STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

February 2008

This morning at Seasalter

I was picked up by Jim Johnson and Ray Clarrie at 07.45 a m, and we made our way to the pumping station at Seasalter. The tide was just leaving the beach, and the usual waders were seen, with large numbers of Turnstone, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatchers and Redshank in view. We then drove to the Sportsman pub, parked the car, and scanned the fields that lie between the coast and the Thanet way. There were large flocks of Lapwing in the field opposite the Sportsman pub, with the largest congregation of Curlews that I have seen in one place. There were at least 100 in the field, and probably nearer to 200 if I had bothered to count them all. Redshank and Turnstones were also spread out in amongst the Lapwing and Curlew, making for an impressive sight. We watched as the whole field reacted to a passing Female Marsh harrier, and took off crossing the road and landing back on the newly exposed mud from the ebbing tide. As we walked West towards Castle Coote, Brent Geese were moving to and fro, finding it hard to know where they wanted to settle. There was about 200 Cormorants packing the sand banks, that began to show as the tide dropped, and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen on the Swale at Castle Coote, 2 Males and 3 Females. There were Great Crested Grebes also feeding on the Swale, and all the common species of Gull were seen excepting Lesser Black-backed Gull. We intended to visit Seasalter, so Jim and Ray could see the Snow Buntings that have been there over the Winter, and it looked as if our target was going to be missed, but Jim picked out a single bird, through his scope, on one of the Groins along the beach. It was viewed for a few minutes, but was spooked by a dog, and try as we did, we could not re locate the bird. Golden Plover, 7 flying over us, and Bar-tailed Godwit was added on the walk back, with Long-tailed Tit, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird and Meadow Pipit being some of the 40 species seen throughout the morning. We noted 30 + Shell Duck and 2 Wigeon were seen flying up the Swale.