Nethergong Birding

With the rain moving through mid afternoon yesterday and leaving a nice sunny end to the day, I spent a few hours from 3pm at Nethergong where my time was spent watching over the fields and marsh from the Eastern gate. Again my target was to see a Hen Harrier passing through to the Stour Valley but despite constant scans through the scope, I never saw one. I did however see a good range of species including an excellent 6 Great White Egret which were seen distantly feeding together, probably the most I have seen at any one time in Kent. I did manage to take a record shot of one which was closer when I arrived but then soon flew further away to join the others. Also seen were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Raven, 1 Merlin, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Snipe, 3 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat and c700 Fieldfare flying to roost. 

View from the Eastern Gate

Great White Egret

A night recording only produced 1 Tawny Owl of note. I returned earlier this morning at 6am where I parked at the bridge and listened in the darkness, specifically for Little Owls. The plan worked as around 06:20, 2 Little Owls (73) called briefly to each other. As the light picked up, I spent a few hours wandering around the site in cloudy conditions and noted 1 Woodcock, 3 Grey Heron, 17 Pheasant, c550 Cormorant, 2 Jay, 11 Long tailed Tit, 3 Kestrel, 4 Great White Egret still distantly out on the marsh, 2 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Raven, 2 Common Buzzard and 4 Skylark. There were 3 Yellowhammer, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Greylag Geese (74) flew over calling, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker and 21 Lapwing flew south.