Birds

Walk quietly around the site and you are likely to encounter birds throughout the year. Several of the birds mentioned below are of high conservation priority, according to the index published regularly by the RSPB. Look carefully and use field guides to help you to identify the birds. You may see some of the following species. It seems that no one has undertaken an annual study of the birds using Oare Gunpowder Works in recent years.

The woodland supports a mixture of familiar birds, with blackbirds Turdus merula, robins Erithacus rubecula and dunnocks Prunella modularis foraging for food and in the spring building nests and raising young. Great spotted woodpeckers Denrocopus major search for food in the trees and green woodpeckers Picus viridis are often seen on the grassy areas searching for ants to eat.

In winter feeding flocks of long tailed tits Aegithalos caudatus, blue tits Parus caerulus and chaffinches Fringilla coelebs are often seen, and close observation of these flocks may reveal other species.

Kingfishers Alcedo atthis dart through the wood, stopping to feed on the small fish and invertebrates in the water. Watch out for one perched on twigs overhanging open water and listen out for its distinctive call.

Coots Fulica atra nest visibly at the water’s edge but the moorhen Gallinula chloropus makes sure its nest is well hidden. Whilst the black coot dives into the water to search for waterweed to eat, the moorhen often feeds in the damp areas close to the pond.

The grey heron Ardea cinerea is often seen standing guard over the edge of the water watching for frogs, fishes and small insects to eat. They probably also feed on the adjacent marshes and estuary.

In the spring and summer migratory birds arrive to breed. For a short period the woods are alive with birdsong, and then nesting and raising young take up the time of small birds such as the chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita and the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. It is likely that the cuckoo Cuculus canorus will be heard in the area during the spring.

The reed beds may support migrant warblers like the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, whilst the resident reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus may also be seen. Together with the sedge warbler the presence of these birds is an indication of reed bed quality.

Swallows Hirundo rustica, house martins Delichon urbica and swifts Apus apus may be seen in the skies over the water, feeding on the insects. These birds arrive in the spring to nest nearby and can be seen in the autumn gathering in large groups preparing to move south.

Woodlands like Oare can support migratory birds in the winter too. Woodcocks Scolopax rusticola, an unusual wader, can overwinter in undisturbed areas of woodland whilst thrushes like fieldfares Turdus pilaris and redwings Turdus iliacus may seek shelter and food at the edges of the wood. Goldcrests Regulus regulus, siskins Carduelis spinus and redpolls Arduelis flammea may be seen or heard in the trees during cold weather.

Wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Many of the birds mentioned are of high conservation priority. Look at the RSPB website for more information. This site also contains an A to Z of British birds. Find out more about birds in Kent by contacting the Kent Ornithological Society on www.kentos.org.uk

Back to Top ^

Things You Can Do
Visit Oare Gunpowder Works

Other Websites
www.kentos.org.uk

Change Text Size

A A A

Kingfisher

Grey Heron

Moorhen