Another late pass to get out this afternoon, but what a difference to yesterday's crisp, bright weather. I'm nursing a heavy cold that seems to be getting worse, but I needed some fresh air, even though it was struggle to drag myself out. I travelled off patch to catch the last 1.5 hours of daylight at Oare Marshes. The Great White Egret that has been present for a few days was easily found, hunched up on the mud in Faversham Creek, just east of the sluice. It was joined by a mix of the regular waders (Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit). A Peregrine scythed through the flock, but was unsuccessful in its attempts to chase down any prey, and eventually retreated back to the pylon from whence it came.
A walk up to Dan's Dock disappointingly failed to turn up any owls, but a couple of Marsh Harriers drifted to roost and a brace of disgruntled wildfowlers shivered below the seawall, staring up at the darkening,dusk sky.
