Oare Marshes: Little Stint

 It's a much later start today, and a relatively short trip. We meet Brian at the normal spot and set off for Kent and Oare Marshes.

Golden Plover

We reach the marshes at around 10am and start to scan the islands and surrounding area hoping for something to drop in.

Hundreds of Godwits are packed in the middle of the water, standing motionless waiting for the tide to turn so they can return to their feeding areas.

There's large numbers of Golden Plovers present, well into treble figures.

Ringed Plovers and Dunlin are either sleeping or feeding close in, with fifty plus of both species present.

A Little Stint is found tucked down behind a mound of mud.

A Lapwing lands close by and we get great views of the stint as it stands on top of the mound.

Little Stint

Scanning the flocks of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, two Curlew Sandpipers are found. 

A Water Rail makes a brief appearance as it feeds along the edge of the water, but moves out of sight as quickly as it appears.

A few Ruff are seen on various islands and feeding on the water. Next to be seen is a Kingfisher as it flies low and fast across the waters surface.

There's a Hobby seen high in the sky above the pylons.

The plovers take to the sky and when they settle back down again we find four Little Stints in among them. A mixture of adult and juvenile birds.

A nice few hours spent just waiting and watching for anything that might drop in.