Rye Harbour

One juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Goose, dozens of Redshank, 3 Curlew, dozens of Dunlin, three or four Grey Plover, several Teal, Dozens of Wigeon, a few Mallard, a few Coot, about a dozen Little Grebe, One Kestrel, many Great Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls, two Fulmar, at least one Cormorant.

One or two Meadow Pipits, juvenile starlings, magpies, many Woodpigeons.

A beautiful still autumn day. 

Brent Geese off Seasalter

There were a number of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Branta bernicla bernicla, perhaps several hundred, off the South Swale NNR, some quite close in. It was marvellous to see the details of their plumage, note a number of juveniles in amongst the adults, and hear their low grunting calls. Mixed with them were good numbers of Wigeon.

Also two Turnstone and a Grey Plover. Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls out on the Swale, with many groups flighting in to join them. Oystercatchers huddled on the spit at Castle Coote.

Local Kestrels

One on the wires by Spring House on Carpenters Lane in the dusk this evening. Usually seen by Grove Farm on the Maidstone Road as well, and regularly reported over the years at the Pittswood Glasshouses and breeding around the Pittswood area by Warren Baker. 

Robin on the rocks at Reculver

As usual there were House Sparrows to be found at the car park and around the Towers.

There was a Robin on the rocks just beyond the Towers as I went East and I saw it again when I returned, presumably the same one.

Five or more Pied Wagtails on the grass, counted no return.

Six or more Meadow Pipit in a small flock.

Flock of Turnstones and a few Ringed Plover on the way out, and counted about twenty Turnstone but only two Ringed Plover by one of the groynes on return. The waders were joined by a Grey Plover when last seen.

Seven plus Little Egret, up to five in view at any one time on the "paddle-wheels", and then one roosting on the larger conifer by the seafood farm as I returned.

Eight Redshank on the of the farm pools on the way out, with two more at Coldharbour Lagoon.

Overall hundreds of Black-headed Gulls around today, on the sea, in the fields or up in the air, together with many Herring Gulls and several Common Gulls, Larus canus.

Three or more cormorants, diving on the sea or flyovers.

At least one, probably two Stock Doves in the stubble with the Gulls.

Four Mute Swans, in two pairs, on fields and flying.

Ninety three or more Wigeon in one large raft on the sea, over a score of Mallard at Colharbour, and on the sea.

One Marsh Harrier being mobbed by the Carrion Crows, and then one female Kestrel along the seawall ditch, hunting briefly, on the way back.
A passing lady cyclist reported a possible Short-Eared Owl being harried by crows and going down at the seafood farm.  

Long Billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes

This Dowitcher presumably flew in from across the Atlantic at some stage this autumn and arrived on this East Coast Marsh, perhaps via some intermediate stopping points. It is recognizable by its brownish snipe-like appearance, fairly clear pale eye stripe, and also by its "sewing-machine" like feeding motion. The details of its plumage are very similar to the closely-related Short Billed Dowitcher. It is fairly regularly found in Western Europe on a few occasions each year.

Here the uniform grey of the centre of the tertials is quite clear. At least on the juvenile the books indicate that this is a good sign that this is indeed a Long Billed rather than a Short Billed.

The white slightly spotted rump is visible in the picture below. The brownish scapulars(?) indicate a likely juvenile.

On several occasions the bird vigorously scratched at its bill.

Cliffe Pools on a lovely autumn afternoon

Very much enjoyed the Black Tern in winter plumage flying and then settled by BB1/BB2.

Pallid Harrier at Oare

I tried to time my arrival at Oare to fit in between the heavy rain showers whilst still in time for the high tide. It seemed to work with BTGs, Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, Golden Plover, Dunlin, and a few Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints. One Yellow Wagtail.

Popped over to park by the ramp, and after waiting in the car until another cloudburst passed over, had a look for Harriers. As I found and slowly confirmed my first Marsh harrier, a couple of experts turned up and they soon found the juvenile Pallid Harrier. I could just see the orange underside, and the narrow white rump, but no other detail, with perhaps an impression of the barred underwings.

I was personally much happier to pick out my own Bar-Tailed Godwit on the mud as I walked Monty along the seawall. Much streakier, bar tail, no wingbar, more of a clear supercilium.