Isle of Sheppey East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Sunday 16th January 2022

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Shellness, Kent

Another visit to the Isle of Sheppey, this time with the EGRSPB Local Group.  Just like last week the conditions were ideal with bright sunshine, clear skies and hardly any breeze.

The target species included Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Corn Bunting and Red-legged Partridge.

9 members turned up for this event and they were rewarded with some superb birding with over 50 species seen, including most of the target species.

• As we assembled in the car park Jonathan picked out a couple of Brambling in with the Linnet flock.  
• Shortly afterwards, as we started the long walk along the seawall to the hide, someone from the Surbiton Bird Group drew our attention to a Hen Harrier on the marshes between us and the sea.  It was a cracking male, flying gracefully by us and affording everyone present the chance to get really good views.  We had barely started and already we had arguably our most sought after target bird in the bag already.  

• Further along the seawall we enjoyed picking out our second target species - Corn Bunting as well as several Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches.

• What we were really looking were White-fronted Geese in the fields by the hide but it looked like we were going to be disappointed.  Suddenly Jonathan spotted 4 of them flying in directly towards us.  They landed in the field so we got chance to get a good look.  Then, incredibly, more and more flew in and landed until we had over 200 to observe.  What a truly magical event and yet another of our target species accounted for!

• Not to be outdone, the Brent Geese started to arrive as we made the return journey back to the car park.  In the end we estimated at least 500 of them in the field, giving us yet another superb experience.

• In the distance by the concrete tower next to the sea, we could see a murmeration-like gathering but these were definitely not Starlings -they were waders - and that was our next scheduled port of call.  

We had timed our walk so as to arrive at the concrete tower on the River Swale at high tide in time to see all the waders gathering.

• There were huge numbers of Dunlin, Knot, Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwits with the odd Black-tailed Godwit nearby and some Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Grey Plover.  Every now and then they would take to the air and produce he murmeration effect we had witnessed earlier.  With thousands of birds huddled together like this we were in birding heaven and it was a joy to watch.  

Capel Fleet

After a well-earned lunch, we set off for Capel Fleet and the raptor viewing point in particular for the final session of the day.  Ostensibly we were seeking Short-eared Owls and a lone Whooper Swan that were known to be present in the area.  We saw neither but we did get a most pleasant surprise.

• On the way to the raptor viewing point we stopped off at the bottom of the hill to check out the lagoon for the Whooper Swan.  Whilst we were there Martin  noticed a Bittern moving left behind the reeds lining the far edge of the water.  After a few seconds, Sue and I were on to it as well and enjoyed reasonable views.  However it soon disappeared into the thicker reeded area and didn't reappear, much to the disappointment of those who had arrived after us.
• We joined a large group of some 25+ birders on the viewing area but the only raptors we saw were Marsh Harriers, Buzzards and a Kestrel.  

We waited for over an hour but there was no sign of any Hen Harriers or Short-eared Owls.  There was still an hour or so to dusk but it was getting cold and we were birded out so a quick vote established it was time to head home.

Year total =  100

A quiet end to what had been a superb day out!