As I had a clear day today I headed to Shuart. The day started out sunny with a light south south westerly wind but went rapidly off as the day went on, with the wind picking up and it becoming very overcast.
As I got out of the car I could see a couple of Red-legged Partridge in the field by the car park. One of them was moving to cover but the other remained in the open for a while.
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| Red-legged Partridge |
Most of the usual little jobs were calling or singing and I could hear at least 3 Greenfinch. 3 Ring-necked Parakeets were calling noisily and flying around but never settled long enough to allow a photo. A Chaffinch was sat looking around, following a burst of singing, and gave a nice view.
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| Male Chaffinch |
It was quite a quiet walk through. I could hear a couple of Chiffchaff singing and Skylarks were plentiful and in full song. I had a peep in one of the dykes and could see several Common Newts. There was a male and female Marsh Harrier high above me and calling.
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| Common Newt |
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| Common Newt |
Once I reached the embankment there was a male Reed Bunting singing his heart out. Each time he sang he would throw his head back and droop his wings while singing. When the wind caught him, it blew the back of his head feathers up, giving him an unusual look.
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| Reed Bunting with wind catching head feathers |
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| Reed Bunting singing |
There were a couple of Pied Wagtail at the stables and 2 Meadow Pipit. Starlings were singing away and several House Sparrows were skulking in a bush but chirping away.
The sea appeared quiet when I reached the sea wall with just a few Herring Gulls and 3 Great Black-backed Gull. As I walked towards Plumpudding I could see a group of 33 Common Scoter out to sea and a confiding Redshank on the track.
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| Redshank |
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| Redshank |
As I approached Plumpudding there were c120 Oystercatchers together with 7 Curlew roosting on the shore. There were more waders behind them but I could not see what they were. On Plumpudding Island there were 18 Redshank roosting but otherwise it was very quiet. A Meadow Pipit perched on the fence briefly having dropped down from a parachute flight display.
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| Redshank roosting |
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| Meadow Pipit |
A male Stonechat gave a good view of its rump and wingbars as it flew. I had 2 Golden Plover over, appearing to come in off the sea.
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| Stonechat |
At Coldharbour I had at least 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Reed Buntings and 15 Meadow Pipits feeding on the shingle bank. When somebody walked along the shingle bank one of the Rock Pipits landed nearer me and gave an opportunity for a photo. Several of the Meadow Pipits were doing their parachuting display.
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| Rock Pipit |
I carried on towards Coldharbour. There were streams of Cormorants were coming in off the sea, once again I must have seen well over 1000. Coldharbour also appeared pretty quiet. There was a Black-headed Gull who was moulting into his black head. 2 Mute Swan and 3 Redshank were present and a Little Egret flew across and landed.
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| Little Egret |
A male Reed Bunting gave a partially obscured view as he perched on the fence. They are handsome birds and he showed the white edges to his tail feathers well.
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| Reed Bunting |
I sat and had a rest on the sea wall. 14 Mallard were on the sea. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew west. I was pleased when I saw the immature Eider (108) drifting eastwards, and tried for some photos. They have not come out very well but I am pleased that I was able to get them.
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| Immature male Eider |
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| Immature male Eider |
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| Immature male Eider |
The weather really was pretty unpleasant by now and I made my way back towards Reculver. A Grey Heron flew past before turning back and coming down by the dyke. Their wings are spectacular when fully spread as they come in to land.
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron landing |
A male and female Mallard were resting on the shingle. The females are pretty birds.
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| Male and female Mallard |
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| Female Mallard |
I saw several Ringed Plovers and they are gorgeous little birds. They looked very rotund today, presumably with fluffed up feathers due to the cold wind.
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Ringed Plover |
I came across another Rock Pipit which allowed a distant shot.
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| Rock Pipit |
There was a single Great Crested Grebe on the sea and luckily it was closer in than normal which enabled me to try for a photo. It is not great but it makes a good memory shot. On one of the oyster farm lagoons I could see a male Shoveler in with the Mallards.
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| Great Crested Grebe |
I finished the visit with a Curlew and 2 Oystercatchers giving a flypast as they moved to newly exposed shore.
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| Curlew and Oystercatchers |
I was pleased to reach Reculver. Walking had been a challange today but I was pleased that I had come. I was also pleased that the camera had appeared to behave itself today after its meltdown yesterday.
Birds seen this visit included: 2 Red-legged Partridge, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet, Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Magpie, 2 Meadow Pipit, Starling, House Sparrow, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Pied Wagtail, c300 Brent Geese, 33 Common Scoter, 1 immature male Eider, Stonechat. 3 Pheasant, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 12 Mute Swan, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Golden Plover, 25 Redshank, 7 Ringed Plover, 120 Oystercatcher, 9 Curlew, 7 Turnstone,
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