Unfortunately my bit of time free today coincided with
strong winds as we got the tail end of storm Gareth. Other parts of the country
had much higher winds, so we were lucky but there were still between 40-50 mile
westerly gusts. I did not have time to go further afield so I thought I would
give Reculver a go and just see what I could see. If the wind was too bad at
least I could shelter at the towers. The tide was partially out when I arrived
but was coming in fast. There were a few gulls dotted around on the shore and I
could see some Sanderling, Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover.
I headed towards the towers but had no luck with seeing the Black Redstart
again. Hopefully it was sheltering out of the wind somewhere. Small numbers of
gulls were passing west. Mainly Herring Gull with a few Great Black-backed
Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. I also had a single Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Even tucked out of the wind as much as I could be I struggled to get photos of
the gulls, as most came out blurry with the camera movement in the wind. Even
when I thought I was holding the camera steady I clearly was not.
I got some shots of a passing 3rd year Great Black-backed Gull. It was moulting several of its primary feathers.
 |
| 3rd year Great Black-backed Gull |
 |
| 3rd Year Great Black-backed Gull |
I enjoyed watching the passing Black-headed Gulls, one of which had an adult Herring Gull flying in formation behind it.
 |
| Black-headed Gull |
 |
| Black-headed Gull |
 |
| Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull |
I also had a juvenile Herring Gull. It initially gave me pause so I clearly need lots more practice identifying gulls.
 |
| juvenile Herring Gull |
 |
| juvenile Herring Gull |
 |
| juvenile Herring Gull |
As I came down from the towers I could see a small flock of Starling in the old caravan park field. As the birds at the back of the flock repeatedly flew up and flew to the front of the flock they gave some lovely views of their wings with the light coming through them. I tried for some photos and though they are very noisy I am pleased I have got them as it gives some nice memory shots.
 |
| Starlings |
 |
| Starlings |
 |
| Starlings |
 |
| Starlings |
I had a walk along the back of the oyster farm but all was quiet apart from a few Redshank. A distant Marsh Harrier flew west and gave some nice, if distant views. Definitely a time when it would have paid to have been standing on the sea wall!
 |
| Marsh Harrier |
It was nice to be out of the wind for a while when I came down off the green bank and I made my way towards the sea wall. The tide was a lot further in when I got there. I could see a few Turnstone busily feeding along the waters edge but other wise it was very quiet.
I walked up to Coldharbour to see if anything was sheltering up there. 15
Mallard were tucked down on the far bank. Unfortunately somebody walking along
the shingle bank put them all up. I felt sorry for them but it did give an
opportunity to try for a flight shot.
 |
| male and female Mallard |
A Redshank was blending in well on the near bank, its only the red-orange legs that give it away, and another 3 flew from the far bank when the duck went up.
 |
| Redshank |
I turned to head back and walking into the wind proved to be highly unpleasant. It was not improved by a couple of very heavy showers, one of which managed to contain snow, hail and rain all at the same time. Hail in strong wind is not a good combination!
I had a flock of 15 Brent Geese east, quite high and a second flock of 35 came
through, in the same direction but further out, a little later.
 |
| Brent Geese |
At one point a very brief partial rainbow appeared. They are always a joy to see and lift the spirits, whatever the weather.
 |
| Partial Rainbow |
A couple of Ringed Plover were sheltering on the track, to the left of the sea wall. They appeared to be a pair and gave some nice views.
 |
| male Ringed Plover |
 |
| female Ringed Plover |
A pair of Mallard also flew up from the track. The male's wings were in an advanced stage of moult of some of his primary and secondary feathers.
 |
| male Mallard |
 |
| male Mallard |
 |
| male and female Mallard |
The sea breaking against the rocks gave some quite impressive spray.
 |
| Sea Spray |
It was good to reach the car park but I was pleased that I had come.
Birds seen this visit include: Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 8 Great
Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 75 Starling, 5
House Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 6 Reed Bunting, Skylarks, 8
Meadow Pipit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 23 Mallard, 58 Brent Geese, 7 Ringed Plover, 7
Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, 9 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2
Stonechat
No comments:
Post a Comment