North Kent 15th August 2017
A day off... well I never... After polishing off my July
Essex bird summary by 8am and the with the early morning deluge and heavy cloud
starting to dissipate I decided to stop moping around and head off toward Oare
Marshes and its plethora of waders.
The only downside of my enthusiasm was that by the time I
got there the weather was glorious, the tide was right out and the sun was in
my eyes which was especially idiotic as I tell people several times a week to
go on a rising tide and in the afternoon when the light is behind you!
There was plenty to see with a good splodge of Black-tailed
Godwits and Redshank still out in the middle of the East Flood and a scattering
of Golden Plover and Avocets. The Long-billed Dowitcher was soon found with
some Godwits but thankfully came closer before disappearing round a bend and
out of sight. It was all just a little frustrating but a kronking Raven that
circled overhead will always lighten any day for me.
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| Raven |
I suspect that this may well be quite a good record for the
site. Yellow Wagtails and great flocks of Goldfinch and Starling escorted me
back to the jetty where a quick scan picked up the Bonaparte’s Gull out on the
mud but it was now very warm and my camera stayed put.
And so I resigned myself to go somewhere else and decided
that I would try and find Queendown Warren to look for butterflies.
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| Queendown Warren - the meadow |
Once there
I amused myself trying to locate a good flower field and soon stumbled on a
wondrous meadow of Birds Foot Trefoil, Clover, Marjoram, Eyebright, Red Bartsia
and Wild Basil.
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| Marjoram |
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| Marjoram |
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| Red Bartsia |
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| Wild Basil - I think |
It was not teeming with butterflies and the sun kept
disappearing but I did see several gleaming Adonis Blues but failed to get any
images of them perched and only managed some of the stunningly fresh Common
Blues also present.
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| Common Blue |
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| Common Blue |
Small Copper, Small
Heath, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were also present but there
were no flies of any description and only a few bumbles amongst the numerous
Honey Bees.
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| Brown Argus |
I was still feeling dissatisfied from my first Oare visit
and so trundled back down the M2 once again and by about 2.30pm I found myself
back looking at the waders but now in glorious light and far greater numbers.
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| That's better... |
Over the next hour I was entertained by constantly arriving
flocks of whiffling Black-tailed Godwits and associated Redshanks and Dunlin
while around thirty sumptuously orange Knots set about having and mass bathe
within seconds of landing and thus gave everyone else a shower.
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| Godwits, Redshanks & Lapwings with Knots to the left! |
Dotty Spotted Redshanks strode elegantly amongst the other
waders and Turnstone, Ringed Plovers, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Curlew all
dropped in. Golden Plover numbers had increased and, when alert they all faced
the same way causing the whole flock to almost disappear given their largely
summer garb while four young Little Ringed Plovers and two Snipe were feeding on the
closest mud.
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| Black-tailed Godwits - adult and two juveniles |
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| Golden Plover, Lapwing, Starlings and a BHG |
The Dowitcher was still probing around and was found
actively feeding with the nearest Godwits and gave superb views. I must have a
look back to see when I first saw the species here and the chances that it is
the same returning adult is not unlikely.
Most of his summer plumage had now been replaced with the grey of winter
but there was still some orange on the upper breast and a little on the belly
along with a few retained scapulars. The head and tertials were already neat,
plain and smooth.
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| Long-billed Dowitcher |
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| Long-billed Dowitcher & Blackwits |
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| Long-billed Dowitcher & Blackwits |
Given how rarely you see
rhynchokinesis in birds, it was quite remarkable just how many times I saw
the upper mandible flex up after it caught a prey item. I have seen it a few times over the years
with godwits and Snipe but not repeatedly like the Dowitcher was doing.
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rhynchokinesis in action!
|
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| Having a scratch... note the widening of the bill tip |
It was so close on the final occasion that when it took off
I could even hear it call – a quiet ‘kip kip’ so something new to store in the
old grey matter.
Scanning around resulted in at least four adult, a
second-winter and three juvenile Med Gulls. One of the adults was green ringed
but too hazy to read but a juvenile with a nice red ring appeared easier (right
ZHH7 I hope).
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| adult Med Gull |
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| ZHH7 |
All it needed now was for the Bonaparte’s Gull to appear and
it did just that just yards from the Dowitcher.
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| Bonaparte’s Gull & Avocets |
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| Bonaparte’s Gull - four or five new primaries and only the old p10 remaining |
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| Bonaparte’s Gull |
It had a good wash and brush up
before moving back into the throng but although it is one of my favourite gulls
it was still the juvenile Meds that lured me back for another look...
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| Juvenile Med Gull |
