This week has seen an influx of migrants mainly as usual at Cliffe Pool, the most exciting I imagine is the Kentish Plover seen on Tuesday last by the ever observant Frank Cackett on Flamingo in amongst the Ringed Plovers, I do know several others have been since to try and locate it, with little success. It did occur to me that Kent (correct me if I'm wrong) is the only County to have a bird named after it or towns within it, let alone three! ie Kentish Plover, Sandwich Tern and of course the Dartford Warbler.
It did occur to me that Kent (correct me if I'm wrong) is the only County to have a bird named after it or towns within it, let alone three! ie Kentish Plover, Sandwich Tern and of course the Dartford Warbler.
The Kentish Plover is an interesting bird in that it has never been common in these Islands, indeed only about 3 dozen each year visit us, mainly in the South-east and the last recorded breeding was some 60 years ago. The European population is said to be 21,500 to 34,800, which is only 15% of the world wide total, but as with a lot of our species, declining.
As I drove onto Northward Hill, butterflies were still flying, Large Whites and the omnipresent Red Admirals.
In the skies slightly higher plenty of House Martins and Swallows swooped, well mainly the latter as Martins are usually higher up. In the car park at Bromhey Farm a Chiffchaff was chiff-chaffing and in the office the resident ringer Roger was 'processing' a female Blackcap .
This year there has been a lot of Martins over Bells Lane in nearby Hoo St Werburgh, I even saw a Hobby over the housing estate only last week after them, looking for all the world like a giant scimitar-winged Swift.
This week at Cliffe apart from the Kentish Plover, there have been large numbers Golden Plover, Knot, a couple of Sanderling, several Curlew Sandpipers, a dozen Bar-tailed Godwit, slightly more than that of Greenshank.
Common Sandpiper and a Barn Owl, always a pleasure to see.
Spoonbills were on the Black Barns pools on Tuesday, 7 at the last count last night. So plenty to see this weekend, a day or so ago an estimated 7,000 Black-tailed Godwit turned up.
Why not bring the kids over to one of the reserves and see how many migrants you can see, and the weather is looking pretty good as well.
I love this shot of the week from Rob Budgen!
If you go to Northward Hill as well there is a fair chance you will see one of the several Marsh Harriers that call the reserve home.
This stunning male was taken by Elizabeth Mann of Medway Local Group.
If you see anything unusual or get any good pictures of anything on either reserve, send them to us at northkentmarshes@rspb.org.uk and we can put them on the blog with full photo accreditation.
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.