Elmley, August 2023
Elmley nature reserve on Sheppey is a fantastic place for birders to visit at any time, although the summer months are inevitably not as rewarding as the winter and spring. Your car is used as a mobile hide on the long entrance track. Once at the car park you have a choice of several medium-distance hides looking out on scrapes, a single, very distant, hide looking out over the Swale, or a walk past the 'Old School House' out to the 'Brickfields'. Depending on the time of year and time of day, Long-eared owls, Short-eared owls and Little owls may be seen. If you stay over-night in their accommodation, Barn owls may also be seen in the early morning. Marsh Harriers, Buzzards and Kestrels are seen all year round, with Hobbies and even Merlins making infrequent appearances. Comorant Wheatear