Oare Marshes

Actually got a chance to go birding so no need to change this blog title to Non-stop Mothing quite yet! After the London work session I headed down into Kent to meet up with the gang. I first stopped off at Janina and John's in Tonbridge Wells to say hello and pick up a book on Saudi Arabia. A visit to Worth Marsh was then aborted due to traffic and re-diverted to Oare Marshes to meet Sue before heading down to Southroad Wood south of Ashford for a night's moth trapping with Lee, Rachel and Andrew.

Ebird list here . It was only a quick visit and a glance but picked up the adult Bonaparte's Gull (now in it's 10th returning year there I believe), an adult Curlew Sandpiper, a Hobby sitting on the scrape amongst the waders and a flock of 34 Whimbrel were the highlights. Great to see the water levels are suitable for waders again - although considering the drought conditions it's a shame that it now takes critical environmental conditions to achieve good water management levels (all to do with a non-functioning weir as far as I understand).

 

Adult Bonaparte's Gull 

Juvenile Med Gull

Adult Curlew Sandpiper 

Fledgling/juvenile Avocet 

Blackwits 

Whimbrel- the quintessential sound of August in the Thames Estuary