Monday 13th July 2026: Oare Marshes

 We made our annual pilgrimage to Oare Marshes today, accompanied by Sue, Steve and Bernie. Our primary target was the Bonaparte’s Gull, returning for at least its fourteenth year. We started at it’s preferred location, east of the slipway on the Swale, and with the help of a fellow birder soon located the bird, although a strong, gusty wind and bright, early morning sun glinting on the silvery mud made viewing difficult. Progressing along the track, and seeking shelter behind a bush, Bernie relocated the bird, and this time we had much better views, with its full hood, black beak, short stature, darker grey back and pink-red legs clearly visible. An accompanying cast of regular waders included Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and a single Avocet.

Bonaparte’s Gull

We continued on to the hide on the edge of the estuary, where a family of Shelduck were feeding on the exposed mud and a single Little Tern hunted along the shoreline, yellow, daggered bill pointing sharply downwards as it hovered. On the opposite bank I spotted an adult Yellow-legged Gull,  preening and bathing in the shallow water margins.

We continued the circuit round the East flood, adding a few Lapwing along the way, plus the odd Linnet and a goldfinch moving though the hedgerows. Looking along a channel, the yellow legs of the juvenile Redshank stood out causing some discussion. Several Coot and a graceful Grey Heron clung close to the reeds here too, whilst at the far end a number of Little Egrets were very active.

Arriving at another hide, we spent some time studying an abundance of birds huddled against the wind in the significantly diminished waters, the result of a prolonged period of very hot, dry weather, in a spot sheltered by reedbeds. Several hundred Black-tailed Godwits roosted here, together with a decent number of Redshanks. Amongst them we picked out a few Golden Plover, a single Turnstone, several Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. At the base of the reeds, a few juvenile Bearded Tits and Reed Warblers sporadically appeared, and I was disappointed to miss a skulking Water Rail spotted by others in our group.

Back at the road, we paused again to view the flood from a different angle, with the birds somewhat distant due to the overall lack of water. Plenty of gulls roosted here, and Bernie again rapidly picked out the Bonaparte’s Gull sat amongst the many Black-headed Gulls. A few black-hooded Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls added to the mix. 

We returned to the cars for lunch and a break from the wind, before setting off along the riverside path towards Dan’s Dock. With Bernie’s help, we found a number of Yellow Wagtails amongst the sea purslane, and once we tuned into their call, they became much easier to track as they flew across the saltmarsh before dropping down to perch atop the vegetation. Over the grasslands on the other side of the path we found a number of Stock Doves to add to our increasing tally.

Sadly there was no sign of a Water Rail at the sluice pool today, just a Moorhen with two youngsters rootling amongst the reeds. But there were plenty of birds on the fenceline and adjacent bushes, including a flock of young Linnets, their slim bodies contrasting with the single bulky Corn Bunting singing from the wire fence. A family of Stonechats bounced about the bushes too.

Retracing our steps, several flocks of calling Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwits passed by as they flew to feed on new areas of exposed mud as the tide began to ebb. It had been a brilliant day in great company, with a respectable tally of around 45 birds, not bad for the July doldrums!