On the margins of Land and Sea

It was a wonderful weekend just gone, one spent on sparse, sloshing fields stripped of seed, flower or scent, but still full of promise as the seasons reach their ebb.

On Saturday, with a bright winter sky rising, I set off early for East Sheppey, one of my favourite destinations at this time of year. I pondered my plan for the day en route before settling on the usual walk. I crawled along the Harty Ferry Road where the fields were subdued under a heavy frost and little stirred besides a breakfasting kestrel. Past Capel Fleet, house sparrows picked at gutter grit and disappeared into the hedgerows as I passed. Abandoning machine for mind, I soon set out down the track towards Sayes Court looking forward to the day ahead. The copses and hedgerows sparked into life with winter thrushes, woodpecker and finch. Down towards the marsh a hundred and more linnet clung to weedy stems of maize while the first of a dozen stonechats performed nimble aerial feats in a survey of their surroundings.

On the old, grassy seawall I stood somewhere on the margin of land and sea, but safely separated from the realm of water on either side. Small flocks of brent geese flew in off the Swale to join an impressive thousand-strong flock snaking across a distant field like an exposed coal seam. In the small hide I was joined by another birder and between us we traded a Hooded Crow on the marsh for a ring-tail Hen Harrier patrolling a strip of setaside. I quietly admired the handful of White-fronted geese, their tiger-striped flanks, which kept company with the greylags.

Swale NNR, Sheppey; looking west to Shellness

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)

Redshank (Tringa totanus), Shellness point

The tide was up at Shellness point where a large mixed flock of waders were packed into the roost, all legs and huddled grey bodies.

At Muswell Manor I walked the track back to Harty as shadows grew ever longer; although not much past lunchtime, the sun's plight was already perceptible. On a fence post a Peregrine flexed its wing before taking off on a lazy swoop at some woodpigeons. Watching its flight I caught sight of another and between the two of them a perfect chaos ensured in the blue skies. Back at the top, sparrows still squabbled in the dirt as I made my way to Capel Fleet. In keeping with the day, the mound was almost deserted. A ringtail Hen Harrier soon appeared quartering a ditch at some distance, before a male ghosted across its path. Ghosted is the word. For in the impeccable winter's light softly falling behind me, teasing each detail, he glowed - all save those inky black wingtips.

Dusk bought the cold back and fingerless glove regret but it was tempered by a fiery evening sky. A woodcock fluttered over and starlings whistled restlessly in the reeds before, in the dim light, two short-eared owls could be seen making silent swoops over the grassland. I squinted after them until even that became too much, the fields merging into one against a blazing sunset.

Hen Harrier by ATM, Shellness

Sunset over Capel Fleet

(Title by JS - thanks, I always liked it)

Ruff crossing

Colour-ringed Ruff at Elmley Marshes, Kent, 27/1/13

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the highlights of a trip to Elmley Marshes recently were the great views of a flock of Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) feeding along the entrance track. Scanning through the birds, I spotted two colour-ringed individuals - the photo above is a record shot of the one nearest me. It's not a great shot but you can make out some detail of the rings, in this case: yellow-top/white?-below (left tarsus) and blue-top/white-below (right tarsus). I'd heard about wader ringing programmes in northern Europe before and a quick check online, via the excellent www.cr-birding.org, pointed me in the direction of Jos Hooijmeijer at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. I sent him this photo and he was good enough to fire an email straight back.

Jos instantly recognised this bird as being from an affiliated ringing programme and this is the information he sent. This is a 3cy male Ruff, first caught and ringed on the 3rd April 2012 in Gaastmeer, Fiskersbuorren (Netherlands) in the vicinity of Lake IJsselmeer. It subsequently moved south west to Gent in Belgium to what looks like an area of well-drained arable land, where it was first spotted in December 2012 before travelling due west across the channel to Sheppey:

 30-12-2012 Gent, Bourgoyen
Belgium 51.03.50 N 03.40.30 E
3-1-2013 Gent, Bourgoyen
Belgium 51.03.50 N 03.40.30 E
5-1-2013 Gent, Bourgoyen
Belgium 51.03.50 N 03.40.30 E
27-1-2013 Isle of Sheppey, Elmley
Marshes United Kingdom 51.22.31 N 00.47.15 E

The arrival on Sheppey seems to correspond with freezing conditions across north eastern Europe and south eastern England has thawed nicely since then so Sheppey would seem a good destination.

Anyway, always interesting to find out where birds have been - looks like another cold snap this week, so keep an eye out for more continental arrivals.

Cranes on Sheppey (and much more)

Some birds instantly catch the imagination so when I heard in the week that seven Cranes had been spotted on Sheppey, I longed for them to hang on for a few days. The encouraging news on Saturday was tempered by squalling conditions on Sunday morning as I picked up Martin and we thudded down the A2 in the rain. Pulling onto Harty Ferry Road with rain still lashing the car and bleak skies overhead, it felt like it was going to be a long day. It didn't stop us enjoying the sight of four Bewick's Swans in among a roadside flock of Mutes but it was ominous...

Four Bewick's Swans (on the right) Harty, 27/1/13

Fortunately though, as we arrived at the Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint, the clouds disappeared and opened up a warm blue sky from which the birds followed. As we stood in the car park, a tangle of boot laces and waterproofs, a Green Sandpiper shot overhead and quickly down into the ditch, looking every bit like the oversized House Martin it resembles. On the View Point we flushed a lone birder who was huddled out of the wind but it wasn't long before all eyes were scanning the surrounding fields. Happily, after only a moment, we were able to pick out the Cranes in a distant field to the west. Although a way off, all seven birds were out in the open showing well in the sunshine, making occasional short hops over the fence to the maize field behind. These flights showed their incredible wingspan from which their long legs dangled beneath. It was really great to watch. In fact, perhaps it completed a rarer picture as between us them, other birds flocked to a muddy arable field pooled with water. Lapwing, Starling, gulls in their hundreds and even Dunlin, all foraged and whistled, filling the sky around the cranes with flickering shapes. A Buzzard appeared, loafing along to settle on a fence post next to them while Marsh Harriers drifted by wherever you looked. The shallow, sweeping valley, pocked with maize and fallow fields, criss-crossed by ditches, created a window back to a time when cranes were not the rare or incredibly localised species they are now. However long they stay, it felt like a natural fit - something momentarily put right. As to where these came from, Norfolk seems most likely, perhaps they moved south along the coast to find better conditions away from the snow and ice - what do you think?

A short while later we carried on up the hill and joined the track down towards Muswell Manor. Glancing back at the fields from the ridge we were treated to the sight of all seven cranes in the air, circling high over the area for several minutes before settling again. A magnificent moment, photos don't do it justice:

Common Cranes (Grus grus) (middle of photo) Isle of Sheppey, 27/1/13 (digiscoped)

Seven cranes in flight (blurry specs in middle of frame) from Harty hill, 27/1/13

Bar an ill-advised detour across a waterlogged field, it was a nice walk down to the Manor in bright and breezy conditions. Dunlin skimmed the fields, skylarks chirruped above and a Peregrine cruised by in pursuit of something. A couple of Brown hares spooked at our presence and splashed off across the fields. The sea off Leysdown was quiet but the high tide pushed a stream of Sanderling along the coast towards Shellness and further out a small flock of Wigeon passed by. Heading back along the track, a flock of Golden Plover arced overhead as dozens of curlews probed the sodden fields around us.

Once back at the car we took a slow drive back down the road, passing the now-busy viewpoint. Several Corn Bunting chattered from a patch of brambles and weary partridges scooted among the tussocks. A flock of thirty or so Lesser Redpoll gathered in a tree near the main road was a nice spot and we watched as several flew down to drink from roadside puddles.

Gorgeous colours: willow growth in hedgerow, Harty

We headed back via Elmley Marshes on the off chance of spotting a Short-eared Owl. No score on that front, the species has been much harder to pin down in North Kent this winter, but a short way along the entrance track we did come across two Ruff showing superbly at close quarters on the marsh. In their tortoiseshell finery, the birds dazzled in the soft dusky light. It's been a while since I had views this good and again I noted their odd proportions, the distinctly colourful legs, 'long' body and small head. Lovely stuff, a Ruff.

Carrying on down the track we passed a row of cars piled up by the side and another flock of Ruff turning heads. In amongst these eighteen or so birds were two colour ringed individuals. Down at the farm we stopped for a look off, as everyone does, behind the toilet block. A quick scan found a Peregrine sitting out in the middle of the marsh and some very distant grey geese. A single male Pintail snoozed on the pools with Teal and others for company and a Water Rail dashing for shelter amidst the reeds on the near shore was a great spot by Martin. A moment later it emerged, giving excellent views in the open as it busied itself in the leaf litter. Finally, a single Goldcrest moused its way through the brambles behind the block - not the bird most likely to be found in the middle of a marsh. And that was that, a memorable day on Sheppey capped a fantastic weekend, made all the sweeter by hearing the football scores on the way home.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Insert your own pun here_: Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Elmley Marshes,  27/1/13

Sheppey bridge: Possibly my favourite bridge in southern England

A winter sunset looking west from Elmley

Sheppey: SEO and LEO in a day

Noting a slight shift in the winds at the tail end of last week, back to Northerlies, I thought it might be time for another trip over to the Isle of Sheppey on Saturday. I hadn't been since spring so I was looking forward to it. I hatched a plan on the way over to start at the top and work my way down the eastern coast towards Shellness. Arriving at Warden Bay just after 9am, I was soon making my way up through the scrub at the top of the heavily eroded cliffs. Less than a minute from the car park I picked up the first of many Goldcrests in the dense Blackthorn - no doubt a fresh arrival from the continent, they've been very noticeable even in London this past week. Having heard that a Yellow-browed Warbler had been found here the weekend before I kept going up past the caravan park towards the point. Here Chiffchaffs occupied just about every available bush or tree, their incessant calls ringing out wherever I went. At the point I met another birder who turns out was the one who found the YB the previous weekend and he pointed out where (Good to meet you Gavin). There was a lot of activity in the scrub slumped down the cliff face but mostly Chiffs and assorted tits. We walked around the area for a bit, hoping that something nice might have come in but 3 swallows going north and a couple of Jays were about it. The latter is apparently a rare bird for Sheppey so these were no doubt a result of the staggering irruption for this species along the east coast currently.

For the next stop I had planned to park at Muswell Manor and take in the fields down to the hamlet. Last year the grazed fields regularly held Hen Harriers and quite a few waders so I was surprised (and a little disappointed) to find that since my last visit, the whole area has been ploughed up and converted to arable. A vast tract of land next to the Swale NNR now seems to be growing what looks like corn but might apparently be a biofuel crop. Interesting. As a result with nothing to see, we went to straight to Shellness to see what was about. Joining a few of the regular watchers there it wasn't long before a juvenile Gannet was picked up moving East. The mussel beds were teeming with Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew, among them a few Black-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover. It was nice to see a few small flocks of Brent Geese arriving back in their wintering quarters. After a while, all the oystercatchers went up and scanning to see what might have caused it I was absolutely chuffed to find a Short-eared Owl coming in off the sea right in front of us! The views couldn't have been better as it came in over our heads, perfectly clear in warm light against the blue sky. The bird then dipped out of view into the marsh behind the hamlet. An awesome sight.

Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) take flight as the tide rises, Shellness. 

The hamlet of Shellness from the old sea wall, Swale NNR.

At this point the wind had virtually ceased and after a little bit more watching I decided to take a walk around the area. A Wheatear popped up on the sea wall, a Kestrel hovered over the marsh and hordes of meadow pipits darted about on the beach. Watching a distant Buzzard being mobbed by crows I headed round to Capel Fleet to see what was about. It was only mid-afternoon but there were still a few Marsh Harriers on view, coming and going over the reedbeds. A Kingfisher gave good views as it perched on a broken stem over the fleet and a hundred or so Lapwing shifted in the field behind. At one point the birds were spooked into flight and I was able to find the reason - a Merlin drifting above them. Elsewhere, a sudden surge of swallows moved across the fields as I sat enjoying the surroundings and the warm autumn sun on my back.

Before heading off to watch the football I popped into Kingshill Farm on Elmley Marshes for a bit where a Long-eared Owl had been present for a while, showing well at roost in its usual patch of orchard. And so it was - brilliant views of a bird I've only ever seen at dusk before. Beautiful - not a bad way to finish an excellent day out.

There's a Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in there somewhere. Kingshill Farm, Elmley 6/10/12