and the big sky that comes from such a big flat landscape. I also like the long approach track from the road to the start of the reserve. I think it's almost three miles and this is best driven slowly with binoculars and camera to hand, just in case.

On this occasion the slow drive produced very little apart from the Carrion Crows endlessly foraging in every nook and cranny, Starlings pecking around amongst the cow pats searching for grubs and nearer the farm buildings a few Sand Martins hawking for flies over the fields. Just before the car park I saw a small flock of Yellow Wagtails and over the car park Swallows flew low and fast, one in particular was flying in and out of the ladies loos where there was a nest still in use. I thought about going in with the camera but decided against it after seeing in my mind's eye the possible headlines in the local newspaper if things went wrong.

The bushes on the right hand side where the Long Eared Owls sometimes roost held some Goldfinches and a Robin and also about 10 young Swallows (below) in a small tree being fed by adults, they stayed while I took a couple of pics and then all took to the air in unison.









It's quite a trek down to the first two hides, something like one and a half miles I think but the sun was out, it was a beautiful morning and I was accompanied by hundreds of butterflies and I mean hundreds. The whole site was alive with their brightly coloured wings flashing in the sunlight with sometimes up to a dozen individuals on a single plant. Needless to say I spent some time taking pictures of them which I will put on a separate post tomorrow.
In the meantime the birds weren't quite so plentiful but that wasn't unexpected. Coot, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Swan, Little Egret, Mallard, Sedge Warbler and a distant Marsh Harrier were all seen.

I reached the first hide and, with the reserve to myself and one other individual, was pleased to watch a small flock of Avocet feeding and preening in the now slightly overcast skies. I don't very often see these charismatic birds so i've included one or two shots plus a picture of a very cute little juvenile who was already displaying the same 'attitude' which the adults are renowned for.

Other waders making a welcome appearance here and at the adjacent hide (sorry, I cant remember what they're called) included Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, a single Ruff, Common Snipe and Lapwing. I tried to find the recently spotted Pectoral Sandpiper but to no avail.

LAPWING

As I left the second hide I was treated to good views of a Reed Warbler again, I seem to be doing well with this species lately and have found them quite accommodating on occasions. It seemed the longer I stood still the more accepting it was of my presence. Usually when you raise the lens you can hear the birds shouting 'look out he's got a camera!' whereupon the target bird disappears in a flash. But this one just carried on catching flies, although it never did the full monty for me and always made me work for a shot or two. A couple of which are seen below.

The walk back was pretty uneventful, apart from butterflies and a smart looking Grey Heron fishing by the reeds. But when I reached the car I was just putting the camera away when a couple of House Sparrows arrived on the scene. It's easy to overlook the humble 'sparrer' so I broke out the camera again and took the shots below of a very hungry and persistent Junior and a very unimpressed Dad.

And finally...............................as I said earlier, when driving along the Elmley track always keep bins and camera handy, just in case. I did and I soon spotted this tasty blonde who answered to the name of Marsha Harrier, what a cracker!

MARSH HARRIER