Kentish Plover - Burnham (1 Viewer)

[Captain_of_Crunch]

Will be passing by Burnham next week and looking for information on the wintering Kentish Plover. Are sightings dependant on tidal conditions, i.e. better to look at high or low tide? What general area has it been favouring?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Owene]

It’s a total git. It does sometimes come on the beach especially before dog walkers get there although I have also been there when false reports were made about it being on the beach on news services.

It’s often on steart island which is scopable at high magnification and the bird is surprisingly distinctive if you catch it on the near shoreline.

At low tide (and either side of it) there are huge mud canyons/trenches that are impossible to view. So high tide or very early before dogs is best.

I know people who took 6 visits. I think I took 4 and had people next to me whose scopes couldn’t make out the bird. 50x full
Size top end scopes could.

 

[Owene]

Oh it’s also an incredibly cold wind swept place.

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

Thanks Owene, that is very helpful. It looks like high tide is around 0730 on Sunday week so I may try then.

 

[wheatearlp]

Thanks Owene, that is very helpful. It looks like high tide is around 0730 on Sunday week so I may try then.

Check how hide the tide is going to be. Dropped in earlier this year on the way to Levels & tide was up to the seawall, no beach visible & not much showing on Steart Island either.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Check how hide the tide is going to be. Dropped in earlier this year on the way to Levels & tide was up to the seawall, no beach visible & not much showing on Steart Island either.

Some of the lower high tides currently.

All the best

Paul