Evening walk at Northward Hill last night.

Last night I had the privilege to lead an evening walk at Northward Hill RSPB Reserve. It is always a pleasure to show members and other round this excellent site. Famous for Nightingales and Cuckoos, it was of course too late for both, however there was still plenty to see, even as the temperature dipped along with the light.

It was fantastic to be in the company of Medway Local Groups new leader Wendy Birtall and the RSPB’s Hugo Blomfield.

For me it was a good opportunity to explain to those present the issues of Lodge Hill and the SSSI/nightingale complexities and Medway Councils plan to build 5,000 houses etc and I made no apologies for banging that particular drum.

So we set off to the Ernest Hemsley viewpoint and a chance to imbibe the breath-taking vistas across the North Kent Marsh with all the varied bird/wildlife out there.

Then back through the alders and up to the recently named Sweeney Viewpoint, looking due north to Essex and beyond. On the scrapes were Mallard, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit.

Then down to the dip and across the newly reinforced bridge, at the bottom of Northward Hill Heron trail we turned left across the field and toward the marsh proper and clocking up more bird species.

It was also a great chance to talk about the history of the area, including the old Radio Comms. building and the old smugglers pub, used by the infamous North Kent Gang.

One can only imagine the desparate and bloody battles that would take place betwixt the law-breakers and the Governments' (customs) men.

A glimpe of which could be seen from the re-enactors at the Slough Fort (Allhallows) open day, a week or two back at Allhallow  Caravan Park.

By now darkness was descending and we made our way back to the car-park, but not before seeing  Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Marsh Harrier. We could not miss the couple/three thousand corvids accumulated on the grassland ready for the roosting scramble amongst the high oaks etc of the heronry area in the sanctuary.

18 Homo sapiens attended to see the following species:- Greenfinch,Collared Dove, Rook, Wood pigeon, House martin. Chiffchaff, Great spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Swallow, Greylag Goose, Heron, Cormorant, Avocet, Mallard, Moorhen, Pheasant, Little egret, Pied Wagtail, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Cetti's warbler, Blackbird, Robin, Pochard, Little grebe, Coot and Little owl.

28 species all told.

Seen over the last couple of days at Cliffe Pools by Ray O'Reilly were, 8 Great crested Grebes, a Little Owl, 2 Kingfishers, 130 Sand Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cettis' warblers and two Willow warblers.

At Higham Bight:-

225, Avocet (Essex side), 2 Whimbrel, 61 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper (Alpha Pool), Yellow-legged Gulls (adults crab eating), 35 Common Tern, 8 Yellow Wagtail.

Photo credits Dean Evans and David Saunders.