Tuesday 18 January 2022

Isle of Sheppey , Bosseneden Woods & Grove Ferry

                                                January  15th 2022 

                                       Leysdown- on- Sea  Isle of Sheppey


                                                               

5 of the 7 Shorelarks



A trip to Leysdown-on-Sea on Saturday 15th proved very successful with superb views of the wintering flock of Shorelarks , we managed to see all 7 birds together.


Shorelarks


We had planned to bird on the Isle of Sheppey up until lunchtime but it was so misty we decided to head to the woods near Canterbury.


                                                           Bossenden Woods

                                                                        

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

We had checked out Bossenden Woods before New Year and were successful with 2 LSW (heard only) , so we went to the same area but were unlucky there this time, however Nuthatch ,Coal Tit & several Treecreeper were seen here though.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker


We spent quite abit of time in the woods and eventually located a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers , the female especially showed well.


Grove Ferry

The final destination of the day  produced 6+ Marsh Harriers & 1 'Ringtail' Hen Harrier going to roost plus several Little Egret seen from the Ramp .

We waited almost until complete darkness and were lucky enough to see 6 Woodcock come out of roost by the paddocks.

However my personal highlight was seeing for the first time ever 5 Long Tailed Tits all huddled up together in their roost !!!