A RETURN TRIP TO OARE.

With Marc only having limited time today we decided on a trip to Oare Marshes as Heathy had yet to see the long staying Great White Egret.  We arrived on site at just after 7.20 a.m. and as we sat in the car with a cup of coffee we could see the distinctive shape of the Great White Egret roosting very close to the road.  Murray soon joined us and we strolled down to the slipway in icy conditions taking in the amazing spectacle of around 2-3,000 Starlings flying around the reserve.  In cold but bright conditions we noted 4 Mute Swans, c60 Greylag Geese, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harrier, 11 Pintail, 4 Brent Geese and 2 SHORT EARED OWL which gave good views over the reserve.  Also, 25 Avocet and 2 Curlew.  Our walk to the West Hide for the Water Pipit was not entirely wasted as we saw 2 RING TAIL HEN HARRIER.  The egret showed extremely well on our return and this was certainly the closest either of us had been to a usually secretive bird.  We returned home satisfied with an excellent morning at an outstanding reserve vowing to return soon.  I doubt if the season finale of "Merlin" will be so good.