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Sunday 28 December 2014

Isle of Grain. A winter walk. With Oystercatchers.

I love the Isle of Grain.  It's very quick to get to from London and I can see the sea. Today it was beautiful, sunny and cold.  We arrived at about one and walked along the path opposite Sheppey and looked at the Napoleonic tower. The tide was out and the path was visible.  Although I wouldn't fancy walking out to it without checking tide times first. I have seen this tide come in and it's fast.
I have just found out that the name comes from the word 'greon', which means gravel.  This is my second visit and I hope to have many more.  We have only explored one little part of it and I have yet to visit the RSPB nature reserve there.

I would like to go again before the winter is out.  There were hundreds of Oystercatchers, many of them winter visitors from Norway.  I have never seen so many in one place. We saw about 20 curlews, at least, and Brent Geese.  At dusk the Oystercatchers were all flying in the same direction.  It was a great sight and I love their calls.  I wonder where they were going?





Well there you go.......I now know where they go and thanks to twitter! From @dunnokev (Kev Thornton)
I quote: "If into Thames, usuallly mouth of Yantlet Creek nr All Hallows. If into Medway,usually Deadman's Island/Chetney. Roosts change over spring/neap tides,with wind directions, with disturbance. Fun trying to guess!"

They were going towards the Medway btw.  They are so musical and very handsome.

I will get an OS map before my next visit.

I recommend it!





From the web: The Isle of Grain is a civil parish and in the 2001 census was recorded as having 1,731 residents. The only main road onto the peninsula is the A228 which is known locally as the Ratcliffe Highway. There are a few other rural lanes and tracks which run along the higher ground of the peninsula and eventually end at the sea walls.
The Grain Marshes are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protected Area (SPA). These extensive areas include slatwater marshland, mudflats at low tide and small lagoons.

2 comments:

  1. I love the Thames Estuary and the marshes. Not surprising since I come form East Kent. The Swale, Reculver, Sheppey places close to my heart. Don't get to Isle of Grain as much as I would like.
    Lovely blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks. Yes I loved it there. And it seems so close. I am hoping to go to RSPB North Wall soon.

    ReplyDelete

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