Long Week-end to North Kent

Category
Outdoor Events
Dates
Thursday, 17 May 2018 12:00 - Sunday, 20 May 2018 18:00

 Long week-end Thursday 17th May - Sunday 20th May 2018

WOS plans a four day trip to some outstanding North Kent reserves and a visit to RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex. During a recce in May 2017, cuckoo and marsh harrier were seen on each of the four days, nightingale on the three days in Kent and bearded tit at two sites.
We hope to visit the reserves below during our visit. Specific times and meeting places will be notified nearer the time.
 o RSPB Northward Hill where the scrub is breeding habitat for nightingale; whitethroat, common and lesser. A hide overlooks marshland where avocet, ringed plover, black godwit & yellow wagtail may be seen.
 o Elmley National Nature Reserve, a very large area of coastal grazing marsh adjacent to the River Swale on the Isle of Sheppey, where a highlight is breeding lapwing with chicks and yellow wagtail on the two mile drive in. Avocet, grey plover, ruff are among the birds that may be seen from the hides overlooking the marshy scrapes while marsh harrier breed on the reserve.
 o Kent Wildlife Trust Oare Marshes, again adjacent to the River Swale, is an area of wetland where there are a range of waders including breeding avocet; reedbed species, bearded tits & reed, sedge & Cetti’s warbler.
 o RSPB Cliffe Pools on the Isle of Grain, with breeding lapwing, redshank, dabbling ducks, breeding avocet, common tern, great crested grebe. And in the scrub: warblers, nightingale and turtle dove with cuckoo flying overhead. Black tern & Mediterranean gull are possible.
 o National Nature Reserve Stodmarsh is a unique area of wetland with marshes, reedbeds, lakes and woodland that is home to a variety of wildlife with water birds a speciality. Close views of marsh harrier possible.
 o RSPB Rainham Marshes which is just a few minutes drive from the northern side of the Dartford Crossing where marshes from medieval times have been transformed into a magnificent nature reserve where a range of waders including some uncommon ones may be seen; a variety of warblers call from the reeds and the scrubland.
Members will need to book their own accommodation. The leaders will be staying in the Sittingbourne area of Kent.
Leaders will be Chris Johnson, Jenny Elvin & Alison Rymell. An information sheet with instructions for finding the sites together with website links giving more detail of each reserve and a bird list from the recce undertaken in May 2017 will be available from the beginning of February and can be emailed upon a request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 
 

All Dates

  • From Thursday, 17 May 2018 12:00 to Sunday, 20 May 2018 18:00

Powered by iCagenda