Couldn't think where to go this morning so ended up at Seasalter as usual. A look over the high tide roost revealed 126 ringed plover plus 3 sanderling which have not been that forthcoming this autumn. Also c.75 turnstones dotted about along the beach and on the 'island' with a few dunlin amongst the ringed plover. A short visit into the plots only produced 2 reed buntings, a mipit and a kestrel, very quiet but in the dyke a gadwall, 2 coots and a couple of moorhens. Moving up to S.Swale LNR I thought I would up to Castle Coote (about 2 miles). A flock of c.600 golden plovers was circling the first field as I walked up to the wall but I couldn't see what was disturbing them, in fact they seemed to be circling all morning. Further on, the brent flock was on the arable, the white one still with them, virtually no passerines at all..........not sure as to whether I heard a bearded tit call but never saw it.
The tide was nearly high as I pushed onto C.Coote, several turnstones were at the base of the wall plus a couple of grey plovers. Out on the sea there were 3 g.c.grebes plus a small flock of c.60 wigeon with a dozen teal amongst them. On the Sheppey side a flock of c.40 avocets were flying up the Swale, no doubt going to Oare Marsh.
Further on near C.Coote a couple of juvenile brents were feeding close to water's edge and on C.C. 2 shelduck plus a lot of waders were roosting on the beach. On the western side of C.C. 136 grey plovers were on the shingle plus a knot and barwit etc. and in the central part c.600 lapwing and c.200 redshank plus 3 egrets (a few weeks ago there was about 80).
A rather poor morning, very dark and gloomy, looked like rain was imminent all morning but I managed to see 45 species..... when will things get better and with some decent birds!
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