|
 | 
25-06-2006, 01:12 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| |  Isle of Sheppey visit
Yesturday i went dont to the Isle of Sheppey, North Kent. The main aim was to see Marsh Harriers, of which there are currently around 45 breeding pairs. I've been planning this trip for a while and had 5 possible places to visit, unfortunately i didn't get to them all but had a great day.
Elmley marshes:
This is a very large area which is actually farmed, and part of it is run by the RSPB. The reserve is large and requires a lot of walking (but is worth it), it actually took me 5 hours to walk the whole lot and visit all five hides!
Driving downt to the reserve i saw several Marsh Harriers, Lots of lapwings, Oystercatchers, Greylag geese, Meadow pipits, and a Grey Pertridge. At this point your not allowed out of the car and off the track so my veiws of the harriers were limited.
In the reserve there was a great variety of birds: Sparrows, Cornbunting, Reedbunting, Sedge warbler, Reed warbler, Yellow wagtail, Meadow pipits, Oystercatchers, lapwings, Avocets, Black tailed Godwits, Ringed plover, Redshank, Spotted Redshank (summer plumage), Curlew, Heron, Little egret, Coot, Morhen, Grey partridge, Pheasant, Swift, Swalow, House martins, Mute swan, Shellduck, Shoveller, Widgeon, Teal,Mallard, Ruddy duck, Kestrel, Hobby, Barn owl, Common tern, Herring gull, Black headed Gull, and Mediteranian Gull.
As well as lots of butterflies associated with meadows, and an unknown (see other thread)
and lots of damselflies and dragonflies, including the Scarse Emerald Damselfly.
Shellness/Swale NNR:
Didnt spend much time here as i spent nearly all my time at elmley. This is a HUGE area and i dared not venture too far. Here i just saw more of the common species as above.
Chapel fleet:
This isnt much more than a raised veiwing platform but gives excellent veiws of the sorrounding area and Harty marshes. Here i saw several more Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard, a pair of Kestrels and a fleeting glimse of a Hobby.
All in al a good day, many birds were entirely new to me so i was very happy.
If anyone is local and hasn't been its really worth it, if your not local and fancy a change i'd recomend it.
Im looking forward to a winter visit now when it apparently gets so much better!
__________________
You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
25-06-2006, 01:15 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
We were in the first hide there yesterday. Were you? There about 10.30. ww
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 01:21 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
At 1030 i was probably at either Counterwall hide or Well marsh hide, I was wearing big wellies under the impression it would be wet (Wish i hadnt!) so you may have noticed me clumselly tramping about! Were you with your husband(?) with a big camara?
__________________
You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
25-06-2006, 01:35 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Yes. Didn't notice your wellies. You had a look at the boards behind us and took notes. Hope we didn't disturb you, we're a noisy pair. Ha ha! We've got a canon350 by the way. We saw a pair of marsh harriers on the way in and again on the way out. We also saw lots of Brown Hares up near the farm.
Nice to make your acquaintence-even though we didn't know it was you. We really need a WAB id of some sort!! We've got some nice avocet shots but are having trouble uploading at the mo.
Small world. Julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 01:43 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Yeah that would be me!
You didnt disturb me in the slightest. Do you go there a lot? I know your not to far away. Did you spot anything i didnt?
It would be nice to know when othere WABers are about, i was actually thinking on my way round i could pass someone from here and not know it! At chapel fleet i got talking to a chap from london, who lived on the edge of the Lee vally complex, Lucky B*****r!
'tis a very small world really.
__________________
You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
25-06-2006, 01:47 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Nice one guys.........So this could be called a mini wab sort of meet  ..............Jon |
25-06-2006, 01:55 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Managing about a once a month visit at the mo. We go to Northward Hill mostly as it's closer and we know the guides. That has an excellent heronry and rookery. There's also lots of little egrets too.
Did you see the yellow wagtails? They stop in front of the car on the way out near the cattle. Did you hear the Marsh Frogs, they're well funny.
We also saw corn buntings, reed buntings, lapwing,meadow pipits etc. Counted 24 species in all. Probably missed some as well.Julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 01:56 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Yeah Jonny without realising it. We need stickers!!!!Julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 01:59 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Yes lots of Marsh Frogs, also a few hares and the odd plop that may have been a Water Vole, but probably frogs.
I was worried of running the wagtails over, there were lots around the reserve too, they must do well there.
Any tips for a winter visit?
__________________
You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
25-06-2006, 02:08 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
I'll ask our mate Malc. He knows it better than us. Think a thermos with a hot drink after the long walk to the hide. I'll let you know when we next go and i'll take some cakes!!! 
Just noticed where you came from....bit of a mission to get there i should think!
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 02:25 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
yeah its a fair drive!
__________________
You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
25-06-2006, 04:59 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Crawley,Sussex
Posts: 943
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman I'll ask our mate Malc. He knows it better than us. Think a thermos with a hot drink after the long walk to the hide. I'll let you know when we next go and i'll take some cakes!!!
Just noticed where you came from....bit of a mission to get there i should think! | Good report phoenix....sounds like a place i need to visit.
Now if i can time it when Julie is bringing cakes along........hhmmm.  |
25-06-2006, 05:28 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
You're more than welcome Mark- be glad to see you. A nice big slab of chocolate cake sir? Julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 05:31 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Crawley,Sussex
Posts: 943
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman You're more than welcome Mark- be glad to see you. A nice big slab of chocolate cake sir? Julie | Chocolate cake.......now you are talking |
25-06-2006, 05:35 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman You're more than welcome Mark- be glad to see you. A nice big slab of chocolate cake sir? Julie | Oooooooh, can I come to..............Jon |
25-06-2006, 05:38 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Of course. More the merrier. Julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 05:44 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Of course. More the merrier. Julie | Excellent, when we going then?.............Jon |
25-06-2006, 05:54 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
1st week in August. julie
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-06-2006, 05:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman 1st week in August. julie | Doh.........I am away bushcrafting in dartmoor on the 4th - 7th................Jon |
25-06-2006, 09:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,548
| | | Re: Isle of Sheppey visit
I tend to visit Sheppey from over the border from Essex in the winter months.
Interesting report pheonix .... I never appreciated that there was so much about in summer too.
45 breeding pairs of Marsh Harriers is excellent news. These birds really seem to be expanding their range and numbers now.
It seems there was a mini WAB meet today without the participants realising it until they got back home to post on WAB!
Richard | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | |
|  » WAB Development Posts | |
No Threads to Display.
| » New Wildlife Posts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | » New Environment Posts | | | | | | | |
