Great Wader Session......... At Oare Marshes

Adult summer Little Stint.

I called into Oare Marshes yesterday afternoon the 17th to try and see the reported Curlew Sandpipers , waders are one of my fave family of birds , i started birding at Pegwell Bay back in the early eighties and waders were very much the first species that got me hooked.

Anyway i digress , getting back to yesterday i parked up in the pull in by the East Flood and i had managed to get the tide right as it was fully in and the Flood was alive with wading birds , checking out the close birds first i straight away picked up a stunning adult summer plumaged Little Stint which was my first of the year.

Little Stint.

I then checked out the large Black Tailed Godwit flock and then started to see the smaller Curlew Sandpipers running around beneath them also several Dunlin were keeping them company , i counted 9 adult summer Curlew Sandpipers in all their finery.

Adult summer Curlew Sandpiper.

They were a bit distant for a photo but great scope views were obtained , as i was scanning through the waders Geoff Burton come over and started to scan through the waders to , good to meet you Geoff.

Bar Tailed Godwit & Whimbrel.

We were picking out waders  right, left and center and i personally totalled 16 different species , the water levels seem ideal at the moment with plenty of exposed mud.

Two Bar Tailed Godwits plus a single Whimbrel were seen , Greenshank , Ruff & 3 Ringed Plover were all added , we walked around past the hide to view the wader flock from a different angle and it didn't take Geoff long to pick out a smart Spotted Redshank and then soon after i added a second bird.

Whimbrel .

We then headed back to the road were Geoff picked out two Garganey and then went off to check the pool on the West flood. 

Two Garganey.

I had another scan through the waders plus checked out the Gulls for the Bonaparte's without success , i bumped into Frank Cackett by the pull in who also was looking for the Bonaparte's , luckily i walked a bit further down and looked from  a different angle and eventually picked out the Bonaparte's Gull sleeping , a quick shout and Frank was soon on the bird.

 Bonaparte's Gull in the company of Black Tailed Godwits. .

Bonaparte's Gull.

I also saw a distant Common Sandpiper at the back of the pool which was a welcome year tick , by this time Geoff had re-joined us by the road and told us he had seen six Green Sandpipers on the road side pool on the West Flood, time was getting on and i had a quick look over the West flood and managed to connect with one of the Green Sandpipers .

Green Sandpiper.

The above photo was taken on the East Flood last week , a really enjoyable birding session .

Of note on Wednesday 15th July on my way to Margate  i saw a Quail fly up from a field near the Roman Galley and then fly low across the Thanet Way towards Marshside .