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19 young Avocet chicks seen this morning and a further 2 birds still sitting on nests from Southfleet hide . Breeding Bird Surveys

Brood of 9 Northern shoveler ducklings out early with mum foraging in the wet rills. It’s been a very dry spring & much the reserve is baked dry which means birds are being concentrated into the wetter areas.

Very sparse no frills Oystercatcher nest on dried mud within 5 mts of gate to next field. With cattle in the field not sure it's wisest place to nest but fingers crossed for a good outcome

Oystercatcher family enjoying Sunday breakfast together. Unlike other waders chicks are semi-precocial, feed by the parents for several months learning the skills to open shellfish. This pair have returned to nest & successfully fledges chick in this spot for several years.

The joyful song of the Skylark can be heard across the reserve. The tussocky grass, which is not too thick or high of the grazing marsh attracts not just waders but other ground nesting birds such as Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtail & Skylark.

There’s already consensus: we must transition to nature-friendly farming. HM Treasury must, at very least, commit to maintaining the current agricultural budget, or risk sleepwalking into disaster - dragging farmers, food & wildlife down with it. All eyes are on this decision.

Powerful message from James Rebanks - Elmley in 1970s was drained and farmed for arable crops. Government funded nature restoration at scale has recreated a lost landscape and the wonderful species tens of thousand of people enjoy each year. Long may it continue!

Delighted to welcome Yvette Austin of BBC South East & discuss how Elmley as part of South of England Curlew Recovery Project is helping improve the prospects of Lowland Curlew & intrduce her to this year’s chicks.

With relief we can confirm that the fire was not at Elmley NNR but sadly at the beautiful Swale NNR at Shellness & has destroyed some of the precious habitat there. Many thanks to Kent Fire and Rescue Service prompt action attending & controlling the fire. KentOnline

The Hobby, a small fast falcon, arriving from Africa to breed the UK. Hunt insects & birds in flight, also taking advantage of opportunities to catch prey on the ground if the situation arises. Here a Lapwing with chicks is trying to flush the Hobby by continually dive bombing.

There continues between 150-250 mostly in stunning summer plumage Black Tailed Godwits on the wader scrape & amongst them today a single Bar Tailed Godwit. It’s rare to see them on the freshwater side of the marsh, they prefer to feed & roost out on the Swale mudflats & saltings

Whittling away time watching a brambles bush teeming with butterflies, buzzing with dozens of bees, hover flies, beetles & spotted 1st a female Fiery Clearwing resting on Bristly Oxtongue, A rare moth in the Uk but found in several mostly coastal sites around Kent. KentMoths

Elmley's rich mosaic of ditches, grasslands & reedbeds carefully managed without the use of insecticides, provide differing habitat that insects need to complete their complex life cycles & thrive in abundance & form a essential link in the food chaining #InsectWeek #pollinators

Little Ringed Plover spotted on the last week of 2025’s Breeding Bird Surveys. No evidence that it breed on the reserve but the hot weather has produced the habitat they would favour for nesting, seasonal freshwater wetlands on open stony ground. #WaderWednesday

Swifts live a life on the wing. From fledging at around 6 weeks old to the first time they breed at 3-4 years, they are unlikely to have touched the ground. They'll fly around 7000 miles each year and can reach speeds of 70mph. #SwiftAwarenessWeek

Corn bunting with nesting material, probably its 2nd brood. It’s been a good year for them so far with 20 territories identified on the breeding bird survey & fledged young spotted Breeding Bird Surveys