A Mid-summer Visit to Oare Marshes

19th July 2015

Back from holiday so where to go in this lull before the storm time of year.Well it is now two years since I went to Oare Marshes to photograph the Bonaparte's Gull on the 27th June 2013, so time for another visit to see it in full adult plumage.

When we arrived the tide was out so the gull was nowhere to be seen, presumably feeding out on the acres of mud on the Swale. There were however hundreds of waders present on the scrape including about 300 Black-tailed Godwits still in breeding plumage as well as 100+ Redshank, with a supporting cast of Ruff, Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Avocet and a few Dunlin.

We set off on a circuit of the sea wall to see if the Bony's was on show and came across a male Linnet perched on a Wild Rose. There were also plenty of Bearded Tits flying around and I suspect that they have had a very good year as they are numerous just about everywhere with a modest size reed bed.

Out on the point a scan of the mud revealed just a couple of Redshank, a single Curlew and this lone Whimbrel which unfortunately kept its distance.

Back at the scrape the Bonaparte's Gull had flown in on schedule and was busy preening out on a spit. Eventually it did puts its head up allowing a few shots. Despite it being with a couple of hundred Black-headed Gulls it was easy to pick out due to its small size, being only a couple of centimetres larger than a Little Gull.

 Well, that was successful and still time left for a quick visit to Elmley.