Round-up of latest outings

1st August 2022

Weir Wood Reservoir

Unusually for us, mud is a feature at Weir Wood Reservoir at the moment, partly due to the hot weather but more to do with urgent maintenance work that has been going on for some months at the dam end.

the usual story for the last few years - no mud

current situation - increasing amounts of mud

This has led to a build up of waders, a most welcome sight for birders..

• Basic waders include increasing numbers of little egrets, lapwings, black-tailed godwits and even some little ringed plovers.

• On Monday evening I was drawn down by reports of a huge build up of sandpipers.  When I arrived I saw 3 of the 6 green sandpipers, 2 of the 3 common sandpipers and my first wood sandpiper of the year.

all pictures courtesy of Friends of Weir Wood Society

4th August 2022

Oare Marshes

Martin, Mark & Elizabeth

4 of us spent the day at Oare marshes in the sunshine.  

• The Bonaparte's gull, our target species didn't put in an appearance even though we spent hours looking for it.
• It was wagtail day today with lots of yellow wagtails on show, some grey wagtails too and, surprisingly, fewer pied wagtails.

• The other stand-out birding event was the sight of flocks of whimbrel flying overhead all afternoon.  We also had great views of them on the sands of the Swale Estuary.

• The highlight of the day for me however was not the birding but marsh frogs (15+) and the grass snakes (5+) that we came across on the west side of the reserve, at Dan's Dock, just before lunch.

all pictures courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Not what we expected but a cracking day out anyway!

Year total - 201