A Stormy Stodmarsh and Reculver - 08/02/19

The forecast was very bad for today with gale force southerly winds and increasing rain. In view of the forecast, and as I had a day off work, I thought I would pay another visit to Stodmarsh Nature Reserve and spend a little bit of time in the Reed bed hide and just see what I could see.

The walk to the hide was very quiet for birds, apart from a very confiding Robin that was actually too close for a photo. Once I reached the hide I could see that a fair number of duck were sheltering in the bay with at least 28 Shoveler, 38 Mallard and 67 Teal. The wind appeared to be increasing and with some of the gusts the water became very choppy but was much calmer in the sheltered areas.The Teal and Mallard seemed to prefer the area near the hide while the Shoveler were nearer the far bank.

Mallard and Teal

Shoveler

A Merlin shot across, which came as a nice surprise, but it was moving too fast to be able to get a shot of it. A very handsome male Mallard was resting up, right outside the hide, as were a pair of Teal.

Male Mallard

Male and female Teal

A head on Teal and Mallard gave a chance to compare head shape.

Male Teal

Male and female Mallard

A Great Crested Grebe swam into the bay briefly but remained distant and did not stay long. A little later a Cormorant swam in and, though it dived frequently, I did not see it catch anything.It did, however, come up with a twig at one point and a leaf at another, both of which it dropped after carrying it for a little way. The photo does enable me to see just how hooked its upper bill is. No wonder they can manage to hang onto fish, often of a fair size.

Cormorant and stick

Cormorant throwing leaf

The Teal were, once again, quite flighty and at one point most of them flew up in alarm and flew off but I could not see what had disturbed them. Neither, it appeared, could the Mallard or Shoveler because, although all their heads came up, they soon settled down again. I tried for some flight photos of the Shoveler as they flew in, which they did now and then, but I struggled to get a shot of both upper and underwing. These were the best that I could manage and they are not very good. I managed a poor shot of the underwing of an approaching Mallard but it does give a comparison to the Shoveler.

Shoveler in flight

Shoveler coming in to land

Mallard in flight

Amongst the male Shoveler there was an immature male. He appeared to have a thin white line around the base of its bill. I did not see any other noticeably immature males. He stood against the much cleaner plumage of the other males. Their bills really are quite something and it truly is a very well named bird.

Immature male amongst adult male and female Shoveler

Because of the strength of the wind I was not expecting Marsh Harriers to be flying much but I actually got some very nice views. I saw at least 2 different female/immature birds and 1 or 2 males. Despite the force of the wind, they appeared to cope very well. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them.
The photos are not great but I was very pleased to be able to get them.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harriers

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

A single Greylag Goose swam out from amongst the reeds and at one point had a short flight before quickly settling down again. It is incredible how they can run across the surface of the water prior to gaining height.

Greylag Goose taking off

Greylag Goose - lift off

A young Cormorant was determined to settle on a dead tree but picked one of the windier moments to try it. It was buffeted in all directions and had to abort several times before finally managing to land.

Cormorant balancing act

I finished the visit with a Magpie digging through some of the vegetation. It was calling frequently and subsequently was joined by another bird. The colours are amazing as the light catches their feathers. The photo does not do it justice, but did catch some of the blue sheen, and it makes a nice memory shot.

Magipe

The rain was starting to come down in earnest now and, with the wind, if anything seeming stronger,  I made my way back to the car park.

On the way home we dropped into Reculver and watched the sea for a little while from the car. Overall it was very quiet. I was, however, very pleased to catch up with a Fulmar (92) as I had one going east. I also saw 6 Red-throated Divers east but apart from some Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, a Great Black-backed Gull and a Common Gull, that was about it. Even the Cormorants were keeping their heads down and I only saw 4.

With heavy rain and a howling wind we packed up and headed for home. It was great to be able to get out today, despite the weather, and I had thoroughly enjoyed my day.

Birds seen on this visit include: 1 Robin, 5 Chaffinch, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Fieldfare, Redwing, 1 Common Buzzard, 48 Shoveler, 46 Mallard, 92 Teal, 58 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Greylag Goose, 3-4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 56 Lapwing, Woodpigeons, Collared Dove, 1 Fulmar, 6 Red-throated Diver, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull.