A Ring Ouzel Encounter - Marshside 21/04/19

As walking was somewhat on the dodgy side today I headed to Marshside after work and had a look to see what I could see from the road. It was a beautifully sunny afternoon with just a touch of coolness from the north easterly wind.

The visit started well as I could hear Mediterranean Gulls calling and had 4 fly over, heading north east.

Mediterranean Gulls

A Little Owl was calling and 2 Chiffchaff sounded as if they were in competition with each other. Bird song filled the air and a calling Yellow Wagtail gave a vivid splash of colour against the blue sky. I caught sight of a bird of prey and was treated to views of 2 Red Kites that were passing through. They are beautiful birds and always a joy to see.

Red Kites

Red Kite

It came as a nice surprise to see a couple of Greylag Geese in one of the horse paddocks.

Greylag Geese

Checking the horse paddocks proved to be worthwhile as in the next one I could see a Mistle Thrush and a couple of Fieldfare and right at the back there was a male Ring Ouzel (130). It remained distant all the time I was watching it and I could have done with being a couple of feet taller to have seen over the vegetation but I was well chuffed to see it.

male Ring Ouzel

male Ring Ouzel

I had another Mediterranean Gull over and a nice view of a Kingfisher as it shot past. I saw a couple of Chiffchaff that were carrying nesting material. A few Swallow were hawking for insects over one of the horse paddocks and 6 Sand Martin were heading back towards Reculver. One of the Peacocks was in his normal spot.

Peacock

A male Marsh Harrier flew past and a Common Buzzard was perched and spent ages looking around in all directions.

male Marsh Harrier

Common Buzzard

I finished off the visit with distant views of a couple of Grey Partridge.

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Mediterranean Gull, Carrion Crows, 5 Green Woodpecker, Starlings, 29 Goldfinch, 9 Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Rooks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Song Thrush, Great Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, 12 Blackbird, Jackdaws, 11 Blackcap, House Sparrows, Blue Tits, 3 Wren, 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Collared Dove, 4 Mallard, 7 Moorhen, 5 Robin, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Whitethroat, 26 Linnet, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Fieldfare, 1 male Ring Ouzel, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Magpie, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Jay, 6 Swallow, 2 Common Buzzard, 6 Sand Martin, 3 Dunnock, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Grey Partridge