randombirder

Couldn't resist another trip to North Kent on a still warm afternoon.  The Bonaparte's Gull and Temminck's Stint had moved on by the time I arrived but there was plenty still out there to see. Black-Tailed Godwit seemed fewer in number than the last visit but at least 300 was still a good count.  There were around 50 Avocet , 60 Dunlin , three summer plumage Golden Plover , three Curlew Sandpiper (two in summer plumage), six Ruff (four male, two Reeve), a single Green Sandpiper , a Little Ringed Plover seen in flight heading down Faversham Creek, one Spotted Redshank , two Whimbrel , three Yellow Wagtail , a juvenile Mediterranean Gull that settled briefly on East Flood, and two Bearded Tit .  Ruff Whimbrel   Bearded Tit Ruff

The North Kent Marshes are providing me with a real escape from the doldrums of these ongoing health problems.  Couped up at home, I am taking any opportunity to head out before cabin fever really takes hold and I end up chewing on the carpet and scraping my fingers down the wall.  I have always loved the Oare Marshes, the East Flood always impressively stockpiled with Waders.  A little further on from Cliffe, I thought I would give it a go - and an easy ride it was.  Arriving in just over an hour, the number of Waders out on the scrape was astonishing and I just couldn't wait to jump out of the car. I have no idea how many Black-Tailed Godwit there were out there, but if I say 500, I'm sure I have included all of them and maybe with a few more to spare.  They were congregated in two distinct groups of which the majority were in stunning summer-wear. Avocet (practicing for Beijing)  Plenty of Avocet too, perhaps 150 here, typically energetic and vociferant.  The

Not allowing health issues to get the better of me, things felt calm - the sun was out and I was itching to get out of the flat.  So Kat and I headed over to Cliffe Pools, an RSPB reserve that I had never visited and less than an hours drive away from home. On arrival the car park was pretty sparse, while a couple of retarded under-educated shit-kickers (Bryson, 1989) smeared their cheap shit-mobiles around the car park, it was a relief to make tracks onto the reserve. The buddleia-lined paths were generously occupied by butterflies with Painted Lady , Peacock , Large and Small White , plenty of  Gatekeeper , and Comma animated in the warm sun.  Gatekeeper The path coursed round bi-secting pools on either side, interspersed with areas from which to view the islands and the open areas of water.  There were loads of waders.  Around 300+ Black-Tailed Godwit were in community with 150+ Avocet , 15 Greenshank , 50+ Redshank , 15 Dunlin , three juvenile Little-Ringed Plover, a

Breezy but warm.  An increase in Black-Tailed Godwit islandica numbers than my last visit with at least 45 counted (44 on Aveley and 1 on Purfleet) with some really smart adult birds there.  On Aveley Flashes, three juvenile Little-Ringed Plover remained with small numbers of Teal and Shoveler .  Two Whimbrel flew low over the reserve and toward Aveley Bay.  A lone  Swallow flew through. A distant Common Buzzard hovered on the breeze towards Wennington. The Kingfisher showed well albeit briefly from the MDZ as did a young Water Vole oblivious to the onlookers peering through the netting. A pristine Painted Lady settled on the path up towards the Riverside, where a Common Darter flew past.  A few Black-Tailed Skimmer were seen around the reserve. Water Vole Black-Tailed Skimmer Painted Lady

Despite the gloomy weather, I headed down to Rainham Marshes which despite a few rain showers and extremely dank conditions produced seven Black-Tailed Godwit (one on Purfleet, six on Aveley), four Greenshank and three Little Ringed Plover on Aveley Pools, a flyover Hobby , a family group of six Bearded Tit by the DragonFly Ponds, 30+ Little Egret around the reserve, and a Whimbrel on the shoreline of Aveley Bay. Also conspicuous in number were Sand Martin forced down by the low cloud base.

You make plans, you change plans, and you end up at Minsmere.  What a scorcher of a day, blue skies, warm sunshine, those high cirrus clouds that I just love seeing.  The reserve looked immaculate, what a great place to be on a Saturday.  It wasn't busy, just right, people out enjoying wildlife as it should be because we have it in abundance.  Lots of great stuff to see. A leisurely start of tea and cake from the cafe, and then towards the East hide stopping first at the dragonfly ponds where there were plenty of Azure Damselflies and a few Common Emeralds .  A Brown Hawker whizzed round with the backdrop of busy Sand Martin frequenting the sand bank. Common Emerald Heading over to the East Hide, there was plenty of interest on the scrape.   Avocet were busy feeding, five Ruff in moulting plumage were present, as were a group of Black-Tailed Godwit .  A Green Sandpiper was picked out through the heat-haze toward the back of the pool, and Spotted Redshank were hap

A lovely warm summers day and the Waterworks were alive with Butterflies, particularly Large, Small, and Essex Skippers noted by their abundance.  The area does look great at this time of year. Essex Skipper Large Skipper Rosebay Willowherb