Oare Marshes 15th September

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 A very warm day, sunny with little wind.  I started by walking west along the seawall towards Dan's Dock. Of note the fleet running inland held a Green Sandpiper and a couple of Snipe. Walking further along I found three Whinchats and a male Stonechat, though not close enough for good pictures.  A Hobby also flew over the marsh.

As usual Dan's Dock held numerous Marsh Frogs, some of these quite large, though no Grass Snakes to be seen.  However, beyond the Dock I saw a fair number of Common Lizards along the seawall which promptly disappeared into long grass alongside the path. Mostly juveniles it seemed suggesting a good breeding season for the lizards.

Back at the east flood by midday, coinciding with high tide, already 1000-1500 Black-tailed Godwits were present plus other waders in good numbers. To start with there were no Golden Plovers though over the next hour they started to arrive and eventually included their stroppy American cousin, though unfortunately all rather distant.  Other waders included 117 Ringed Plovers, several Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff, numerous Dunlin and Redshank, plus a Little Stint.

A Sparrowhawk made a pass over the flood on two occasions disturbing the smaller waders in the process.

Whinchat

Marsh frog

Ruff


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