The search for Short Eared Owls at Elmley, Stodmarsh and Sandwich Bay Nature Reserves
At last, after five weeks of watching and waiting........a daytime shot of a Short Eared Owl Having lived in inland France for almost 20 years, I have always missed the shorebirds and marshland waders of my earlier life, spent on the North Kent coast in the UK. Whilst I try to get back to Kent at least once a year, to catch up with family and old friends, my first 'port of call' is usually the beach of Minnis Bay (where I lived) and the coastal walk to Reculver. Here, I am always sure to see a wide variety of shore birds and waders. In winter time, the bird numbers are increased by thousands of migrating birds such as Brent Geese, Lapwing and Oystercatchers, which use the area to feed up and rest prior to their return to the arctic circle. Another of my favourite locations, is Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury, which is a unique area of wetland with marshes, reed beds, lakes and woodland that is home to a rich variety of wildlife, especially water birds. In fact, t he