My Diary
High tide at Oare.
29/07/10
Spoonbill on the west flood at Oare marshes.
A broken lorry means a few days off work this week whilst it is repaired, so today I decided on a trip up to Oare, coinciding with an afternoon high tide. On arrival, I immediately noticed a Spoonbill feeding on the East flood, and scanning the area with my bins, I picked up on a second Spoonbill, fast asleep on one of the distant islands. I settled down to wait and see if the feeding Spoonbill would come close enough for any photos, but for over an hour it remained back out on the flood, near to the islands. There was a good number of Black-tailed Godwit on the flood, hopeless at numbers but I would say well in excess of a thousand birds, with more dropping in as the tide swallowed the diminishing mud of the Swale estuary. There was a pair of Marsh Harriers hunting low over the West flood, the only raptors seen on my visit. I noted Ruff, Greenshank, several Dunlin and what I thought to be a Little ringed Plover, but it was too far away through my binoculars to be sure. It was either a Little Ringed or a Ringed Plover. There were numerous Golden Plover roosting on the spit out from the road, still looking dapper in their summer attire. I walked the perimeter of the East flood, hoping to get a few Bearded Tit photos, but I never saw any. I saw a Water Rail with 6 small chicks from the East flood hide, and another Water Rail with one chick was seen in the reeds by the sluice gate. I noted a solitary Whimbrel over the creek and a couple of Turnstones were picked out on the flood. I chased a pair of young Pied Wagtails along the rocks back towards the slipway, but they always remained just out of camera range. Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings were plentiful around the car park, and there was 2 Grey Herons on the West flood as I made my way back to the lay-by where my car was. As I neared the car, a Spoonbill was feeding just a few metres out on the East flood, giving me an opportunity to get some decent images, and the closest Spoonbill shots I have managed in the UK. I saw at least 5 Little Egrets, with one feeding close in, and a few photographs of this were taken as well. The East flood is looking good now, ready for the autumn, where no doubt many Wader photo opportunities will arise, and gratefully be accepted. Well done to the Kent Wildlife Trust and the KWT staff.