Elmley, on the Isle of Sheppey, can be a marvellous place. Usually the drive from the road to the car park takes me 1-2 hours depending on what is there. Yesterday afternoon, it didn't take me so long, as I didn't see much on the way in. I walked down to the first hide. Almost immediately I saw, distantly, the Bonaparte's gull which promptly moved further away after a few short hops into the air.
A mute swan was nesting near the track.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8d6V_rrTi6sElNQeKEZvDafZJAk3dr_sdHfRe4IIKhD8lBa5IBvK8GMRXD1TNjokKFiFE43M9tUp-1F890JEZBQtkP7e4Gx5uoo7kgwvsbYcaT4waHgcsqD-91Nut5xBT0gLnV1j_Qc/s320/Mute+swan+Elmley+Marshes+0467+crop.jpg) |
Mute swan - female. |
There were plenty of ducks, waders and marsh birds. The avocets were busy mating!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVT8L61TwjlEJX9HdeaQlpGbrQlpCl69wOpuhdJTEqijR3YeE4WKYDIUCSqR5j1Um8D-uU0CpVC2f4ak9U_e4VYrnshKkfIqQVPkm6UkP6_vMsVDpD85wuH4qhpFNr4_ct_S5RkKmOxw/s320/Avocet+Elmley+Marshes+0888+crop.jpg) |
Avocets |
The marsh harriers terrorised the whole marsh!! Some turnstones walked around the edge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8MWeVw2h_HCsFXPqtqoniHi1a7v84z2r9pJlsmTwzFB2uh0VsvJ3n6x75dGlxWIaTO3YRIfDF2W5IFI2NKrwYPHiA-hIkjs7sV6SPy_OtAm4R6bghwPLztfXNIZ7oKkl0usdGD8QoWw/s320/Turnstone+Elmley+Marshes+0873+crop.jpg) |
Turnstone |
A female wigeon passed by with a large wound on the side of her head. Wonder what happened to her?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvI_bLIqdJkpvGUwPq3WzHPyFFbqblkdSFnlWyqOojRB5s-yqrFT4cg7rVS2kxkH8PzGNBKPWp0gyA8NEPHX_UFHc1kjC9XtbTcInFRwaoqYVYH0sjElbBU8aHTlVikqnv0ZLgOzIet4/s320/Wigeon+F+Elmley+Marshes+0442+crop.jpg) |
Widgeon - Female - with head injury! |
There were quite a few pochards, especially lone females.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiMl3sBAt1lEaqs8xR-KNe8TRva5wbXqqC8kXb1BZWXjrWYqvDFeWjo_efD_gOze80NuAuAX1UAiEf6HRTR91ryFc_klTePg43iSn5MeyYO6U32_S0BH1DZFPdDvuXjbm7EJ364ydvG8/s320/Pochard+F+Elmley+Marshes+1018+crop.jpg) |
Pochard - female |
Two common terns circled the Wellmarsh Hide. My first terns for this year. A male pheasant passed very near the path.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKwyWPyUSFNMIcUzFgaDxJxNGvS8hBrosSQZFYAwVhuxRxYBL1PUqEhmZg4xMNPp3Qn50bX6BXNRvZ_dTxrhezEqxAZTaoGSsCpZOnnawXCl_LcWYO8waWYWV-ziHY8RlHRNG8UzDSeI/s320/Pheasant+Elmley+Marshes+0854+crop.jpg) |
A gorgeous male pheasant |
I started back to the carpark. I was the last to leave. I had nearly reached the exit when an oystercatcher came very close.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwrbsWnkd88T5KPsbhAVvtz9YxgCQnh0Pw5S8Ttni2fkoyoKY2l8Jmi3vIZsV2L19tTs1bTGO_GrkSTDrMan1HVTzQJ2uZS_DMK2woccQCCCOSepo34IXV5VEqPW5GuqNWrYBa7U5nRo/s320/Oystercatcher+Elmley+Marshes+0536+crop.jpg) |
Oystercatcher |
Shortly after that I passed a pair of red-legged partridges literally on the side of the road. I stopped and reversed but they had already gone further away. Anyway, this shot is handheld in poor light just before sunset.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpKRIlfnTXrjRp4srNRzeyQNGGu212Fbn2h6t6uJTI9_uOsKvKiO67vY9d8X8nLxWf4BMs-oHd-XrkUkt379JanYljycYfEYJLbsaZihShbzk78U8EkW7ZYy2jkJDwew-LEOYBVOEyao/s320/Red-legged+partridge+Elmley+Marshes+0559+crop.jpg) |
Red-legged partridge |
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