CROYDON RSPB MEMBERS' GROUP - TRIP REPORT

Only the Kent Constabulary had beaten us to the small carpark at Kent Wildlife Trust's Oare Marshes reserve, so there had been little disturbance. Wigeon and teal were the most numerous ducks on the main lagoon, the latter allowing close-range viewing from the roadside despite the lack of cover for observers. The presence of about 50 snipe was noteworthy. A single brent goose on the reserve was later joined by many more and much larger flocks were visible flying in the distance. Several stonechats made themselves obvious by perching on fence posts or bush tops, a couple of reed buntings were found along ditches and a party of four little egrets almost escaped attention as they flew directly overhead. Fieldfares and other thrushes were feeding in bushes along the southern edge of the reserve but could not be seen well against the sun. Two green woodpeckers, clinging to telegraph poles or the bare stems of isolated bushes, were rather easier to study.

All sixteen of us managed to squeeze into the main hide, but then found that there was little in view from the windows, apart from a few lapwings and a single curlew bathing and preening. The seawall proved to be a more productive viewpoint : many waders feeding along the muddy shoreline were being driven closer by the rising tide. Most were dunlins, but a few redshanks, godwits and ringed and grey plovers were also present and sharp eyes picked out a single avocet browsing amongst a flock of shelducks. On the far side of the Swale, a dark strip on the beach of Sheppey was visible with the naked eye; viewed through telescopes, this proved to be a vast flock of roosting oystercatchers. Equally distantly to the east, half a dozen black-looking ducks bobbing behind the waves and diving regularly were identified (by majority verdict!) as common scoters, rather than female eiders. Closer to hand, a rock pipit was feeding along the rocky face of the seawall. Inland, a sparrowhawk and several kestrels showed well, but the only harrier, a distant female marsh, quickly disappeared behind a belt of trees and was not seen again.

After lunch, we drove to Snodland to spend the remaining hour or so of daylight exploring a rather different wetland habitat - the New Hythe gravel pits. Pochard and tufted ducks were plentiful here and several gadwall were also present. Great crested appeared to be the only grebe species. A departing kingfisher briefly added a touch of colour and a Cetti's warbler gave several outbursts of song; otherwise, things were rather quiet. We spent some time peering hopefully into the thicket where long-eared owls habitually roost in mid-winter, but only a few of the group were rewarded with very fleeting glimpses of an owl, first leaving the bushes and later in flight over the reedbeds towards the River Medway.