Osprey at Last

20th Sept

Another visit to Oare and maybe see the osprey that's been hanging about for nearly four weeks. As I approached the reserve by the two sharp bends a merlin took off from the ploughed/raked field, at first I thought it was a mistle thrush.

From the layby I saw 4 curlew sandpipers, dunlin, golden plovers blackwits etc. Then my first view of the osprey, some distance to the south west where there are some fish ponds I was told. It appeared again later in the same area then disappeared again before coming into view again this time flying over the eastern scrape then off down the creek.

 

I saw the osprey again as I drove home, stopping by Oare church seeing the bird circling low overhead then it disappeared west again towards the fish pond maybe.

Seasalter Trek and Dungeness

Sat. 16th Sept

I had a good wander around the area this morning starting at SS Lane where it was disappointing with just a few blue tits, pigeons, kestrel, magpies etc.. I didn't persevere and moved along to the seafront checking out the high tide roost finding c.125 ringed plovers and c.30 turnstones on the 'oyster barge'.  On the plots the usual birds inc. 1 cetti's, c.700 starlings, 4 chiffs, 5 common whitethroats, c.15 blue tits, 1 blackcap, 1 sedge warbler, 2 lesser whitethroats and 14 curlew on the football  field.

Onto the Sportsman and the LNR seeing the old lonesome rook that has been a visitor here for several years, once bring a mate. A nice flock of c.100 goldfinches and c.50 linnets were around the huts along with a stonechat etc.. I walked up to the white post seeing 2 wigeon flying west, 19 black-tailed godwits, 1 whimbrel calling as it flew past and on my return I counted 36 crows on the pasture just west of the Sportsman. 

!9th 

I went to Dungeness first stopping at the ARC where 4 great white egrets were flying about. Other birds seen were, 3 little stints, 8 knot, dunlin and a host of other birds. I then went to the RSPB reserve where the new work on lifting/raising the islands had left them just piles of sand covered with vehicle tracks, hardly any birds. Had enough and went home!

Kingfishers are Back at Seasalter

12th

A change of scenery led me to Grove Ferry where after a longish wait the kingfisher put in a short appearance but the perch is now surrounded by vegetation which makes the bird turn its back to the hide as it looks further out into the water to seek prey. However, I managed a few poor shots.

On the walk back a comma was sitting high up on a branch sunning itself but not placed well for a photo.

13th

A very short visit to SS, it was blowing like hell and not to my liking but a look over the pumping station dyke revealed a kingfisher and driving up to the Sportsman PH I noticed the rook was back on the seawall near the YC. After to that it was back to more homely comforts.

14th

Seasalter again and I counted 260 ringed plovers on the high tide beach roost, remarkable that no one came along the beach to flush them. I then had another look for the chats but only saw one of each plus a couple of kestrels.

15th

This morning I was again at SS but just messing with the camera but saw a big flock of tatty goldfinches and linnets plus a buzzard. One other thing I saw was a small hovercraft, most unusual,  to where did all that engineering disappear?

 Linnet

Nearly up to date!

Seasalter Chats.

9th September

Another visit to Seasalter and a walk around the plots which were very quiet, I didn't stop long but saw a whitethroat, coot, quite a few starlings which were tracking west plus a sparrowhawk flew out of the big tree just over the bridge, just managed a grab shot. A few swallows, 2 blackbirds, crows, wood pigeons all put in an appearance plus I could just make out a chiffchaff calling, also a couple of common darters were on the path. Back by the car, 9 linnets flew out of the NRA compound onto the beach.

 Common Darter

 Little Egret

 Sparrowhawk

 Whinchat

Onto the Sportsman area where as I was getting out of the car I thought I saw the osprey flying away westwards, long wings and soaring, not a marsh harrier but only saw as it flew away so not conclusive. Along the wall near the white post 2 wheatears and 2 wheatears were feeding in the cut grass and not coming onto the wall much.

Wheatear

10th 

A return visit to photograph the chats again and a hobby put in a surprise flyby.

Seasalter and Oare

4th September

A grey and mizzly morning so no photography but birds seen were, 11  egrets, 250 plus starlings, 181 ringed plovers on the roost, 1 marsh harrier, 1 green woodpecker, just one turnstone noted, c.20 swallows, 14 redshanks plus the usual commoner birds.

5th

Another visit to Oare primarily to get photos, inc. 9 curlew sands, c.200 golden plovers, avocets, ruff

and a new Oare tick for me, sanderling on the side of the channel viewed from the lay by.

 Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin

 Golden Plover

 Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff

 Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff

Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff

 Avocets

   Sanderling

Grove and Oare

3rd September

No boys this week so I paid an overdue visit to Grove this morning where it was unbelievably quiet. I sat in the Feast hide for a while only seeing a few eclipse mallard and gadwall, the best sighting being a grass snake. Quiet on the walk around so went home and finished off some turfing in the garden.

pm.

After a trip to the dump I called in at Oare meeting Tim Gutsell and Bernie at the lay by. Usual birds on view including the long-billed dowitcher, managed a distant shot and a couple of curlew sandpipers were the only birds of note.

 Long-billed Dowitcher

 Black-tailed godwit

1st September........crashed plane

1st September

A lovely sunny morning where my first stop was at SS Lane finding; 3 jackdaws, 2 magpies, 2 swans, 1 heron, 1 cormorant, 4 swallows, starlings and wood pigeons. Moving to the seafront I saw a common sandpiper, new for the year, 190 ringed plovers on the beach, 1 Sandwich tern, 2 common terns and 5 grt blk bk gulls.  On the plots, 4 whitethroat, 2 goldfinches, 4 blue tits, 1 cetti's, 1 great spot wd pker, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 marsh harrier, first one seen for a couple of months. At the LNR a large flock of 130 goldfinches, the largest I have seen for sometime (3-400 a few years ago).  Along the wall 3 wheatears, 9 egrets flying west and perhaps a corn bunting, I didn't get a good view before it was off.  Also 14 sparrows, a large flock oystercatchers in front of the chalets, 12 common gulls and a clouded yellow.

The other bit of interest was the small plane that did an emergency landing on the fields towards C. Coote, everyone got out ok I believe.

August 2nd half

19th August

On this Saturday I made a visit to Seasalter, it was near high tide enabling me to get a count of 120 ringed plovers roosting on the beach plus  a couple of turnstones. On the plots, 1 juv stonechat, a couple of swallows, 1 sparrowhawk and a swan, very quiet.  Moving up to the LNR there were a couple of linnets by the huts, 1 pied wagtail, 1 wheatear, 3 goldfinches and over the sea, 9 Sandwich terns.

Another visit the next day was much the same.

23rd

Seasalter again finding a whinchat on the seawall, 1 wheatear, 1 kestrel and c.40 linnets also several small heaths and 2 clouded yellows.

 A new fence is being errected running parallel to the seawall all the way to Castle Coote almost, protecting the reedbeds from cows and dogs.