Twelve members of the Medway RSPB Group were signed up to the walk at Northward Hill today led by myself and David Saunders.
After a brief update as to where we might find the Nightingales, my group set off up the main path and almost immediately heard and saw Whitethroat. One member of the group thought he heard a Lesser Whitethroat, but we didn’t see it. A Nightingale was singing in the scrub further up the track and we headed that way seeing Whitethroat again along the way and also hearing Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Wren and Blackbird.
We stopped at the spot where the Nightingale was singing and despite our best efforts didn’t manage to see it. We headed up the track to the Sweeney Viewpoint and took a look out over the marsh.
There were lots of birds to be seen, Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese, Coot, Mallard, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Tufted Duck, Avocet, Little Grebe, Shelduck, Lapwing, Oyster Catcher, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Mute Swan, Magpie, Linnet, Wood Pigeon. A Cuckoo called and flew across the marsh. Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws were everywhere. A Gadwall swam into view along with a Great Crested Grebe.
As we started to move off the viewpoint, we saw and heard a Raven and one of the wardens came up and helped us to see a Marsh Harrier floating across in the distance, and told us of the hirundines that had gone through the night before. In fact we had commented on the lack of them this morning!
As we left the mound and headed toward the wood, another Marsh Harrier was seen along with more Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. After a brief stop for refreshments, where there were singing Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap, we set off up the hill and was serenaded by Nightingales, but still no sighting. A Green Woodpecker was heard, three Swifts flew over and we saw Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies, and a Hairy Dragonfly. At this point the other group caught up with us, but hadn’t seen anything different.
At the top of the hill we looked out over the marsh but only added Long Tailed Tit. We had already seen Blue and Great Tits on the way up along with a Blackbird. We made our way back down the hill and along to the Ernest Helmsley Viewpoint where again we heard Nightingale.
At the viewpoint, we added Shovelor, Moorhen, Med Gull and heard Skylark, Greenfinch and Pheasant along with a constant Cuckoo. After a spot of lunch, we headed back to the carpark only adding a possible Dunnock.
A lovely walk on a warm day.
Karen Snow
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.