Foggy Kent

Survey time again in North Kent, it was a very foggy start for me and mo this morning not lifting till 11am, with visibility down to two hundred metres it was time to test bird calls!

Along the fleets whistling Wigeon, bleeping Teal and farting Gadwall were all numerous on call before being seen, as were a pair of pinging Beardies and the contact call of a Cetti's warbler, i guess we all take for granted on sight but birding is also about hearing.

odd Buzzard came out the gloom as did a young male Marsh Harrier, also silhouette of both Little Owl and Stonechat.

Eventually the fog lifted and the waders i could all here came into view, Knot and Dunlin in there thousands, both Bar and Black-tailed godwit alongside Grey Plover,Curlew and Oystercatcher with odd Turnstone and Ringed Plover thrown inn, and the skies littered with Lapwing and Golden Plover shows how important the Thames estuary is for a wintering waders.

Short-eared owl was out hunting before lunch and a pair of Merlins showed, as did the now wintering Rough-legged Buzzard which showed superbly through the scope.