KENT CHETNEY MARSHES
Wildfowl and raptors on the Medway estuary
This winter walk around the outer reaches of the River Medway, centred on Chetney Marshes, affords sweeping views across extensive intertidal mudflats on the river’s southern shore and the deeper channel at high tide from Stangate Spit. At low tide a myriad of islets, gullies and rills emerge from the sea to reveal superb habitat for thousands of wintering shorebirds and wildfowl. Rough grassland attracts a variety of birds of prey including occasional Roughlegged Buzzard. Wild swans and geese are sometimes present, plus Great White Egret. Evening and daybreak movements of Starlings can be spectacular.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 From the roadside, pull-in at low tide to check Funton Creek for waders; typically Oystercatcher, Curlew, Avocet, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling. Wildfowl include Brent Geese, Wigeon and Shelduck, while Little Egret and Grey Heron haunt the creeks, plus Cormorant and gulls including Mediterranean and Yellowlegged Gulls. Tideline flotsam and jetsam can attract Turnstone, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Grey and Pied Wagtails to feed. A good viewpoint across the inner estuary.
2 Chetney Hill provides views across a myriad of estuary islets suitable for hunting raptors, such as Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Merlin, plus waders moving with the changing tides and a particularly good spot for the wintering flock of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits. Rough ground inland attracts a few Meadow Pipit, Sky Lark, Stonechat, Corn and Reed Buntings and flocks of Goldfinch and Linnet. Teal, Snipe and Woodcock are occasionally flushed from damp patches.
3 A good vantage point for scanning the main channel of the River Medway at high tide for flocks of wildfowl riding out the high tide. Check through the Brent Geese, Wigeon and Shelduck for a chance of Eider, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Slavonian Grebe. Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard hunt the hinterland fields where Lapwing, Golden Plover and Curlew are often present. Overhead passage can involve large numbers of Starlings and incoming thrushes.
4
Check the pylons for perched Kestrel, Peregrine and Buzzard. At dusk large flocks of Starlings and corvids are on the move to winter roost sites inland along with Redwings and Fieldfares. Another good spot for hunting Short-eared and Barn Owls at dusk. Look for Kingfisher along the creek and Cetti’s Warbler in scrub.
● Dipper
● Buzzard
● Kestrel
● Raven
● Rook
● Green Woodpecker
● Great Spotted Woodpecker
● Various tits
● Dunnock
● Chaffinch
● Goldfinch
● Pied Wagtail
● Grey Wagtail
● Stonechat
● Little Egret
● House Sparrow
● Robin
● Wren
● Tawny Owl
● Crossbill