Reports 2008-2009

Isle of Sheppey 10th January 2009

We left Hemel Hempstead on a clear and frosty morning. As we crossed the QE11 Bridge at Dartford we hit fog.

Over breakfast in Gillingham, we decided to give the RSPB reserve at Elmley a miss. We had been told that the previous week that all the water was covered in ice and there were no waders or wildfowl on the reserve. We arranged to meet at the raptor point in Harty Ferry Lane in Leysdown.

Driving up the lane a sparrowhawk was on a post and a buzzard was in a field.

It was very frosty and foggy at the raptor point but we did see marsh and hen harriers. The fog was beginning to lift, so we decided to go to the end of the lane, next to The Ferry Inn, which overlooks The Swale.

This was very productive. There were many marsh and hen harriers flying around.

Walking down to the edge of The Swale we saw redshank, snipe, turnstone, curlew, grey and golden plover, ringed plover, lapwing and dunlin. Several flocks of black-tailed godwit flew overhead. A pair of kestrels was constantly in view. Two little egrets were on the marsh.

We returned to the raptor point for our packed lunch, but saw nothing new.

Eerie reedbed in the early morning freezing fog

Frosted teazel

We left to go to Leysdown-on-Sea where the beach was heaving with waders. A purple sandpiper was amongst the turnstone very close to us. Sanderling, oystercatchers and knot were also present.

A total of fourteen waders and four raptors were noted.

The temperature during the day varied between minus 1.5C and minus 6.5C but in spite of the weather it was another great January day on the Isle of Sheppey.

Fifty seven species were seen.

Dave Jones (photos by Stuart Harrison)

Kestrel near the Old Ferry Inn

Turnstone on the beach at Leysdown