Long Billed Dowitcher.
On Thursday the 24th August i called into Oare Marshes in time for high tide , the East flood was once again alive with Waders & Gulls, i was hoping to get a closer view of the Long Billed Dowitcher however it stayed mainly in the middle of the flood , it did fly closer at one point but then flew back to the reedy island , i did hear it calling though.
The adult Long Billed Dowitcher has moulted quite abit since i last saw it with very little colouration on the underparts.
There were 2 adult Curlew Sandpipers , 1 juv Little Stint , 1 Spotted Redshank & several Knot in various plumage's.
Adult Curlew Sandpiper.
There was the usual large numbers of Black Tailed Godwits , Redshank, Dunlin & Avocets , Golden Plover were well represented , plus there were several Ruff, Ringed Plover & Little Ringed Plover .
Dunlin, Avocet & Curlew Sandpiper.
Golden Plover.
There was a really showy Yellow Wagtail near the pull-in plus a Sedge Warbler made a brief appearance.
Yellow Wagtail.
Sedge Warbler.
18th August - Pegwell Bay
Stone Curlew.
On the 18th August i saw only my 2nd ever Kent Stone Curlew which was roosting on the point viewed from Pegwell Bay , there was also a Spoonbill plus good numbers of Sandwich Tern roosting.
26th August - Oare Marshes
1 of 2 Sparrowhawks.
I called into Oare Marshes again today the 26th August in the hope of seeing the Osprey but sadly it had flown north by the time i got there , i had a look over the East flood and even though the tide was out there was a good selection of waders .
I bumped into a birder called Mike who had seen the Long Billed Dowitcher but it had flown out of sight (not having much luck today), there was a smart Spotted Redshank plus 3 Bar Tailed Godwits with the huge Black Tailed Godwit flock , a brief view of the juv Little Stint and 2 Sparrowhawks flew over the flood spooking all the waders.
A quick look over the Swale produced several Grey Plover in superb summer plumage.
