Oare marshes

Oare Marshes, August 2nd 2020

I’d been meaning to visit this reserve for quite a while but because of lockdown i wasn’t able to visit in spring. However my visit in August was by far my best days birding in 2020!

As we began to walk along the river out of Faversham I was already scanning for any waders but without luck. In the fields on the side of the path something caught my eye and I yelled “sparrowhawk!” To my brother.  But as I watched it seemed a bit odd and I suddenly realised I was getting my first proper view of an adult cuckoo! Not a bad start! At the reserve entrance we were greeted by a yellow wagtail and a pair of hobby rocketing about. I was a bit annoyed to hear my parents had seen a pair of bearded tits perched in front of them though! Continuing along the river wall I picked out common sandpiper, whimbrel and with a bit of help a few bearded tits in flight. 

Whimbrel

Eurasian Hobby

While My family stopped for lunch, I headed to the car park to see if anyone had found the bonapartes gull. Unfortunately they hadn’t. I spent the next hour or so searching through waders in the company of two helpful and more experienced birders. Or more accurately I stood there while they found me curlew sandpiper, Ruff, Greenshank, Water Rail, Snipe, Little ringed Plover, Turtle Dove and much more!

Golden Plover & Dunlin

Spot the Curlew Sandpiper!

Then a marsh harrier put in an appearance and sent the waders up in the air which was pretty impressive! I headed back to the river wall to find my family where I saw plenty of Yellow Wagtails and Linnets as well as black tailed godwits feeding out on the mud. We walked along towards a pool which I’d been told was good for grass snakes although not expecting to see any. When I arrived I was amazed to see two young grass snakes barely a foot long each, basking and swimming about among the weeds in the company of Marsh Frogs! Although Marsh Frogs are an introduced species I do love them as they add a bit of a southern vibe to the Kentish marshes and lets face it, they’re awesome! We watched the snakes for half an hour while yellow wagtails streamed overhead and corn buntings sang in the distance. 

Grass Snakes 

As we walked back along the sea wall a med gull flew a few metres over my head which was a nice surprise. At the car park I sat down for a bit and scanned across the mud absent-mindedly not expecting to see much. Imagine my surprise when I came across the moulting bonapartes gull! 

Bonapartes Gull

What a stunner! The walk back gave me a few ringed plover and an oystercatcher (my second favourite wader!).

What a brilliant day it had been; no fewer than four lifers while surrounded by some of my favourite animals like Grass Snakes and Hobbies. I definitely plan on going back in autumn!