A day in Kent

Great white egret

We headed over to robs really early in the morning by train and as we were arriving Eastbourne we saw a Stone curlew just on the edge of the water which was our first for Sussex, we arrived at Ashford international round about 20 minutes past 8 and headed to Elmley marshes for the Long eared owl that get seen roosting there sometimes, but all we noted down were a few Green sandpipers, Kestrel, Marsh harrier, two Avocets, a few Garden warblers in the scrub and some Swift and swallows flying around.

From here we headed over to Oare Marshes in hope of some Turtle doves and maybe an early Curlew Sandpiper, but we weren't that lucky but we did see some more Avocets, a few Black tailed godwits some Dunlin and a nice Marsh harrier hunting in the fields, we then headed up to this wall were we were told there are some Golden plover, so we headed up there to take a look and there they were 42 Golden plover some in full summer plumage and a couple of Whimbrel as well.

Pectoral sandpiper

From here finished are day of at Dungeness hoping to catch up with Pectoral sandpiper that was found on the ARC pit plus the long staying Great white egret, so are first port of call was the Pectoral sandpiper and with abit of luck it was still there showing well with a nice summer plumage Dunlin, also there was a common sandpiper as well, so after that lucky moment we headed to Denge marsh hide to try for the Great white egret, on the way we noted a couple of Whitethroats flickering around, when we arrived dad went left to this creek and me and Rob went into the hide and after seeing some Common terns and 1 Bearded tit quickly fly out then back in dad phoned us to say He has the egret sitting out in the open so we rushed over there, and there it was a Great white egret just sitting before it went of to feed and then out of view from here we headed home.

Rob

Fox cub