STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

November 2008

A trip to Oare Marshes and then on to Reculver

I met Allan Ashdown at Oare Marshes this morning, just after 8 o clock. We started by the cottages, with Wren, Dunnock and Robins being seen, as well as a pair of Mistle Thrushes, several Blackbirds and a possible Lesser Redpoll. A hunting Kestrel was over the west flood, and a Grey Heron, one Kingfisher and 2 Marsh Harriers were seen from the hide on the West Flood. A pair of Stonechats were noted as we made our way to the sea watching hide, to see if yesterdays Great Northern Divers were still on the Swale. No luck, but we counted 16 Avocets as the tide approached the hide, and several Black-tailed Godwits moved from the fast disappearing mud, taking refuge on the East flood. All the usual waders were seen, and a Curlew allowed the cameras to get some use, as it flew past the hide and up the creek. All the far off Diver resembling shapes turned out to be mainly cormorants, with one Great Crested Grebe being seen in the mouth of the creek. We were joined in the hide by Mike Gould and Chris Abrahams, where we spent an hour chatting, before all four of us left the hide and returned to the West flood, where we were able to take a few photos of the feeding Wigeon. A pair of Stonechats posed on the telephone wires, and a photograph was obtained. I then left Oare, as I wanted to try and get a few Snow Bunting photos, at Reculver, but not before Allan, Mike and Chris kindly donated a fiver each, for the Molly Bubb fund, and each getting a great 2009 calendar into the bargain. (Click on The Molly Bubb Appeal on the home page for details). I arrived at 1. 00 pm and only had to walk along the sea wall for about 200 metres, (East from the towers) before seeing a flock of Snow Buntings numbering between fifteen and twenty, with a few Males hanging on to there summer plumage. They were close in on the beach, and although they were fairly flighty, they allowed some photo’s to be taken, sometimes coming within 15 metres of where I was sitting. I was busy with the camera, and the only other birds of note that I noticed were a large gathering of Brent’s in the crop fields behind the Oyster farm, which alighted and noisily flew on to the sea.