STROOD SHANKS

Managed a short walk alongside the Strood Channel on Tuesday 3rd on a grey morning. The tide was right out and there was a good scattering of waders along the mudflats on both sides of the Channel.

The most interesting waders were at this spot in the picture above, where the water drains out of the seawall sluice and joins the main channel. Unusually there were three species of shank seen within a few metres of each other. A spotted redshank fed along the bottom of the channel, distinctive with its longer bill, paler eye-stripe and paler underparts than the common redshank that was also nearby. Preening on the mud close-by was a greenshank, almost white underneath, darker above and with its pale bill. It was good to have the three shanks together for comparison, especially during the winter period.

Also on the mud were 30 black-tailed godwits, 200 knot along with grey plover, oystercatcher, curlew and dunlin. There were also 100 wigeon and 50 teal with 10 shelduck seen. On the nearby wheat field 800 brent geese were busy turning the field from a green crop-colour to a muddy brown colour.

A marsh harrier was seen briefly near Ray Channel and 3 little egrets were seen on the Ray Saltings. Nearer the Dabchicks, there were 10 dabchicks and also a female eider.

Martin Cock today saw 2 snow buntings at the park and a red-throated diver at the east end of the Pyefleet as well as a summer plumage bar-tailed godwit.