BREEZY ALONG STROOD

The wind picked up during Monday 9th making it a breezy walk along the Strood seawall but at least the sun came out late in the afternoon.
The kingfisher was seen again flying low over the field near the dyke. A green sandpiper dropped into the recently cleaned out length of dyke. At least thirty linnets were flying around near the caravan site, otherwise very few small birds noted.

Five hundred golden plover roosted in several flocks along the mud in the Strood Channel, this group on the far side of the channel. Something spooked lots of birds close to the Strood causeway and amongst them were four greenshank which flew down channel calling loudly as they went.
Thirty knot were also noted along with the usual other waders.

Just up-channel from the Dabchicks Sailing Club were 22 dabchicks among the boat moorings, also two in the borrowdyke.

Earlier on Monday the black brant was seen feeding on Cobmarsh Island along with about fifty dark-bellied brent geese. The brant had been seen the day before by Neil Mortimer near the houseboats.
A fieldfare and 20 siskins were seen in Firs Chase during Monday.

Walking the north side of the Island on Monday was Andy Field who saw a male hen harrier flying over Maydays and then onto Langenhoe. A large flock of 400 avocets was seen in the Pyefleet and 700 brent geese on Reeveshall. The pale-bellied brent goose was at the country park with 244 dark bellied brent as were 65 greylag geese.
A kingfisher was seen on the Maydays seawall sluice and another bird was also seen at the park pond by Martin Cock in the morning too. Eighteen sanderling were on the park beach.

The Maydays seawall was visited by Martin, Steve and myself at slightly different timings on Sunday 8th. The male hen harrier was the most notable sighting, providing a couple of flight views over Reeveshall, being mobbed by two kestrels, it then flew onto Langenhoe. Three hours later it then passed close-by to Martin over Maydays fields.

Three short-eared owls were seen flying over Langenhoehall marshes in the middle of the day by Steve.
Two marsh harriers flew over Reeveshall and then later a male marsh harrier flew over Maydays towards the Strood.

On Reeveshall 500 brent geese were feeding on one of the grass fields.

Near the Maydays buildings 50 collared doves were in one field and at least 5 yellowhammers were seen along hedges.

There was just one brief glimpse of a common seal in the Pyefleet, this one seen near the entrance to the Maydays creek.

At the country park on Saturday 7th 100 black-tailed godwits roosted on the fields in the drizzle. Seven Canada geese were grazing with 50+ greylag geese in the fields.
At the park pond 2 tufted duck, 10 shoveler and 4 gadwall were present along with teal and mallard.

The water rail showed well on Sunday afternoon at the pond for Steve as did a Cetti's warbler.

Looked through 1000 starlings feeding in the field near Weir Farm on Saturday but no sign of the rose-coloured starling since last Monday 2nd. Also in the field were 25 skylarks and 50 curlew.