Deepest Kent

I have to start with an apology to Mike Hook, I promised that the next time we ventured deep into Kent I would e-mail him so that we could meet up. Sorry Mike, we sat outside my gate dithering about where to go today, West or East and finally Martin decided that we would again chase White Fronted Geese. 70 WFGs had been reported at Swale, so we left post haste for the Isle of Sheppey.  Road works on the A23 and M25, coupled with mist conspired to delay us but we finally crossed the shiny new bridge and I was filled with anticipation. I had previously told Mike that I hadn't visited Leysdown since 1967 and he told me that it probably hadn't changed much since then. Well Mike you were dead right, it is still the shanty town that I remember from so long ago, not a place to write home about but it does have a certain shabby chic.

The road down to Shell Ness provided a large measure of discomfort but the sign that greeted us was certainly a shock. I don't know which joker put the sign up but it is almost a perfect description of the place, a remote area. If the journey through Leysdown was depressing this forsaken place was the epitome of desolation. Hardly a bird present, just a few Meadow Pipits on the marsh, some lonely Pied Wagtails and 20 or so Shelducks out on the mud.

Dire warnings about deepest Kent

Somewhat crestfallen we made our way back to Elmley, another wide open space with very few birds present. However, I must explain that we only made the long drive to the visitor centre, not to the reserve itself. We passed plenty of Lapwings, Curlew and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits on the way. As we arrived we could see two birders peering intently over the wall, "What have you got?" we enquired. "Two owls in a box" was the reply and we scurried off for the cameras. Not the best of shots of a Barn Owl but I promised I would publish one for the birders who we met.

Thoroughly disheartened, with not many birds to be seen and even less captured by the lens, we decided to complete our foray into Kent at Oare marshes. Our last visit there was brilliant and we anticipated that we would, at last, get something for the blog. Slightly disconcerting was the "road closed" sign on the way in, I guess that the flooding had been fairly serious in these parts, but the barriers had been removed and we could actually get down to the reserve.

Yet again Oare came up with the goods, high water levels meant that most birds had decamped to the flooded fields rather than the customary pool. Lots of Ruff, Teal and Snipe to be photographed. Then, an obliging Water Rail squealed to let us know of its presence and boldly swam across in front of us, rather too close for the lens I fear. Finally a stunning display of a Marsh Harrier quartering the reed beds on the pool. We managed to view several altercations with the resident Crows - great entertainment.

 

 

 

Too close - move away

 

With the sun slowly sinking in the west and there being insufficient light for any more photography, it was time for home - cracking day after all!

 

Pagham, North Wall

The birding doldrums continue, we remain becalmed in a sea of usual suspects. A short visit to the North Wall at Pagham provided more of the same but with two small highlights.

A medium sized bird feeding on the mud of Breech Pool provided much debate, looking like a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper with great peach tones, but more seasoned birders were suspicious of the straight bill and pale legs. Well, with the huge hindsight provided by the camera shots, I reckon it is a juvenile Ruff, Philomachus pugnax, posted below are several heavy crops so judge for yourself. Perhaps next time a rare sandpiper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out in the harbour, a long way off, a Marsh Harrier was attempting to remove some grisly carrion. In the end it either found it too heavy or unpalatable.

 

Nice to meet Dave, Trevor, Ian and Dave Shepherd, all who exchanged pleasantries, unlike another well known birder who declined to speak.

One of the usual suspects.....................

Snow Geese

Today was a visit to RSPB Dungeness. again a before sun up start to avoid the traffic and as I always say the "early birder gets the photograph". Although the sky was blue and the sun was out there was a wicked easterly wind whipping across Dungeness straight through the window of the Hanson Hide. Not surprisingly there was little about, all the ususal suspects of the duck world and a speculative visit by one of the many Marsh Harriers stirred things up a bit and ducks were soon in front of the hide in numbers - by far the most numerous were the Shovelers.



Marsh Harrier



Shovelers

My enthusiasm soon wilted and I went back to the car after about an hour. I was in the car park enjoying a nice cup of tea when I heard "Clang clang clang"  repeatedly. The sound had a familar rhythm but the note was definitely different. It didn't take long to find the source - my first ever Great Spotted Metalpecker. He obviously thought that the post was a tree but beak on metal can't have been doing him any good. By the look of the post this isn't the first visit - plenty of scars.




Great Spotted Metalpecker

Next stop was Denge Marsh hide, and again the water was sparsely populated, the major species being Greylag geese, but on a field at the back of the lake - 7 white dots, feral Snow Geese! A wandering harrier flushed them on to the lake but before they landed I was treated to a fly past.




Snow Geese




Snow Geese



Snow Goose

The Visitor Centre offered little to raise the pulse - lots of birds recorded during the week but nothing of note today. On my way home I passed Scotney Pit and just 100 yards into Sussex there on the grassy bank - 7 white dots - the same Snow Geese grazing peacefully.




Snow Goose



Snow Geese