Saturday 4 September 2010

Saturday 4th.September 2010

As I suspected , today's coppicing/hedgelaying with the Surrey Hedgelaying Group , only turned up a few fungi by way of wildlife , so I am posting some highlights from yesterday's visit to RSPB Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey .
As I said yesterday , there was little seen on the track to the car park apart from ,
3 of 4 Curlews feeding on the grassland ,
one of three Brown Hares seen , a few juvenile Pied Wagtails ,with no cars in the car park on my arrival , I had a look at Ken / Disabled Birder of Halling's extended family , in the ladies toilet ,in the pond beyond the orchard , a Linnet was abluting , and Common Whitethroat and Blackcap were also seen in the surrounding trees ,Starlings everywhere on the walk down to the hides , but apart from Little Grebe , Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler , not much else ,until 4 Canada Geese went over in star formation ,plenty of Avocets , at a distance from Wellmarsh hide , but just this juvenile came within camera range ,also at a distance , 2 of 3 Ruff that were fossicking for food ,heading back to the car park , movement in a puddle on the track , alerted me to four of these frogs that had made their home there ,back at the car park , there were 8/10 Yellow Wagtails searching for insects ,this was the Sparrowhawk that caused the alarm , whilst I was photographing the juvenile Swallows , posted yesterday ,heading back down the track , reasonable views of this female Marsh Harrier , that was flying with what looked like a juvenile .
I had a quick look at Capel Fleet , but with works going on near the Raptor Point , just a couple of distant Marsh Harrier sightings , a couple of Kestrels on the wires by the road , 2 Green Sandpipers and a Little Egret lifting out of the roadside ditch , and a fleeting glimpse of a Wheatear atop a distant Bramble bush , was all that was seen .

2 comments:

ShySongbird said...

It sounded (and looked) like a very nice visit, Greenie. You saw a good variety. I love the Avocet photo, I have never seen one.

Finally...'Well it was like this, Officer, I just slipped into the ladies' loos to see if there were any nice birds in there' :)

Ken. said...

Hi Greenie.
So you couldn't resist checking out the ladies, could you ;-) I knew you would be tempted one day.Mind you, no Swallow in it's right mind is going to nest in the gents toilet unless it is wearing sunglasses, talk about bright.Seriously though, they come back every year and nest there.
Love the Hare photo, great action shot. You captured the moment just at the right time.
As for the Green Sands in the ditch that runs parellel to the road nr the viewing ramp area, for the last few years 1 or 2 of them have been in the area all through the winter. It is always worth checking that long ditch whenever you are passing.
Nice selection of photo's.