Eastern Sheppey

Reacquainted ourselves today (after picking up Bob Knight), with the Shellness and Capel Fleet area, arriving shortly before midday. It had been quite a while since we visited this area due to the usual time pressures, but what a great time we had, even though much of what we saw was fairly distant (particularly from a photographic perspective).

At Shellness, we enjoyed a flock of Common Scoter (40+), Great Crested Grebe (2), a hunting ring-tail Hen Harrier, several Marsh Harriers, Brent Geese (c10), Green Woodpecker (2), Short-eared Owl (1), Sanderlings, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Turnstones, a flock of Chaffinch (100+) concealing among them a single Brambling, though it was quite possible that we missed others as the flock was flighty and often out of sight!

Following a spot of light lunch at Leysdown we ventured on to Capel Fleet where we added Corn Bunting (40+), Common Buzzard (1), Green Sandpiper (1), Little Egret (1), Linnet (15+), Merlin (1) and further Marsh Harriers and another Short-eared Owl.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl
Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier

Brambling (with Chaffinch)

Oystercatcher