Kingfisher and Gannets - Reculver 10/10/18

I decided to have a walk through from Chambers Wall to Reculver today. There was a breezy south easterly wind with lots of sunshine. I had a check of the hedgerow on the way to the car park and had a nice male and female Stonechat pop up and give nice if brief views. A Kestrel was hovering nearby but a little too far for a decent photo. A Migrant Hawker paused for a rest before continuing hawking for insects. They are very handsome dragonflies.

Migrant Hawker

I carried on down the track and could hear good numbers of Chiffchaff calling. Certainly more than the last time I came. There were the usual little jobs and I was pleased to see a male and female Blackcap. I had a short walk along the embankment but did not want to go too far in case I ran into problems and was unable to then do the walk to Reculver. I saw some Common Toadflax which I haven’t seen for quite a while. 

Common Toadflax

A Reed Bunting was foraging between a bush and then down onto the ground. The sunshine showed its markings up very well.

Reed Bunting

I sat and watched the sea for a while once I reached Coldharbour. There appeared to be a small movement of Gannets. I tried for some photos of some quite distant ones only to find once I put the camera down that one had flown very close to shore right by me and I had completely missed it, all I saw was its rear end departing. I really would have loved a shot of that. Later on an immature came a little closer but I did not have another Gannet come as close as the one I missed. Still, perhaps I may be lucky to see it another time.

immature Gannet

immature Gannet

I had a walk towards Reculver and was lucky enough to see the Kingfisher fishing from some rocks again so I sat and watched that for a while. Once again, it was very successful at catching fish and managed to swallow a whopper in one gulp.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

I was fascinated to see the interaction between a Cormorant on a pole and another one who wanted to take its place. The one sitting on the pole wasn't having any of it.

Cormorants

Cormorants

I finished off with a nice, even if somewhat distant, view of a Sandwich Tern. It had been an enjoyable afternoon.

Sandwich Tern

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Kestrel, Woodpigeons, 1 Collared Dove, 18 Skylark, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Stonechat, 7 Robin, 13 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, Cormorants, 21 Chaffinch, 2 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipit, Crows, Rook, Jackdaws, 2 Wren, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Magpie, 3 Moorhen, 1 Kingfisher, Gannet 23 east, 5 Sandwich Tern.