My First Fieldfare of the Autumn - Reculver 07/10/18

I paid a visit to Reculver after work this afternoon. There was a cool northerly breeze with sunshine and cloud. The breeze was strong enough to send a small yacht scudding past out at sea but, for birds, the sea was very quiet. A Little Egret flew up from the back of the oyster farm and its wings looked spectacular in the sunshine before it dropped back down again.

I walked along the sea wall for a short way. A Grey Plover was roosting on the beach and then it went down to the waters edge to feed. They are beautiful birds. The tide was falling and large numbers of mainly Black-headed and Herring Gulls were congregating with 3 adult Great Black-backed Gulls standing out.

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

I had a Reed Bunting pop up right in front of me and literally go yikes before moving along a little and watching me warily. 

Reed Bunting

I had really hoped to see a Short-eared Owl and was very pleased to see one come up along the furthest bank. Unfortunately it never came any closer. I saw it 3 times and on the third time it was mugged by a Crow and it did not come up again while I was there.

Short-eared Owl

There were very good numbers of Stonechat with 14 seen during my visit. I love watching them.

Stonechat

I had a single Curlew fly east as the tide fell and a Whimbrel flew west calling. Other waders seen included a single Dunlin, 26 Redshank, 8 Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover, and 15 Oystercatcher. 5 Grey Heron moved onto the exposed mud and also 3 Little Egrets.

Brent Geese numbers have increased and I saw 58 during my visit. They did not seem to be passing by as such but rather moving in to feed as the tide fell. There was also a large number of Mallard congregating on the sea and I counted 106.

Brent Geese

Linnet numbers continue to rise with approximately 220 present. A Meadow Pipit posed nicely in the evening sunshine. 

Meadow Pipit

A Marsh Harrier, female/immature, flew along the back of the oyster farm and was mugged the whole way by Crows. At one point it fanned its tail spectacularly.

Marsh Harrier and Carrion Crow

I finished the visit with a surprise as a flock of 13 Fieldfare came in off the sea and carried on inland. They are my first for the autumn.

Birds seen included: Redshank 26, Meadow Pipit 20, Pied Wagtail 4, Mute Swan 3, Little Egret 5, Curlew 1, Mallard 106, Dunnock 2, Short-eared Owl 1, Grey Heron 5, Brent Geese 58, Robin 2, Stonechat 14, Turnstone 8, Grey Plover 1, Dunlin 1, Ringed Plover 5, Oystercatcher 15, Reed Bunting 5, Goldfinch 15, Linnet 175, Whimbrel 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Skylark 3, Pheasant 1, Fieldfare 13.