Oare

I was due to lead a walk at Oare KWT Reserve for my local RSPB Group today.   With the weather recently I was a little doubtful but we were really lucky and the sun shone virtually all day.

I arrived about 8.30 am, so that I had time for a quick recce before the rest arrive for a start at around 10.00 am.    In the car park a whitethroat sang from a nearby tree its beautiful clean white throat catching the light - great for a photograph, but I enjoyed watching so much I couldn't bring myself to find the camera.    A cetti's warbler called nearby.

Golden Plover

There had been a ring ouzel around for the last week or so, but as I had no idea whether it was still there - or whether it would be worth taking the group to look for it.   As it turned out there had been no sighting this morning.   However, when I got to the site there were lovely views of black-tailed godwit in full breeding plumage and a flock of about 20 golden plover again in full plumage with their black fronts showing really well against the mud.   Reed bunting and linnet were paired up and singing from various brambles.   Stock dove fed in the field, flying up onto the concrete blocks regularly to look out.

As I walked back to the car park to meet the rest of the group I saw a whimbrel - my first for the year - in one of the muddy ditches.   As I moved along it flew away and disappeared for the moment.

Black-tailed godwit

17 of us set off, some with lunch, the brave without!   My Dad's words rang in my ear "never get separated from your lunch".   From the slipway we saw black-headed gull, black-tailed godwit, redshank.   Two buzzard and two marsh harrier circled over the Isle of Sheppey, the buzzard were doing their courtship flight with talons coming together as one bird flipped over for a second or two and then back again.

A movement in the long grass by the side of the slipway turned out to be the whimbrel - they seem to prefer this side of the reserve and are often found here.  

Reed and sedge warbler were singing from the reeds inside the seawall, with another cetti's warbler adding to the sounds of the reserve.   Greylag geese had three goslings, and avocet fed on the incoming tide.   Along the side of Faversham Creek we watched little grebe, tufted duck, mallard and more redshank and godwit.   A bearded tit "pinged" past us and dropped into the reeds.   A lone greenshank was standing on the edge of the pool, and as a flock of redshank grew it felt a little intimidated and flew off.   A small ladybird (probably a 24 spot) was found on the path.    Near the sluice a wheatear perched on the top of an anthill.  

Wheatear

Along the south path one of the group spotted a grass snake swimming across the ditch, marsh frogs were making a splash as they mated.   Further along another wheatear appeared, again on an anthill two brilliant sightings of males.   As we arrived at the East Hide four wheatears landed on the ground in front of us giving superb views.   One stayed on a low shrub right in front of us for several minutes - hopefully some great photos taken.

Those of us with lunch tortured the rest as we munched and watched; a late pair of pintail, ruff, pheasant, starling, mediterranean gull, skylark, coot, teal, grey heron, cormorant, gadwall and swallow added to the list. 

minute 24 spot ladybird

All fed and watered and we made our way to the West Hide where we had been told a little owl was viewable.   Unfortunately it had moved by the time we got there, but we had great views of robin and house sparrow.   From the hide we saw shelduck, canada geese, lapwing and another med gull.

On the way back to the road we saw blackbird, green woodpecker, heard song thrush and that magical and most elusive song of a nightingale.   Not yet in full song, but the warming of the throat in the mid-afternoon sun was a real delight to hear.   Can't wait to hear a full song. . . . .

Viewing the East flood from the road a couple of common tern were spotted the whimbrel flew overhead.   Several of us carried on along the eastern sea wall to try for yellow wagtail, but as the heavens opened and hail fell we decided to call it a day and we were soon back at base ready for a very wet journey home.