Today I had the privilege once again of taking the U3A group from Knole near Sevenoaks on their annual walk at Northward Hill RSPB. We met in the Bromhey Farm car park at 10 am. It was a pleasure to see such a pleasant group once again.
I gave them a small talk about the Nightingales plight and in particular the very real threat of further habitat loss on the peninsula and the even greater danger they faced with the Medway Councils plans yet again to build thousands of houses on the most important south-east site at Lodge Hill, a disused army camp at nearby Chattenden.
From the car park we strolled up to the Ernest Hemsley viewpoint with its stunning vista across to the River Thames and beyond into Essex. Here we saw Canada and Grey lag Geese and a fantastic show of a male and female Marsh Harrier quartering the distant reed beds, eventually, the male coming within a 100 yards or so, close enough to see the green elbow tag on its right side. As to be expected several Heron and Little Egret were out on the marsh fishing.
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So back down the slope and trying to find the cuckoo calling from a Silver birch with a bit too much foliage on to see the bird, so through the Alder Wood enjoying the sound of Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, Great and Blue tits. Slowly making our way up to Sweeney Viewpoint over-looking Gordons Hide and out across the flooded scrape and down to the hide, from there we saw some lovely Gadwall, Shelduck, Shoveller, Mallard, Redshank, Oystercatcher Avocet and Lapwing and a yaffling Green Woodpecker in the background. There was also the occasional Swift and Swallow hawking through. Continuing on to Lipwell we heard Cetti’s Warblers
A few butterflies were around notably Peacock and both common Whites and Holly blues.
So here are the great group that was my pleasure to guide round the reserve.
So many thanks to the group and to the following for the images Eliza Saunders, Dean Evans and Mick Lovett
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.