SUUNY ALONG STROOD

The tide was already covering the Strood channel on Monday 22nd during a walk along the seawall on a sunny morning but with a chill in the northerly breeze. Only a few redshank, as pictured above and a few black-tailed godwits were still feeding in the shallows. 
Several mixed wader flocks were roosting along the edge of the Ray saltings - as was a yellow-legged gull, Mediterranean gull, 50 brent geese and ten little egrets.

A marsh harrier flew low over the Ray saltings, a common buzzard was being mobbed over the Ray trees, two common buzzards were at the back of the Strood fields and a kestrel and sparrowhawk were seen by the caravan site. 

Eight lesser redpolls flew along the seawall and joined some linnets to feed near the dyke. A single redpoll also flew west near the caravan site and another bird flew west over the Firs Chase garden.

Also in the Strood fields were 30 skylarks, 5 meadow pipits, 5 reed buntings and 100+ linnets.

Three little egrets were seen on Sunday 21st along the Pyefleet channel feeding in the shallow water as the tide receded. A total of fifteen little egrets were seen along the channel and on the Maydays saltmarsh. The only flocks of waders seen were mainly a mix of grey plover and dunlin.

A kingfisher showed off its bright blue colours in the sunshine as it flew from one side of the Maydays seawall sluice round to the other side where it perched for about an hour. Six stonechats were perched on top of tall plants and bushes, 30 linnets, 20 skylarks and 10 meadow pipits were seen over the fields.
A marsh harrier circled high over the Maydays saltings, another one seen on Langenhoe where a barn owl was seen perched in a window on an old barn on the Ranges. Five kestrels made the most of the fine weather and were all hovering at the same time over the Ranges, another two on Reeveshall.
A common seal was resting on the edge of the saltmarsh in the Pyefleet.

Two red admirals chose the car bonnet in the driveway of the Firs Chase garden to lock bodies, another two also on the wing in the garden on Sunday 21st. A hummingbird hawkmoth flew over the garden on the sunny afternoon. A chiffchaff and two goldcrests passed through the garden in the company of a large mixed tit flock.
A red squirrel passed quickly through the trees in the Firs Chase garden on its way to the neighbours late on Sunday 21st.