Oare Marshes Twitching

The Oare Marshes in Kent is a reserve that I have been going to quite often for a few years now, so when I heard there was a Wilson's Phalarope there I immediately decided I needed to go. It was also there with the long staying Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Stints and a Black-necked Grebe. 

The journey from my house to the Oare marshes takes under 2 hours by Train, so I was soon at Faversham station. I bought some chips from a Fish and Chip shop and began to walk to the marshes (about 3 miles). 

As soon as I arrived at the bit of the East Flood by the road, I saw the Wilson's Phalarope swimming around, so close in I could identify it without using binoculars. A lifer! I decided to find out where the little stints and the Dowitcher were (these would be two more lifers) before having a proper look at the Phalarope. Luckily, there were plenty of other people, who had already been watching a while, to point out the Long-billed Dowitcher and Little Stints! 

An attempt at photographing Golden Plovers on a phone through a scope...

The Stints were feeding even nearer than the Phalarope, as they were foraging in the bit of exposed mud that was closest to us. The Dowitcher gave great views, though wasn't as close as the other two waders. 

I then spent a lot if time watching the Phalarope, and occasionally looking at the many other waders that included Ringed and Golden Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing and Redshank. I regret not taking a good camera though, as I didn't expect the birds to be so close.

I walked up to Oare creek to look for the Black-necked Grebe, but could not find it. After some more birding around the area, I returned to look at the Long-billed Dowitcher and Wilson's Phalarope for some more time. This time though I found 2 Curlew Sandpipers (which I tried to get photos of through my scope, but failed). A Snipe that flew out from the reeds was the last new bird of the day.

This trip had been extremely successful, and I walked back via Oare creek after a great day!