Here are the results of Murray Orchards' Wetland Bird Survey last Sunday at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve.
19 Greylag Goose, 7 Canada Goose, 45 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 13 Teal, 33 Mallard, 3 Pintail (pair and duck), 52 Shoveler, 51 Pochard, 99 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Moorhen, 70 Coot, 12 Oystercatcher, 216 Avocet, 8 Ringed Plover, 25 Grey Plover, 7 Lapwing (breeding birds on Coastguards/Black Barns Pools not counted), 1 Little Stint (roosting on SP islands with Dunlin), 35 Dunlin, 215 Black-tailed Godwit (most birds from Thames flock presumably roosting in Essex - 800 earlier feeding in Higham Bight), 392 Redshank (breeding birds on Coastguards/Bllack Barns Pools not counted), 1 Greenshank, 78 Mediterranean Gull, 4,330 Black-headed Gull (total count of adults on breeding islands - yet another increase in the colony), 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (singing males along Center Track and on Black Barns Pools), 1 Whitethroat (singing male along Centre Track).
4 Egyptian Goose (West Court Farm), 1 Swallow (sitting on wires by B2000), thank you to Murray for the information and Dean Evans for the images
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.