A Wander on the Wildside: Oare Marshes Nature Reserve w Calum Mckellar & James McCulloch; 24th July 2019

Oare Marshes is a slightly unusual nature reserve. It often has a winter lull, with very few birders visiting during this time. However, unlike many other reserves, it comes alive from the spring to autumn, with the summer often the best time to visit, even if it was going to be 34C...

I was excited to plan a trip with Calum and James McCulloch, two of my good, young-birding friends I've made via social media in recent years.

On the 23rd, I made a quick but quiet visit to see the new public hides at Beddington Farmlands the day before - which were slightly disappointing but I'm happy to have some sort of access at all - in the heat, where highlights consisted of a Lesser Whitethroat, Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Egret and a m Peregrine. But with a trip to Oare Marshes the next day, I got a little rest before getting the train with James to be picked up by Calum at Dartford station. Traffic was a slight problem, meaning we didn't get to Oare until 11am, when it was already steaming. Thankfully Calum's quality scope prevented heat haze being as much of a problem compared to the rest of our kit...

We had quite a few targets for the trip, with the two rarities present being Lesser Yellowlegs and the summer-resident Bonaparte's Gulls. Our day started on the river, after hearing of an unbelievable roosting flock of 100+ Greenshank. There were a few on the river, but all else was surprisingly quiet. A short stop at the hide was uneventful, so we carried onwards back towards the flood, where Med Gulls were being regularly seen, many of which were juveniles. I always enjoy hearing their mewing call, and is something that I'll always be ready for one day over home...

adult Med Gull

juvenile Med Gull

2ad 1juv Med Gulls in the tern flock

As we approached the East corner of the East Flood, Calum started to set up his scope, soon finding me my first British Curlew Sandpipers, and cracking adult summer birds at that. Then within a few seconds James found the Lesser Yellowlegs hiding behind the scrub, a lifer for him and my second inside 30 seconds. Dream start, with the 'Lesserlegs' a much wanted bird for me. We continued to scan through the waders from this point, with Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, another Curlew Sand and more noted. I was pleased to find my first Spotted Redshanks, an overdue lifer, with a bird hiding amongst the swans, making it my 3rd new bird within 10 minutes.

Spot the Spotshank

2 Curlew Sandpipers

Didn't focus on the Curlew Sand which soon flew off

Spotshank and swans

After scanning through the waders for a little longer, we were treated to some pretty gripping views of the Lesser Yellowlegs, which was an unexpected bonus. Not views like you could get at places such as Lodmoor or Radipole but we (mostly me) were delighted with them, as we watched it for a good 20 minutes. And to add to the thrill of Oare, we had Redshank whizzing metres away from us onto the marshes, a spectacle you don't experience at many places you visit...

Lesser Yellowlegs

Common Sandpiper and Pied Wag

Redshank coming in metres away.

With news that the summering (6th summer at Oare for this bird?) Bonaparte's Gull was on the causeway, we headed back round the way we'd come. Eventually James spotted it a few seconds before I did, with the bird showing relatively well in the end. Already I'd managed 4 lifers and the gull with the Bonaparte's another pleasing addition to the list. While Bearded Tits pinged in the reedbeds behind us.

Bonaparte's Gull

We stopped at the sea wall for lunch, with a large group of terns, various raptors and waders all helping to provide regular birding entertainment. Following on from this, we decided to head back to the road to see the waders as it was nearly high tide. Excitement arose when an unidentified bird flew in and hid behind some Dunlin, with the tricky plumage and time for waders making us eagerly wait for the bird to emerge. After a little while of watching it, it was confirmed to be a Sanderling moving into winter plumage, which helpfully sat next to a Little Stint! When joined by another Curlew Sand and the Dunlin, it was educational and pretty awesome watching. Other waders included a further few Spotted Redshank, Golden Plover and another Ruff. As it reached the hottest part of the day, we decided to head around to the hide to try and find a certain Dragonfly species, a slightly rare Odonata, the Southern Migrant Hawker. We successfully found at least 5 near the hide, meaning we had seen all our target species for the day except Turtle Dove. We failed with these, but did see some Clouded Yellow butterflies from the hide, a new species of Lepidoptera for me.

Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly

Southern Migrant Hawker

In a last hope of finding something for ourselves we headed back around to the river, where a juvenile Yellow Wagtail flew in calling, along with 2 Rock Pipits, while a number of Curlew fed on the mud. A few Marsh Harrier were also around, showing fairly well, while more Med Gulls mewed persistently around us. James also melted under the only tree on the path...

f Marsh Harrier

juv(?) Yellow Wagtail

Curlew flock

Avocet pursuing a Grey Heron

Obligatory Lapwing picture

Lapwing

f Rudy Darter

Once we'd headed back around to the road, where we watched the waders for a little bit longer, we were soon picked up by Calum's mum, bringing to a close another top day's birding at Oare Marshes, which produced 4 bird lifers, with the Lesser Yellowlegs a personal highlight. It's quickly becoming my favourite nature reserve to visit in England...

I'll finish with some pictures of waders at Oare Marshes, and the scenes as they flew in at high tide.