At bit of a catch up up over the last few weeks. I hadn't seen Gary since our Mongolia trip due to holidays and other family commitments so it was great we managed to sort out a day to go birding.
I went over to Kent and we left Gary's house before 7am and drove towards Sheppey. The forecast suggested that even though a bit of greyness might persist we should avoid the rain - but when has a forecast been right ? !.
Before we entered the island we drove down towards Funton Creek, which is when the rain started and visibility closed in. A good number of common waders and duck were out on the creek so from the dry safety of the car we managed to pick out Grey Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit and plenty of Avocet along with Pintail, Teal and Wigeon. Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards were in the distance and a small flock of Brent Geese were further up the road in a field. We left this area and drove onto Sheppey, firstly trying the Elmley entrance track, with the rain persisting we picked up very little and opted out of walking to any hides but instead to drive around towards Capel Fleet.
We stopped on the hill which overlooked the Fleet and when the rain relented enough scanned the fields. A large flock of mixed Greylag and Canada Geese also held 45 Pink-footed Geese. A male Merlin flew over briefly landing on a cattle shelter as we continued to cower from the rain in the car, small numbers of Corn Bunting were seen on the roadside wires. With the rain still persisting in heavy waves we drove to Harty marshes, with a few Kestrels on route, and the final drenching of the morning while scanning over the river persuaded us to try an early lunch in the pub - which was surprisingly good - The last time I went anywhere near the Ferry Inn was at least 20 years ago and it was almost derelict. After a burger and a pint the weather looked as if it might relent so we headed back out.
We went to the far end of Sheppey to the Swale NNR and Shellness point. We got another final drenching after we got out of the car before at last it brightened up for the last couple of hours of daylight. We quickly saw our first Short-eared Owl of the afternoon, then several Marsh Harriers before picking up a fine looking male Hen Harrier, one of the smartest of all birds of prey, and continued to pick up raptors with a ringtail Hen Harrier another Short-eared Owl and then a Peregrine. Out in the swale 3 Little Gulls were seen, a large number of Great crested Grebes and more of the common waders, so a successful stop. We decied to return to Elmley as the light faded and managed to pick up a Barn Owl, then another Short-Eared Owl and finally a Little Owl.
A day which had been turning into a wash-out ended up with a rather respectable list of birds crammed mostly into the last couple of dry hours of daylight.
Sunday 16th - Iping Common
After yesterdays outing Gary, Jenny and their boys had stayed at our place on Saturday night and after a slow Sunday morning we went to Iping Common for a walk. A few Stonechats, Long-tailed Tits, Green Woodpecker and Goldcrest were livened up with a brief flight view of the Great Grey Shrike that has been around the common. We spent a little time unsuccessfully trying to relocate
the bird only adding Peregrine to the outing list.
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