Off patch this morning for trip up to Elmley to see if I couldn't spot a Spotted Redshank or two. The track down to the farm was slow progress as I checked fence post after fence post - at Elmley they usually turn up something good. This time I was rewarded with numerous Yellow Wagtails, luminescent in their summer plummage. A number of Hares also lolloped around. The first thing that greeted as I got of the car was clouds of Meadow Browns covering the bramble flowers near Kingshill Farm - I counted 22 on one Bramble flower cluster. 
Eventually I reached the hides where a quick scan revealed 14+ Spotted Redshanks from the Southfleet Hide, although as the photo shows they were fairly distant, with a number obscured by vegetation (can you see them? In a line above the Godwits with a few straglers off the end of the island). Good numbers of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit were also in evidence, with singles of Ringed Plover and Turnstone.
I saw a distant Hobby, and three Marsh Harriers, with one being attacked by a pair of protective Avocets. The walk back provided another fence post opportunity, a showy Sedge Warbler singing his heart out. A couple of worn Red Admirals had ventured out in the sunny conditions but were buffeted around in the wind.
At the farm a number of Swallows sat on one of the trees in the garden, no doubt eyeing up the Meadow Browns (dragonflies were consuming them by the hides!). Luckily a lone Small Tortoiseshell escaped their notice, only my second sighting of this species in Kent this year.
3 comments:
Was at Elmley on Friday, carrying out a bird survey, saw 2 Spotted Redshanks and Barn Owl. The Hares showed well, especially in the late afternoon, and there were thousands of Meadow Browns on the wing.
So Adam...who were you at the K Party!? Kingfisher?
Sorry boys but haven't updated the blog - more details to follow. I know what you mean about the hares and Meadow Browns Simon - amazing. Steve you really don't want to know what I went as, could be offensive!!!!!
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