Friday 17th.September 2010

I spent the day in cool , windy , quickly changing conditions on either side of the Swale in North Kent . My first stop was Elmley RSPB reserve on the Isle of Sheppey . It was obvious from the start that photography would be difficult , and so it proved all day . A couple of Wheatear on the approach to the reserve , followed by small flocks of Meadow Pipits and very large flocks of Starling . Four Curlew were near the track but flew off before I got to them . A Grey Heron gave a first opportunity , as it lifted from one of the ditches . Still plenty of Swallows hawking insects across the grass , but no sign of Brown Hare today , probably too chilly . Just before the car park , I stopped to chat to the Warden , who informed me that things were very quiet at the moment . Around the car park , good numbers of Yellow and Pied Wagtails , but nothing of interest in the orchard . I made a decision not to go down to the hides , but to chance my luck at Oare Marshes instead , hoping to get lucky with one or two of the Spoonbill that have taken up residence there recently . On the way back down the track , the only sighting of Marsh Harrier today , this one a female . Before reaching the road , I had a look down the track to the shooting range , and managed to get a shot of a small bird atop a Hawthorn . The bill says to me not a Finch more of a Warbler . I would be interested to see what others make of it , before I wrongly identify another species . The consencsus of opinion is that the bird is a Meadow Pipit . Many thanks to those who commented .
Arriving at Oare Marshes , the wind was even stronger than at Elmley , and now there was the low sun to contend with as well . The highlights of the visit were ,
One of many Little Egret on site , but the Spoonbill had flown off half an hour before I arrived , when a light plane flew over , and were not seen again .
On the far side of the East flood , a group were looking at the White Rumped Sandpiper , on the left of this poor shot with a Ruff to the right . The wind was at it's worst here .From the road , I got a shot of two Little Grebe , unusually out of the water .As I reached the slipway , this Thames Sailing barge passed , although under motor power today
Lots of Black Tailed Godwit , either feeding or resting .The small herd of young cows had an attendant flock of Yellow Wagtails following them around .

Down on the mudflats , Ring Plover with another small wader , possibly a Dunlin . As I got back to the road again , two chaps seemed very interested in a couple of bushes , telling me that there was a Common Redstart in one of them . We waited , then the bird duly obliged .
After the Redstart show , a Common Whitethroat put in appearance in the same bush .Not to be outdone , a while later a Lesser Whitethroat appeared to feed on the Blackberries .

While all this was going on , a large flock of Golden Plover descended into the East flood .The appearances kept coming , with the Redstart and the Common Whitethroat .

And the Redstart and the Lesser Whitethroat . All three did appear together but it was so quick , a shot was not possible . Anyway , I would have wanted the three of them with the 8 Spoonbills in the sky behind them . Walking back to the car , there was the incredible sound of what must have been hundreds of Golden Plover settling down . The island between the two areas of water was just one part , completely covered with the Golden Plover .

And finally , I must apologise to Ken/Disabled Birder of Halling , who will get a severe attack of deja vu , after visiting and posting the site yesterday .