Wednesday 14th. November 2012

With more 'brownie points' than you could waggle a stick at , I set off yesterday morning to use some of them , not for the first time not knowing where I would finish up . The North Kent coast looked as if it was going to get any sunshine that was going , and by the time I got onto the M20 , I had decided  that Oare Marshes was going to be the place to be . Mind you , as I climbed Wrotham Hill , headlights and fog lights were the order of the day , and I was questioning my decision . Dropping down the other side towards Maidstone , the fog cleared somewhat , but very little sign of brightness in the direction I was heading . I arrived at the Kent Wildlife Trust reserve in overcast conditions and no sign of any other birder . Half way down to the car park , I pulled into the lay-by , to have a look at the East flood . The tide was just about full , so there were a good number of species around . My

first shot managed to catch three Plover species , Ringed , Grey and Golden from left to right on the back row , and several Dunlin in front . All that was needed was some sunshine to show them off

better . Nearby , a Common Snipe , one of several seen on the visit , was dozing amongst the grass tussocks . All the time , more and more Golden Plover arrived on the flood , and having landed ,

started their continual chattering . How any of them get any rest is beyond me . There were in fact three cars in the car park , all turned out to be dog walkers , with plenty of proof left along the sea wall , as I started towards the hide at the end of the wall , keeping a watch and listen for Bearded Tits in the reeds . Several Cettis Warblers called from Bramble patches along the way , but none were seen . Turning alongside Faversham Creek and still finding no species on the Swale or the Creek apart from the odd Cormorant , I did find a pair of Reed Buntings . The male was particularly shy ,

keeping a good distance , but the female was much more of the posing type , until she got a call and

was off too . A few bushes further along , a pair of Meadow Pipits posed together , but once again ,

keeping their distance . Just before reaching the sluice , another pair of LBJs flew across in front of me and landed on the flooded saltmarsh . One disappeared completely , but I managed to find the

other one and got a few shots . Given the prominent eyebrow and light breast , a possible Rock Pipit ?

Passing the sluice and heading for the East Hide , a Kingfisher passed me , heading back towards the sluice , a favoured fishing spot I believe . I had a good look at the area where I had the Penduline Tit on my last visit , and even though the sun had broken through , there was no sign . It was heard the following day , but nothing since . Crossing the track to the car park , I found a few Redwings amongst the Hawthorn scrub , along with many Blackbirds and good numbers of House Sparrows . Heading for the West Hide , I got 'pinged' from the ditch on the right , and eventually saw three Bearded Tits , but so fleeting I didn't manage a shot . They disappeared into another reedbed , still

 'pinging' . Almost at the hide , a pair of Stonechat , this time the male was the poser and the female the shy one . The view from the hide was disappointing to say the least , just a single Coot and several ponies grazing in the distance . Retracing my steps back to the track , the Bearded Tits had obviously moved on . Walking back passed the lay-by where I had stopped earlier , the light was

much improved , and the colours on the three Plovers showed better . On another island further out ,

it appeared that it was Golden Plover and Dunlin only territory , and this was just one small part of

the island . Even though , Golden Plover were still flying in and trying to find room to land . Some

chose spots away from the throng , perhaps for a bit of peace and quiet ? Mind you , with many

Lapwing / Peewit / Green Plover around , peace and quiet was a rare commodity . Some , like this

drake Teal , just got their head down regardless . A few shots of a fly by Common Gull were also

possible with the improved conditions . A last look for the Penduline Tit had the same result as earlier . With 53 species recorded , I decided to try for the Barn Owl on my way home , but on the

way into Oare village saw some brown lumps in one of the fields . The lumps turned out to be 7 Grey Partridge , arguably the rarest species if the day , and finished off the visit nicely .

I arrived at the Barn Owl site just as the light was going , and didn't have long to wait for the female to appear . She flew towards her favoured fence post , but just before landing on it , swooped onto the ground below it . She didn't reappear for a few minutes , but when she did , she had her tea in her

talons , and flew straight back to where she had come from . Well , you can't win them all . I headed off for my dinner , the species count up to 55 on the day .