Still, I am a devoted member of my local RSPB (oops rspb) group and when Malcolm calls we all come running, so there were Irene and myself sitting in a car with torrential rain falling all around us waiting for someone - anyone - else to arrive. When they did, the decision was made to move to a cafe until the rain stopped.
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| Golden Plover at Oare |
So it was that at the ridiculous hour of 11.10 am we actually started the walk.
Swallow were flying low, taking advantage of a lull in the rain, the usual suspects of magpie and wood pigeon were soon added, house sparrow, cormorant, lapwing and starling were all easily spotted. Snipe was a little more difficult, but thanks to Sally's usual good spotting we soon all saw the bird.
Plovers caused us some debate, first called as grey, they miraculously turned into golden after some debate and the fact that they had no back 'armpits' when they flew - one to the girls!
Chaffinch, coot and great black-backed gull were the next additions, and then we had the delight of thousands of black-tailed godwit - we tried for bar-tailed but couldn't find one. Some of them were still in their breeding plumage, giving a glorious splash of colour to a grey day.
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| Waders in the rain |
Grey heron appear to be back with us, I counted seven across the reserve today. Little egret stood along the fringes of the east flood whilst others were feeding further out in the field ditches. As we watched we noticed large numbers of redshank, several ruff, avocet, and a couple of pied wagtail.
A little tern headed towards us ditching into the water and washing itself as it splashed, occasionally mobbed half-heartedly by the godwit. All the birds went up as a Sparrowhawk flew over our heads and off across the fields behind. As we ended the morning session a large flock of ringed plover flew in to join the redshank.
After lunch - and another downpour - the slipway gave us some tern entertainment with sandwich and common, together with black-headed and common gull. Herring gull held our attention for a nano-second until a lovely male marsh harrier flew into view off the Isle of Sheppey and towards us.
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| A spot of colour on a grey day - beautiful male linnet and partner |
From the hide o ear looking the river we saw great-crested grebe and shelduck, three common terns flew by very close which was great, but there was little else. Along the muddy banks a family of yellow wagtail fed ahead of us as we braced ourselves against yet another downpour - so much for the BBC weather forecast!
The final stop back at the hide gave us lovely views of the godwit again, but we were also able to see dunlin, greenshank, a young water rail- thanks to Irene, and five curlew sandpipers - thanks to another bird watcher!
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| Hat now thoroughly weather tested! Passed with flying colours- well chosen Rachel! |
Needless to say after all this excitement I spent the next day in bed!
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