A Passing Mediterranean Gull - Reculver 15/10/18

After a very busy day at work I headed to Reculver to see what I could see. Though it was very misty, when I arrived, visibility was good enough to give it a go and it was good to be out. Just past the towers the 2 Rock Pipits were in their usual place and had a disagreement with a Wheatear. The Rock Pipits appeared to win. I saw 6 Stonechat on the way to Coldharbour and 22 Meadow Pipits. Many of the Meadow Pipits were on the concrete sloping away from the sea wall as there is a lot of vegetation growing amongst the concrete there. 

I love watching Stonechats and happily watched them for a while before moving on. 5 Goldfinches were feeding on Teasel and I enjoyed watching those as well. Their bills are just the right length for reaching in and grabbing a seed.

Stonechat

Goldfinch

I had hoped to catch up with a Snow Bunting again but did not have any luck. I was much luckier with the Short-eared Owls. I saw one hunting on the walk up to Coldharbour and managed a couple of photos, even though the light was poor. They do, at least, make good memory shots. I was equally lucky on the return walk as I saw 2 in the air at the same time. They appeared to be moving off from the oyster farm and towards the railway embankment. Perhaps they feed over there as well as the oyster farm. Both were set upon by Carrion Crows and moved off before I could manage any photos, although I doubt they would have come out as the light was so bad by then.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

I had a rest and sat and watched the sea for a while. The mist did not make things easy but there was still enough visibility to be able to see a short distance. I had one Red-throated Diver on the sea and 2 went east. I could only see 1 Great-crested Grebe today. 4 Teal flew west, as did 1 Wigeon. 5 Sandwich Terns were back and fore a bit. I had 2 Brent Geese go west and 27 east while 64 Mallard were on the sea. The nice surprise was an adult Mediterranean Gull east. The camera struggled to focus in the mist but luckily it finally managed it even if the photos are poor. Once again, they make nice memory shots anyway.

Adult Mediterranean Gull

Adult Mediterranean Gull

A Kingfisher flew past me and landed on a groyne and allowed a quick photo before it moved on. They are beautiful birds.

Kingfisher

Groups of Oystercatcher were passing me going east and I saw 180 all told. I wonder where they are moving to as I regularly see them doing this late afternoon/early evening and presumably they are going somewhere to roost for the night. As I headed for home I enjoyed watching some Corn Buntings and Reed Buntings. The mist had thickened a lot by now but I I was lucky to have been able to have the time out that I did.

Birds I saw this visit included: 1 Robin, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, 22 Meadow Pipit, 5 Little Egret, 3 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 4 Teal west, 1 Wigeon west, 180 Oystercatcher west, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull east, 64 Mallard, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Brent Geese west and 27 east,  4 Corn Bunting, 8 Reed bunting, 2 Short-eared Owl in the air at the same time over the oyster farm, Corvids, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gull.