There was a brisk north westerly wind at Reculver when I arrived late morning. The first birds I saw from the car park, as I arrived, were 15 Kittiwake (117) going west. They were fairly close in and I grabbed some photos. I had left the ISO on 800 by mistake so they are very noisy but I was very pleased to get them. That was a definite good start to the visit.
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| Kittiwakes |
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| Kittiwakes |
I tucked myself out of the wind, up at the towers, and enjoyed seeing what came past. Kittiwakes continued moving west in small groups, the smallest 4 and the largest 17. Within an hour and a half the movement had slowed to a trickle. I saw 103 in total and really enjoyed watching them. A lone bird flying west came closer in and allowed a better view.
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| Kittiwake |
I also saw 12 Common Gull, 3 of which were tucked in with Kittiwake, the others in small flocks. 2 Red-throated Divers were going in the opposite direction and flew east. 1 Gannet and 1 Great Crested Grebe also flew east. A second winter Great Black-backed Gull gave good views as it flew west.
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| 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull |
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| 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull |
A breeding plummage Cormorant also flew closer than I normally see them.
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| Cormorant |
The highlight though, without a doubt, was seeing a Red Kite (118) coming west and following the coast, at 11.38. It gave incredible views as it came past the towers, passing right over the top of me. What a stunning bird and I felt the luckiest person in the world to be standing there as it came past. I have never seen one that close before. What an absolutely beautiful bird.
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| Red Kite |
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| Red Kite |
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| Red Kite |
As the sea had quietened right down I went for a walk along the sea wall. The tide was in and quite high. I came across a female Wheatear atop a bush together with a Stonechat, a Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting. It was clearly a popular bush and they all appeared to be flycatching.
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| female Wheatear |
I then caught sight of a male Wheatear and it allowed some great views. He was one handsome bird.
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| male Wheatear |
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| male Wheatear |
A female Stonechat was very active but paused briefly allowing a shot. I love watching them, they are full of character. She was one of 6 Stonechats that I saw today.
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| female Stonechat |
With the tide being quite high I saw a good selection of waders roosting as I walked along. A Turnstone and a Ringed Plover allowed very good views, as they were roosting quite near to the wall.
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| Turnstone |
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| Turnstone |
I could see a pair of Shelduck on the oyster farm, and a little while later they flew past me and headed towards Coldharbour. A Little Egret flew briefly before dropping down onto another lagoon. Coldharbour appeared very quiet. The Shelduck pair were there as were 4 Redshank and a couple of Mallard but that was about it. Both an Oystercatcher and a Redshank, that were on the shore just before Coldharbour, gave very nice views and the chance to really appreciate their plumage.
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Redshank and Turnstone |
I did not fancy walking back to Reculver into the wind so I carried on along the sea wall. 10 Brent Geese were in one of the fields. I wonder when these will make a move. A Sanderling was tucked down and gave some very nice views.
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| Sanderling |
Plumpudding Island had 8 Turnstone, 27 Redshank and a pair of Mute Swan. I had hoped that I may have caught up with my puzzle bird from yesterday but, though I checked the shore, Coldharbour and Plumpudding carefully, there was no sign of it. It would have been great to have been able to see it again.
I made my way slowly to Shuart and though, overall, it was now very quiet, it was a beautiful evening. I hoped very much to see a Barn Owl hunting but did not have any luck.
I came across 3 Mute Swan, 2 males and a female. The two males repeatedly clashed but the first male did not, while I was there, have any luck in driving the other male completely away. He would move away a little bit and then work his way back and the dispute would start again. The female seemed totally unconcerned and either preened or fed. Perhaps she was waiting to see who was the stronger of the two. It was a privilege to be able to watch them and it made a great end to the visit.
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
Birds seen this visit include:103 Kittiwake, 7 Common Gull, 1 Gannet, 1 Red Kite, Black-headed Gull, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, immature male Eider, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, 10 Brent Geese, 25 Meadow Pipit, 6 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 10 Mallard, 2 Dunnock, 6 Robin, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Corn Bunting, 20 Ringed Plover, 58 Turnstone, 6 Curlew, 80 Oystercatcher, 47 Sanderling, 34 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Shelduck, 10 Mute Swan, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Pheasant, 3 Wren, 8 Linnet, Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, Woodpigeons, 1 Little Egret, Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches.
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