Shellness and Raptor Watch point - 28/11/2011

A quick trip round Shellness didn't reveal anything spectaculae on the rarity front, but was made up for in numbers. Loads and loads of Mallard on the sea which seemed a little unusal and mixed in with them some Common Scoter. On the beaches were plenty of Sanderling and Turnstone whilst round at the wader roost it was choc-a-block with Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin and Barwits. Walking back to the car park, a Short-eared Owl flew over. The only other BoPs were a pair of hunting Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel.

Fromt the Raptor Watchpoint, I only picked up a couple of Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel, the usual Corn Bunts on the wires and a drop-in Green Sandpiper.

Shellness and Swale NNR then on to the Raptor Watch Point 08/11/2011

I went for an afternoon out at Shellness hoping to do a bit of seawatching, but visibility wasn't good and other than 16 Common Scoter, there wasn't anything passing the point. So I walked out to the wader roost at Shellness. A good selection of waders including Knot, Barwit, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Sanderling. I did find what seems to be a leucistic Dunlin as well (see pic). Out at the point a flock of 13 Snow Buntings were rising from the roped off wader roost, circling about then landing again out of sight. Then back to the car and a quick look in the bushes around the car park revealed just a single Goldcrest. Although there was also a colour-ringed Mipit (yellow ring on right leg, but couldn't make out the lettering.

I then started to head back and stopped at the little ramp by the boats. Whilst looking at some Sanderling, I saw a bird flicker up onto one of the telegraph poles - a quick check in the bins and it was a Great Grey Shrike. My first in Kent and a self-found one! It went out of sight, but I track it down behind the mound on a fence post and managed a few pics.

Then, still buzzing, I went round to the Raptor Watchpoint at Capel Fleet and was immediately greeted with superb views of three Short-eared Owls(more pics). Just as I was leaving, I saw a very tall white Egret in the ditch behind the watchpoint and as it took off, I clamped the bins on it and confirmed my suspicion that it was in fact a Great White Egret. One of two in the area at the moment.

Along with a few Marsh Harrier, this didn't make a bad afternoon birding on Sheppy!



Dunlin



Great Grey Shrike



Short-eared Owl

Riverside CP - 9th and 10th October 2011

Just a quick update from two very brief visits to Riverside CP over the last couple of days as I have now moved house to Rainham.

On Sunday, I walked out and round Horrid Hill, but the tide was way out. A few Curlew, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing about on the mud. I did manage to pick up a male Marsh Harrier hunting over Nor Marsh.

Today, I parked nearer Motney Hill and walked along the sea wall for a bit. The tide was out again and much the same birds were on the mud. There was a strange LBB Gull on the mud with a charcoal grey mantle and wings but completely black wing tips with no visible mirrors. Then the male Marsh Harrier passed over the mud putting a few bits up into the air, including a Greenshank. I heard two Cetti's Warblers in the reedbeds opposite the sea wall.