Elmley 18.10.2010

Another visit to Elmley as the tides were about right, one kestrel was seen on the way in a few meadow pipits at distance The road has been repaired in places and is much improved although work is still needed. Arrived Wellmarsh Hide with great expectations , entered the hide and low and behold "nothing" a few coot and a few resting Teal was the sum total, although at great distance a common buzzard was sitting on a fence post Dozens of sheep were all around the fenced enclosure in front of the hide and walked past us in single file made me feel quite sleepy. The pic's below represent my total encounters with wildlife, the sheep pic is not quite like the Countryfile winning entry but there is always next year.

Elmley Wednesday 13.10.2010

Trip to Elmley was very unproductive and was made worse by the fact that my drive to Wellmarsh was hampered on the stretch from the farm, by reparations to the road metaling, piles of material was being dumped at intervals for spreading, I managed to pass a couple of piles and on the third managed to get my offside wheels over the edge of bank very frightening but I did resolve the situation and managed to turn round although this action was a bit heart stopping involving a 25 point turn. The saving grace was several groups of wild mushrooms pictured below the smaller group I had with bacon on my return home.

Trip to Oare 11.10.2010

Yesterday I took a drive down to Oare, it was a very blustery day with the wind coming out of the NE, as the tide rose and pushed off the local waders, who then took shelter on the scrape, the water level seems to appear very high, thus not allowing roosting in the water, so the islands were packed with waders, Godwits, quite a few Redshank and an amazing number of Ringed Plover who came in small numbers at a terific rate of knots and seemed to enjoy the strong wind. An Egret took off from across the scrape and flew towards me and passed overhead, I saw its feet were black and not yellow, I thought immediately Great Egret but then it dawned on me that it was a case of muddy feet. As you can see by my picture of the Swale and the rather grand yacht that sailed into the Swale the wind was very high and can only imagine that the Skipper and crew were glad to drop anchor in the lee of the island after an obvious encounter with larger and more uncomfortable seas further out.

Entering the Swale

Ringed Plover

A not so common example of a juvenile ringed Plover in foreground with two adults.

Little Grebe

Little Egret