I paid a visit to Reculver after work. The wind was a light
north easterly with a mix of sunshine and grey cloud. It was surprisingly mild. A female/immature Marsh Harrier was hunting at the back of
the oyster farm but too distant to allow a decent photo but very nice to see.
It managed to hunt hassle free as none of the Carrion Crows came to cause it
any problems. A couple of Mute Swan flew on a couple of occasions and I could
see another 2 at the back and a further 3 down a dyke. The sea appeared to be
very quiet.
A Dunlin was roosting with some Ringed Plover on the beach and has started to moult some of its feathers into its winter plumage.
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| Dunlin and Ringed Plovers |
A very handsome male Stonechat gave very nice, if rather distant, views.
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| Stonechat |
I could see, when looking towards Coldharbour, that a Great Skua had come in close inshore and if I had been up that end I would have got stunning views but
unfortunately I was still a long way off. I really hoped that it might fly down the coast towards me but unfortunately it headed straight out to see again. Despite being very distant I tried for a photo and it makes a nice memory shot. I kept an eye out in case in came in close again but I did not see it again for the remainder of the visit.
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| Great Skua |
I saw at least 10 Corn Buntings throughout the visit. They
are actually really pretty birds close up and the pale spot on their face was very noticeable today.
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| Corn Buntings |
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| Corn Bunting |
As I neared Coldharbour I could see a Brent Goose out to see and on Coldharbour itself there were 15 Mallards and 4 Redshank.
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| Redshanks |
A person walking along the shingle bank sent
up a cloud of Oystercatchers in alarm. There appeared to be about 150. Some flew past me and I tried for a shot. I do not do well, at the moment, when trying for bird in flight photos.
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| Oystercatchers |
I sat and had a rest on the sea wall and the two Snow Buntings flew past me and then a short time later flew back and settled back in the same spot I
had seen them in before. They really are
beautiful birds and it made my afternoon to see them.
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Snow Bunting |
I headed back and the biggest surprise of the afternoon was a juvenile
Peregrine that was disturbed by a cyclist and flew up from some rocks. I tried
to get some photos as it came past me but it was moving so fast. At one point
it saw a Redshank and turned on a sixpence. I managed a photo as it turned and it is amazing to see its tail fanned out. Both photos are very poor but I feel really
lucky to have been able to get them.
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
I kept my eyes open for a Short-eared Owl but did not have
any luck. I haven’t seen any for a while now. I would really like to see how this camera copes with
low light in flight so will just have to hope at some point I catch up with
some owls.
There was a winter plumage Dunlin on the shore and I tried for a photo.
I had to use a very high ISO of 2000 as there was so little light but at least
I did manage to get a photo of sorts and I think it was worth trying.
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| Dunlin |
I
finished with a photo of the beautiful sunset .
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| Sunset |
Birds that I saw on this visit include: 2 Pied Wagtails, 5
Mute Swan, 1 Marsh Harrier, 16 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 3 Kestrel, 1 Great
Black-backed Gull, 2 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 150 Oystercatchers, 12 Goldfinch,
25 Linnet, 2 Stonechat, 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Great Skua, 25 Meadow
Pipit, 10 Corn Bunting, 2 Snow Bunting, 1 Peregrine.
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