What's the F U in Ham Ooze? (Boris Waters, part four)

Towards the end of August I can always guarantee seeing at least one other birdwatcher out and about Ham Ooze. This individual will usually be on his boat, scanning the mudflats, looking in towards Ham Creek.

Scanning for duck, August 2015

I saw him out on there on the 20th and 30th August this last year. He always kept his distance from the shore, making sure he didn't disturb any duck that might have already returned to this part of the estuary. The date for the start of the wildfowling season is pretty much bang on- first numbers have usually arrived by September, and this local wildfowler knows how to check up on the Greenborough/Slayhills/Burntwick dabbling duck numbers for the start of their season; do not bother checking the islands themselves, simply check (what ornithologists call) the optimal daytime areas of the Functional Unit.

A Functional Unit (or Core Area) is, for a duck, all of the habitats used routinely during any 24 hour period. Think of it as being like a nesting territory, but without a nest. For the majority of (well-fed) dabbling duck, daylight hours are spent loafing. It makes sense to carry out much of your feeding at night, spread out among the islands, saltings, marshes and fields, when predators are less likely to find you. Then you simply rest up by day- safety in numbers, always a few birds in the flock alert for predators and similar threats (such as human recreational disturbance).

Ham Ooze, distant wildfowl and waders, September 2013

And for this part of the estuary, the main loafing area is where Sharfleet Creek turns south to merge into Ham Creek.

The main named areas within Ham Ooze

The reasons for choosing Sharfleet/Ham are fairly obvious; a fair depth of sheltered water, even on low tide. More open views than will be found inmany of the other creeks around the islands. On the flood the majority of the birds can simply drift in towards Millfordhope Creek and not waste energy flighting from one area to another (avoiding the guns)- and they remain a sizeable distance from observers on the mainland at all times. Finally, the Ooze is not an easy area to navigate, only possible for boats with a shallow-draft on the highest tides, so they are rarely bothered by pleasure craft. It is a true wildfowl refuge.

Ham Creek Wigeon moving into Slayhills/Millfordhope, September 2013 

Hungrier duck will also continue to feed in the loafing area as well as along the tidal edge of Half Acre and the small creeks, where tidal action will be stirring up plant seeds. Numbers also cross to and from the freshwater pond on the edge of Bayford Marsh to drink and bathe.

Marsh Harrier putting Wigeon to flight, Slayhills, October 2013

At the right time of year cumulative totals of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail can routinely run into four figures. And that will be only what can be counted easily at a distance; undoubtedly birds are often missed. The birds have chosen an extremely safe area for this part of their functional unit.

Wigeon, Ham Ooze, October 2014

The Medway Estuary gets scant coverage here by birders because it is remote and the birds are distant. Public viewing is only possible from the Saxon Shoreway footpath at Shoregate Creek. It is an area for which even I have few photos, though I'm usually happy with 'speck-shots'. But the spectacle of thousands of wildfowl and waders is always enjoyable.

Part of Ham Ooze tideline, September 2013

Whilst not too many duck make the journey to mid-estuary and the likes of Bishop Spit, Brent Geese can often be seen there. The Spit appears to provide good feeding, as well as being a gathering point for flocks departing the Medway, remaining popular through to the last departing birds in May. Often where the small number of over-summering birds can be picked out June to August.

A distant gathering of Brent Geese, Bishop Spit, May 2014

Shelduck also gather in large numbers about both areas, especially late winter. In the summer, the goose interest is more 'feral', with the local Canada and Greylag Geese flocks often to be found swimming between Nor/Friars and the island complex. They are likely not to be able to move out of the way of any seaplane very quickly, being they use these waters are their safe area during their full wing moult when they are unable to fly. (One hopes, for safety's sake, any seaplane pilot might recognise these birds won't be able to leave an operational area at any great rate of knots.)

Canada Geese (and hybrid) off Ham Green, July 2015

Offshore, the Half Acre channel appeals to feeding diving duck, with Red-breasted Merganser and Goldeneye often feeding throughout the covering/uncovering of the tide (rarely Eider), rafts of Great Crested Grebe, the odd Diver and scarcer Grebe species. As winter evenings approach, Bishop and Half Acre can often hold five-figure roost gatherings of Gulls. In the summer months Terns often hunt for food for their young, and three-figure counts of Little Egret crisscross the estuary. Ham Ooze and Bishop Spit are clearly important parts of the functional units for many species that rely on the Medway estuary complex.

Little Egret, Ham Ooze, October 2014

------

The notification of these seaplane operational areas alongside Bishop and Ham moves ahead next month regardless. Whether Natural England (or RSPB/Kent Wildlife Trust) do eventually raise concerns over recreational disturbance will have to be seen. I hope this short series of posts have given an indication as to why they should.