Unfortunately, we had to cancel the proposed coach trip due to the fact that only fourteen people booked seats, twenty-five being our breakeven number.
However ten of us set out in three cars from Hemel Hempstead. After stopping en route for breakfast, we arrived on the Isle of Sheppey mid-morning.
We turned into the track that leads to the reserve and stopped after about fifty yards when we saw a Red legged Partridge. This was followed closely by a Hen Harrier. Scanning round, we spotted another raptor feeding, we could not determine what species this was, but it was later confirmed as a Merlin by someone who had seen it fly.
We continued along the track often stopping to see the numerous birds that were about including Marsh Harriers, thousands of Golden Plover and many other waders. We eventually arrived at the farm where we parked the cars excited by all the birds that we had seen. At this stage we realised that we were lucky to have traveled by car, as we could not have stopped along the track in a coach.
We set off on the mile and a half walk towards the scrapes. On the way, we looked over the bank to the Swale seeing a large flock of waders. At the first hide, on the scrape there were many Knot, Grey Plover & Dunlin it was very interesting to note the differences in size of these waders.
En route to the Swale hide two Little Egrets flew passed us & from this hide we saw a male Hen Harrier.
We then went into the hide overlooking the scrape. There was a great number of species here; the light was perfect for watching the birds. Whilst in this hide, a Stoat ran along the bank & grabbed hold of a Wigeon which flapped about and eventually got free & swam across the water to freedom.
The icing on the cake was, when walking back to the car park, a Barn Owl was quartering a reed bed & passed within fifty yards of us.
This outing with the quality of birds, sheer numbers, & the terrific light made this one of my most pleasurable bird watching outings ever.
We arrived back at the cars after dusk. In all we saw about fifty-two species.
Dave Jones
SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE DAY
| Little Grebe | Cormorant | Little Egret | Mute Swan | Canada Goose |
| Greylag Goose | White-Fronted Goose | Mallard | Gadwall | Pintail |
| Wigeon | Teal | Shovelor | Shelduck | Tufted Duck |
| Marsh Harrier | Hen Harrier | Merlin | Kestrel | Red-Legged Partridge |
| Moorhen | Coot | Oystercatcher | Lapwing | Ringed Plover |
| Turnstone | Grey Plover | Golden Plover | Dunlin | Knot |
| Snipe | Curlew | Black-Tailed Godwit | Redshank | Ruff |
| Avocet | Great Black-Backed Gull | Lesser Black-Backed Gull | Herring Gull | Black-Headed Gull |
| Stock Dove | Wood Pigeon | Barn Owl | Skylark | Meadow Pipit |
| Starling | Magpie | Carrion Crow | Wren | Stonechat |
| Robin | Blackbird | House Sparrow | Reed Bunting |