I had a short walk at Reculver after work. It was a sunny afternoon with a somewhat cool north north easterly wind. I sat on the sea wall for a while and was treated to some good views of a Common Tern off shore. It appeared to be one of a pair with, presumably, its mate sat atop a marker pole. It appeared to be repeatedly displaying as it flew back and fore between its mate and another marker pole. As it flew away it would suddenly slow its wing beats and using stiff, slow, and deep, wing beats it would rise and fall. The effect was quite marked and it almost appeared to be flying in slow motion before reverting to normal flight in between and on the return flight to its mate. It was beautiful to watch and I hope that she was suitably impressed.
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| Common Tern |
I carried on along the sea wall. The tide was coming in and I could see the immature male Eider preening on the last patch of exposed mussel bed together with a few Herring Gull and a couple of Oystercatcher. As the sea rose the other birds left but the Eider remained until the sea covered the exposed area completely. Behind me on the oyster farm I could see a Common Sandpiper (137) in the same area that I saw the Little Ringed Plover the other day.
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| Immature male Eider |
A few Linnet were feeding nearby and allowed some photos.
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet |
Sedge Warblers and Whitethroat were singing away with Dunnock, Wren and Corn Bunting joining in. A single Grey Plover was on the shore and a Shelduck gave another opportunity to try for a flight photo as it came past.
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| Grey Plover |
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| Shelduck |
A confiding Meadow Pipit showed off its long hind claw well as it perched.
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| Meadow Pipit |
I finished off an afternoon of just mainly sitting, watching and enjoying the local birds with good views of the female Marsh Harrier, with the male coming in behind.
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| female Marsh Harrier |
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| female Marsh Harrier |
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