On Sunday last Murray Orchard did a survey and this is what he recorded:-
11 Shelduck, 100 Teal, 28 Mallard, 5 Pintail, 59 Shoveler, 26 Pochard, 86 Tufted Duck, 5 Goldeneye (4 including a drake on Radar Pool, ducks were on Hidden Pool), 153 Little Grebe, 39 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe (together, on Crystal Pools), 8 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (2 year male, no sign of any roosting), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 149 Coot, 111 Avocet (108 on Flamingo Pool), 53 Ringed Plover (46 on Flamingo Pool), 383, Golden Plover (with Lapwing on Radar Pool), 283, Grey Plover (221 on Ski Pool, 62 on Flamingo Pool), 1761 Lapwing, 4 Knot (with Grey Plover on Ski Pool), 1 Little Stint (west end of Flamingo Pool ), 5320 Dunlin (3,900 on Flamingo Pool, 1,250 on Ski Pool, 170 Radar Pool), 5 Snipe, 1,256 Black-tailed Godwit (1,250 on Flamingo Pool), 6 Bar-tailed Godwit (5 with Grey Plover on Ski Pool), 194 Curlew (Flamingo Pool), 1 Spotted Redshank on Radar Pool, 95 Redshank, 2 Greenshank (Radar and Hidden Pool), 15 Great Black-backed Gull (Flamingo Pool), 1 Barn Owl (hunting over Black Barns Pools from 15.50), 1 Kingfisher (Crystal Pools), 1 Water Pipit (Black Barns 3, late afrternoon), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 50 Linnet (Black Barns), 60 Corn Bunting (total of birds flying into bushes near 1st viewpoint from 15.20 before roosting in long grass).
Thanks to Murray Orchard for the sightings.
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.