STROOD AT LOW TIDE

A variety of  waders was along the Strood Channel at low tide on Monday 13th with these golden plover pictured above on the opposite side of the channel, some of 100+ seen. Other waders seen were 30 grey plover, 200 redshank, 2 whimbrel, 10 black-tailed godwits and ten dunlin.

Three greenshank were also along the channel before flying off as the tide came in.
Twenty little egrets were noted on and around the Ray saltings, two Mediterranean gulls, also a little grebe in the channel. A marsh harrier flew over Ray Island, common buzzard over the Strood fields, also kestrel and 200 house sparrows beside the fields.
Over Firs Chase on Monday a hobby flew over the houses, the juvenile sparrowhawk was calling, a swift passed over as did 3 house martins.

Three wheatears were seen near the Reeveshall seawall on Sunday 12th, this one hopping along the seawall path ahead of me. A juvenile cuckoo was being mobbed by some swallows as it flew into some trees at Maydays. Hawking low over the Reeveshall fields were a swift, 10 sand martins and 200 swallows while at least five house martins were by Maydays farm. A male marsh harrier hunted low over the Broad Fleet and a pair of yellowhammers were on bushes by Maydays.

A common sandpiper and green sandpiper were seen near the Maydays saltmarsh, while along the Pyefleet were 8 avocet, 20 grey plover, 10 dunlin, 10 black-tailed godwits and 4 Med gulls. Two common seals were resting on the saltmarsh.