DAY TRIP TO ELMLEY

Elmley National Nature Reserve is no longer an RSPB reserve it is being managed by the Elmley Estate and it looks like they have made improvements already and have plans for a new hide overlooking the Swale.Several new benches have been placed along the track to the hides the viewing from which has been improved somewhat.

A donation of £5 is requested per car to help with the upkeep etc,or you can join up to a membership scheme for £20p.a.Further details can be obtained from their web site.

The entrance track had good numbers of redshank and lapwing as did the rest of the reserve,skylarks and meadow pipits were also everywhere.New feeders have been provided, and they were full,the goldfinches had almost emptied a niger seed feeder by the time I returned to the large new car park behind the orchard.

 REDSHANK

 SKYLARK

 GOLDFINCH

MEADOW PIPIT-Doing a stretch at Elmley.
All the usual waders and ducks were seen ,Avocets are thriving it seems,bird of the day had to be a female Merlin disturbed at her lunch on the track to Spitend.

OYSTERCATCHER

 AVOCET

 FEMALE MERLIN with an unfortunate feathered lunch.

 AVOCET in the mud from Spitend hide

 CURLEW ditto

 SHELDUCK ditto

 CANADA GOOSE

 AVOCET Feeding in deep water

 SMALL TORTOISHELL

 LAPWING

 LITTLE EGRET

LAPWING