The week at Hoo

To be more precise, the North Kent Marshes again and my regular survey area on Cooling Marshes, last Thursday’s survey was undertaken in decent weather at last.

Plenty of waders and wildfowl are now using the site as a high tide roost; the rain water as yet has not covered it although 50% has now flooded.

Thursday produced good numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover along with Dunlin, 50 odd Grey Plover were also roosting as were a small flock of Curlew.

The Peregrine effect

Dunlin

Grey Plover coming in to roost

It has also attracted up to 8 wintering Green Sandpipers, the mid week survey also produced Bearded Tit, my first in a while.

A female Peregrine was also active and bunched everything up nicely to be counted.

Sunday’s survey was undertaken by myself and Paul, the highlight of the day undoubtedly going to 13 White Fronted Geese, these were the first we have had this winter and probably ties in with colder weather and a different wind change direction – north easterly.

Tucked in with a massive flock of 278 Greylag Geese there was also 19 Dark Bellied Brent’s amongst the flock, Paul later had a single Barnacle as well with the Greylag’s.

White Fronted Geese behind the Greylag's

Other birds of note were 189 Avocet, 150 of which were at the western end, a little unusual as they usually seem to stick to the Egypt Bay area.

40 Knot on the river were good, as was 8 Corn Bunting and a Little Owl in the Barn where we park up.

The little chap

Corn Bunting