ELMLEY MARSHES, ISLE OF SHEPPEY (NORTH KENT) THIS WINTER

The regular returning ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD hovered at the foot of Harty Hill at around 11.15 this am before flying towards Harty Ferry. Also on Harty and Leysdown Marshes were about three ringtail HEN HARRIERS, a MERLIN, two Common Buzzards and two SHORT-EARED OWLS. At least five RUFF were feeding with black-tailed Godwits and Golden Plovers near the RSPB raptor viewpoint, and there was a COMMON KINGFISHER, two Green Sandpipers, 16 CORN BUNTINGS and several BEARDED TITS in the same area.

At Shellness, there was a PURPLE SANDPIPER feeding with Turnstones near the beginning of the rough track to the hamlet, two Red-throated Diversand two Red-breasted Mergansers. Also 20+ SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPITS.

Sean Huggins