Sheppey Day Two

It was an interesting night in the van on the sea front with the strong winds and rain storms. I got up at 530 to do some pre-dawn noc-migging but not much was calling in the conditions (just a few Redwings). I spent the morning at Leysdown Coastal Park, the highlight was about 30+ Goldcrests, many of them very tame and gleaning on the edge of most areas of bushes. 

Once again there was very little in the way of vis mig (just a few Redpolls, Siskins, Chaffinch, Skylarks and 3 late Swallows) . I met up with Josh Jones in the afternoon who had been at Langdon (south east Kent) in the morning where there was significant visible migration. Yesterday there was over 3000 Chaffinch over Leith Hill back in Surrey, while I had very little moving over North Kent. Presumably the conditions were such that migrants were crossing the sea at the closer part from the continent (nearer Dover) as there was clearly heavy passage going on but not across the Thames Estuary.

I spent the early afternoon at Shellness, highlights there were 5 Short-eared Owls (four coming in off the Swale and flying to the south side of the Swale), a few Common Scoters, Kittiwake, a Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Arctic Skua and more Goldcrests some feeding out on the salt marsh and the tamarisks by the boat houses. I must have had at least 50 Goldcrest today along this section of coast.

Ebird lists for today HERE and HERE.

Bird of the day was Goldcrest (above and below) - approximately 50 of these along this stretch of coast 

A few Chiffchaffs still about

A handful of Redwings and Fieldfares still around, presumably grounded in the rather blustery conditions 

Five Short-eared Owls today, four over the Swale and this one on the saltmarsh

A rogue Barnacle Goose, first in with the Brents and later flying around on it's own

Female Stonechat

Camping site for the night