Sunday Morning on Sheppey

With no football fixtured on Sunday morning we decided to head to the Isle of Sheppey. A beautiful crisp morning started at Capel Fleet, brilliant views of Marsh Harriers in the early morning light. From the road leading to the viewing point and to the other side of the island we clocked up Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Mute Swan, Coot, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, Kestrel, Starling, Grey Heron, Pheasant, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Crow, Green Sandpiper, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard and Corn Bunting. The Redpoll was a pleasant surprise as we wasn't expecting one to be out on the marshes! On the way out there seemed to be a slightly leucistic Kestrel being picked on by a 'normal' one, a bit odd seing two Kestrels pinning themselves down next to the road.

After this Leysdown and Swale NNR was due a visit. Walking along the path there were a lot of birds in the fields on the right so a quick scan gave us a Hooded Crow, if only everything was that easy to find! Brent Geese were in good numbers along with Carrion Crows and Wood Pigeon. On the way to the hide Curlews were everywhere, there were also Skylarks, Herring and Common Gulls. At the hide hundreds of Greylags were feeding and a good number of White Fronted Geese. After almost giving up on finding the reported Pink Footed Geese I managed to come across one but couldn't find the other. On the way home we went down the drive at Elmley seeing Lapwing and Coot on the way in. After parking up Dad went and checked the pool below the toilet block and luckily the Barn Owls were showing in their box in the tree next to the pool. The pool produced Teal, Wigeon and Coot while by the parking area a couple of Moorhens were feeding. On the way out stopping to take pictures of the Lapwing a Merlin darted across the fields adding a bit more excitement to the visit.

Lapwing