A quick stroll around Canons in the morning was a little less eventful than the last few visits, but the company of Geoff B, Ian J, Paul G and Martin L made it all the better. Anyway, it wasn't bad, with three
Yellow Wagtails, a
Lesser Whitethroat and 20
House Martins providing some local-level quality. Ian and I went straight on to Kent - stopping off in the countryside en-route to Oare Marshes we picked up a family of five
Spotted Flycatchers, a
Whinchat and a
Hobby. A slightly rushed but absolutely serene evening at Oare was something to savour - it was warm and pleasant with many birds thanks to the high tide and of course the time of year! Highlights were the adult
Long-billed Dowitcher showing rather well, a juvenile
Little Stint, eight
Ruff (including my first juvenile of the year, a female), six
Whimbrel, five
Snipe, four
Knot, a
Bar-tailed Godwit, 25
Common Terns, 10
Sandwich Terns, a
Bearded Reedling and at least seven
Yellow Wagtails. Hurried and rather rough higher counts included 500
Grey Plovers on the other side of the Swale, 600
Golden Plovers, 2500
Black-tailed Godwits, 600
Redshanks, 60
Ringed Plovers, 70
Dunlin, 150
Lapwings and 90
Avocets. The most unusual sighting was my first Oare Marshes record of
Rose-ringed Parakeet as one squawked overhead!
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| adult Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes |
