Monday 30th. September 2013

Carol was having an old friend over for lunch today , so decided to head off and leave them to it .  The best of the weather was forecast for the North Kent coast , so decided to see if I could do better with the Spotted Crake than on my last visit , which wasn't to be too difficult , given that I dipped on that trip . Got down to Oare about 0900 , and found three birders already in position alongside the ditch behind the East Hide . The Crake had been seen earlier in flight , but hadn't been seen for over an hour . The good weather turned out to be a pain , as with the sun out behind the ditch , any sightings would have the Crake in between the camera and the sun , in the shadows of the reedbeds . It was deja vous for the first hour , with the four of us squinting into the sun , but finding nothing , until one birder spotted the bird in the corner , alongside the path to the hide , but I could not find the bird , and was frustrated with cameras firing off around me . I thought my chance had gone , but a short time later , it appeared some 15 metres away on the edge of the reedbed that was almost like

night , and started to preen . I could see the bird , but found it very difficult to get the right settings for the situation . For the next hour and a half , the bird led the four of us a merry chase , appearing

suddenly in one spot , disappearing as quickly as it appeared , only to reappear some distance away , but always managing to get vegetation between itself and the camera . Most infuriating being when it made it's way under cover with tantalising views , to the end of a reedbed , with all cameras trained on the spot where it would break into the open , only to turn around and disappear again . Not once

did it show well in the open , but did appear to swim a couple of times in the shallow water . After the ninety minutes it was not seen for some time , so most took advantage to stretch the legs and grab some lunch . I did likewise , doing a circuit via the sluice and the Sea Wall Hide . Apart from the
BTGodwits , Golden Plover and other waders on the flood , there wasn't much else about . I heard a few 'pings' in the phragmites , but never saw a Bearded Tit , but several Reed Buntings were seen

alongside Faversham Creek . No sign of the Water Rail alongside the road this time , but a Little Egret , possibly the one I photographed on the bridge last visit , was feeding in the bridge area , and

seemingly doing very well too . Plenty of Lapwing and Teal from the road , a single Spotted

Redshank at a distance and a few Ruff , two pictured . After a bit of lunch , I headed back to the East Hide area , hoping for better views of the Crake . From what I could make out it hadn't been seen since the last sighting I had , and things appeared very quiet in the ditch . Even the return of the other two original birders didn't manage to rustle up a sighting , but a while later , the Crake was relocated some 20 metres down the ditch towards the sluice , and the birders , now numbering about ten , decamped along the path , just past the seat , where , over the next 25/30 minutes , the Crake showed better than anyone could have hoped for , with the sun behind the camera , and the bird feeding and preening and sunning itself , with short spells disappearing into the reeds , but always returning to get the cameras snapping again . During that time , I managed to take over 500 shots , some ruined by swaying vegetation , but many to keep to remember that magical time . I'll close with just 4 from that number .