Oare Marshes (29 July 2026)

An area of grazing marsh, dykes, wader scrapes, reed bed and saltmarsh on the North Kent side of the Thames Estuary, was the destination for our car share group of eleven, on what was forecast to be a baking hot day. Our early start was rewarded with distant views of Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egret, Sparrowhawk and Mediterranean Gull. We then walked up to the slipway where we saw many juvenile Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipit and Linnets and on the shoreline Whimbrel, Curlew and Oystercatcher. Further along the dyke in the bushes and reedbed, good views were had of Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Goldfinch. 

We had been alerted to the presence of a White-rumped Sandpiper- a small vagrant North American wader among the Redshank on the grazing marsh where there was a thin ribbon of water where the waders had gathered. As well as Redshank there was a constant influx of Black-tailed Godwit, the incoming tide driving them off the estuary, but in among the Lapwing which were dotted about the tiny and elusive White-rumped Sandpiper scuttled in and out of the grass- for many in the group a ” lifer.”

The day was warming up as we made our way around the reserve to the hide overlooking a small remnant of water along the edge of the reedbed. Here we had better views of the waders including Ruff, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover plus Water Rail, Bearded Reedling, Mediterranean Gull, Cattle Egret, and several Clouded Yellow butterflies fluttering across the bushes, unfortunately by this time the White-rumped Sandpiper had moved into the grass and out of view. As we walked back to the lane after lunch some of the group saw Sedge and Reed Warblers, Whitethroat and Linnets moved around in the bushes, however despite much searching and scanning the Bonapartes Gull, seen so well on previous occasions and still in the area, remained elusive.

The temperature and heat haze combined to make birding very difficult post lunch so an executive decision was taken to adjourn to the shelter of the pub and as we sat in the beer garden under the hanging baskets of the pergola, we enjoyed the sight of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth also enjoying a refreshing drink. A delightful end to a brilliant day.

Many thanks to Rebecca for organising the day and to our wonderful and generous drivers.

by Roy Pattison

Species List (in field guide order)

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Pheasant, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Whimbrel, White-rumped Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.  Total :  51