Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpipers, Bittern, Southern Hawker and Southern Migrant Hawker - Reculver to Shuart 31/07/19

I headed to Reculver this morning. It was sunny when I arrived but rapidly clouding up with a brisk west south westerly wind. The tide was out but starting to come in quite fast. Approximately 170 Starling were around the towers area alternating between the grassy area and then onto the concrete apron where they were searching for insects amongst the seaweed. 2 Grey Partridge flew up with a whirr of wings from the grass area on the old caravan site before disappearing into cover. As I came down to the sea wall a Little Egret was near the waters edge with a couple of Common Sandpiper on the shore line. Sand Martins were hawking for insects. I saw a Black-tailed Godwit flying west and though distant I tried for some photos. They haven't come out well and are heavily cropped but I was pleased to be able to get them.

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

I carried on along the sea wall and there was a good mix of waders on the shore with Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstone all busy feeding and a couple of Curlew flew west. A single Wheatear popped up onto the sea wall and was chased off by a particularly belligerent Linnet. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach.

Mediterranean Gulls

A couple of Green Sandpipers flew up from the oyster farm before settling down again. A Mediterranean Gull flew west and Swift were over the oyster farm. I met Chris and Anne Hindle who said that Marc Heath had had 2 Wood Sandpiper early morning on Coldharbour. I hoped that they would still be present once I reached there. A female Tufted Duck was in one of the dykes and a couple of Coot with 2 youngsters in another one.

female Tufted Duck

I met Chris and Anne on their way back from Coldharbour and they had seen a Wood Sandpiper but it had flown shortly after so I was not hopeful of catching up with it. I met Marc Heath and while chatting with him a flock of 21 Common Tern flew past out to sea. A Great Crested Grebe was offshore. I reached Coldharbour and had a look to see what I could see. A couple of Dunlin were preening, as was a Redsank. There wasn't any sign of a Wood Sandpiper. Three Common Sandpipers were present and 4 Sandwich Tern flew east out to sea. I couldn't believe my luck when I heard a bird calling and a Wood Sandpiper (146) flew back in. It landed near a Common Sandpiper and started to feed. It was a beautiful bird and I was treated to some lovely views as it fed almost continuously the whole time I was watching it.

Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

At one point a large group of cyclists came past and it flew a short distance before settling back down in the same area as a couple of Common Sandpiper. I did not manage much of a flight photo but it does show the pale underwing, well projecting toes and more narrowly barred tail.

Wood Sandpiper

A juvenile Common Sandpiper and 2 adult Dunlin with a juvenile also gave good views as they worked their way along the same edge.

juvenile Common Sandpiper

Dunlin

I carried on and sat on the sea wall for a while to watch the sea but it was very quiet apart from a few passing Sandwich Terns. As I carried on along the sea wall a flock of 10 Common Sandpiper flew east, presumably ones moving as the tide rose, so I have not counted them in the numbers below as I do not know how many I may have already counted as I came along. A Common Tern was fishing offshore and a Grey Seal popped its head up and had a look round before sinking under the water again. A flock of 4 Common Sandpiper flew west and I have counted those below.

Common Tern

Grey Seal

Common Sandpiper

The weather was improving rapidly and becomming sunny and warm. I had more Common and Sandwich Tern passing out to sea as I approached Plumpudding Island with a juvenile Sandwich Tern giving some good views. I did not manage much of a photo but it makes a good memory shot.

juvenile Sandwich Tern

I got a nice surprise when I saw a Wood Sandpiper on Plumpudding Island. I have counted it as a separate bird but it is possible that the one from Coldharbour had flown down. It was turning out to be a very good visit. A juvenile Yellow Wagtail and a juvenile Pied Wagtail close to each other gave good opportunities to compare them.

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

I carried on along the sea wall. I could see at least 6 Whimbrel roosting on the beach together with 62 Oystercatchers, Black-headed and Herring Gulls, and Sandwich and Common Terns. A Common Sandpiper on some rocks stayed longer than I expected with the waves breaking over the rocks. I was beginning to be somewhat concerned that it was going to be washed off the rock but once a large wave came in it flew up and away and escaped unharmed.

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

As I neared the point to come off the sea wall for Shuart some Black-headed Gulls gave some very good views as they flew into the wind. 11 Common Scoter flew east.

Black-Headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Lots of Starlings and House Sparrows were around the stables area and several more Pied Wagtail. Linnets were chattering away and a couple of Whitethroat scolded from the bushes. A teneral Migrant Hawker's wings caught the light as it rested amongst nettles.

teneral Migrant Hawker

On crossing the railway line I saw another Migrant Hawker sheltering out of the wind. As I turned from photographing that I saw a large brown bird disappearing from view with a large wing span and it was definitely not a bird of prey or an owl. From the very brief glimpse I thought that it was a Bittern but it seemed so unlikely that I doubted myself too much to count it as such. As an update to this it later turned out that a farm worker had photographed a Bittern in one of the dykes and showed the photo to Matt Hindle. He had seen it in the same area and around the time that I saw this bird so it was really nice to confirm that I had not got the identification wrong even though it was only the briefest of views.

Migrant Hawker

As I came up to the beginning of the hedgerow I could see several hawkers on the wing ahead. There were several Migrant Hawkers and an interesting looking hawker that, luckily for me, settled as it clouded over and I could see that I was looking at my first Southern Hawker. I was so chuffed. It was a beautiful dragonfly.

female Southern Hawker

female Southern Hawker

Extremely well chuffed I carried on down the path and had not gone very far when I saw a couple of hawkers settle. The first was a Migrant Hawker and it gave nice views. A Common Darter was determined not to be left out and settled in front of me allowing a good close view.

Migrant Hawker

Common Darter

I moved forward slowly towards where I had seen the other hawker go down and caught sight of blue and expected to find a male Migrant Hawker. What I actually saw as I crept closer took my breath away. There was a beautiful blue hawker sitting there. Blue eyes and blue and black markings. I couldn't believe it as I thought I may well have a Southern Migrant Hawker but it did not really seem possible and I thought that I must be mistaken. I could not manage to remember exactly what were the definitive identifying features for Southern Migrant Hawker and knew that I would need to check my photos against my books before I could be sure. I was able to get some photos before the sun came back out and suddenly it was off and back to hawking for insects. What an incredibly beautiful dragonfly. As I had to leave shortly afterwards and did not get back until late I wasn't able to check my photos against my books until late evening but they seemed to confirm what I thought. For confirmation I sent a couple of photos to both Chris Hindle and Marc Heath who agreed with identification. What a beauty.

male Southern Migrant Hawker

male Southern Migrant Hawker

male Southern Migrant Hawker

I finished off a very enjoyable and productive visit with close views of another Common Darter.

Common Darter

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Blackbird, Starlings, House Sparrows, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 9 Pied Wagtail, 67 Oystercatcher, 48 Sand Martin, 20 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Partridge, 8 Redshank, Carrion Crows, 138 Linnet, Wood Pigeons, 4 Little Egret, 31 Meadow Pipit, 20 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 5 Whitethroat, 12 Turnstone, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 1 Grey Heron, 2 west and 1 east Curlew, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Reed Bunting, 53 Swift, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Pheasant, 5 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Coot, 30 Common Tern, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mute Swan, 6 Whimbrel, Skylarks, 16 Sandwich Tern, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Magpie, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Common Scoter east, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Corn Bunting, 3 Collared Dove, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Moorhen

A Quiet but Enjoyable Walk Through - Shuart to Chambers Wall 26/07/19

I started out from Shuart today. Rain was threatening for the first part of the visit and I could see a couple of flashes of lightening out to the west but they never got any closer. In the end it stayed dry and turned warm and sunny. 5 Wren's were in the car park area with a couple of Robins. I stopped to enjoy a male Blackcap's song a little further on and as I did so I heard a brief call that sounded like a Water Rail. Though I stayed a while to listen I didn't hear anything further and the only birds I could see in the dyke were an adult Moorhen and a youngster. I will have to see if I hear it again. A Little Owl called which is always a welcome sound. It was a fairly quiet walk through to the sea wall with most of the usual jobs present. I enjoyed watching a couple of immature Willow Warblers as they worked their way through the hedgerow.

immature Willow Warbler

There were certainly good numbers of Wren around and at least 4 Migrant Darters. I saw several juvenile Reed Warblers. I was puzzled by one of the warblers that I saw and managed to get some photos. Further on I met Matt Hindle and asked him to have a look at the photos. He instantly recognised it as a Reed Warbler and once I got home and looked at the photos I could see it but at the time I really wondered what it was. I have still got lots to learn.

juvenile Reed Warbler

A juvenile Cuckcoo flew from a bush and gave a brief view before it dived into the next one. I did not manage much of a shot but was pleased to get what I did.

juvenile Cuckoo

I saw a large family of Blue Tits working their way through an apple tree with 8 youngsters busily feeding. I couldn't get much of a shot but it makes a good memory shot.

young Blue Tit

30 Swallow were hawking for insects over the horse paddocks as I came up to the stables and several of the horses had rows of Starling passengers on their backs. 6 Pied Wagtail were busily looking for insects. The sea was rougher today but appeared very quiet for birds as I reached the sea wall. The tide was almost in but on the turn. A Sandwich Tern flew east and a Ringed Plover was calling noisily from the beach. I had a Kingfisher fly past and fly up onto some rocks. They are always a joy to see.

Kingfisher

A single Great Crested Grebe was out to sea and 8 Whimbrel were roosting on the shore in groups of 5 and 3. A Ringed Plover flew in overhead before turning for shore again. Meadow Pipits were popping up onto the sea wall. Plumpudding Island was very quiet apart from a few Goldfinches, Linnets and Meadow Pipits and a single Little Egret. I could hear a Greenshank calling from out to sea but could not see it from where I was at Plumpudding Island. I carried on towards Coldharbour and the odd Sandwich Tern continued to fly past as did a Little Egret. A young Yellow Wagtail was on the sea wall. They are lovely little birds.

immature Yellow Wagtail

immature Yellow Wagtail

I carried on to the green bank and had a Common Sandpiper past out to sea. 3 Stonechat were alongside the sea wall. I headed up the path parallel to the green bank. Several Emperor Dragonflies were on the wing as were Common Darters. A Common Blue Butterfly paused long enough, as it fed on some Red Clover, for a photo.

Common Blue Butterfly

I could hear a Linnet calling away and could see a particularly brightly pumaged male above me.

male Linnet

male Linnet

A teneral Migrant Hawker was hanging from a stem and gave an opportunity for some photographs.

teneral Migrant Hawker

teneral Migrant Hawker

teneral Migrant Hawker

On reaching the railway embankment over 30 Goldfinches were enjoying the thistle heads. They make such a lovely sound as they chatter away. A Grey Heron was in one of the fields. There was a lot of Common Toadflax in patches along the embankment.It looked lovely in the sunshine but was hard to find a bit that was not partially obscured by vegetation.

Common Toadflax

On reaching Chambers Wall I had a look beside the river. 2 Green Sandpipers flew up calling noisily and Swallows were hawking for insects. I could see a couple of Brown Hawkers and also 2 Emperor Dragonflies.Unfortunately I had run out of time and needed to get back for a meeting so I couldn't linger. A male Sparrowhawk shot through and turned on a sixpence to chase a Reed Warbler that had flown up in alarm. It missed it by a fraction and carried on through. I finished with distant views of a Common Buzzard and 7 Lapwing flying over. It had been a fairly quiet visit overall but an enjoyable walk through.

Lapwing

Birds seen this visit include: Wood Pigeons, 15 Wren, 2 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 7 Green Woodpecker, 6 Chaffinch, 1 Little Owl, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 8 Magpie, 2 Moorhen, 2 Pheasant, 8 Reed Warbler, Herring Gulls, 1 Blackcap, 1 Jay, 5 Mallard, 9 Whitethroat, 16 Reed Bunting, 17 Sedge Warbler, Skylarks, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, Carrion Crow, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 36 Goldfinch, 53 Swallow, 7 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, Starlings, Linnets, 6 Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gulls, Cormorants, 10 Ringed Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Whimbrel, 13 Meadow Pipits, 3 Little Egret, 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Tern, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Coot, 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Stonechat, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Lapwing

Feisty Common Tern and a Juvenile Whinchat - Shuart to Reculver 25/07/19

It was a luxury to be able to come out bird watching again today as unusually I have 3 days off together. It was due to be the hottest day of the year today so I headed to Shuart early morning with the aim of walking through to Reculver via the sea wall to take advantage of the breeze. There was a south easterly wind.

Several Robin were ticking away and Blackcap and Wren were singing beautifully. A Green Woodpecker flew over calling loudly while a young Moorhen was loudly begging from the dyke. A young Green Woodpecker was near the farm buildings, and another on the track gave some good views.

Green Woodpecker

Several Red Admiral butterflies were sunning themselves and looked gorgeous in the early morning light. A Migrant Hawker had a brief fly around before settling back down again.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Migrant Hawker

Even though it was early it was very warm. Families of Blue and Great Tits were working their way through the hedgerow on either side and a Cetti's Warbler called. Another couple of juvenile Green Woodpeckers were active, as were another couple of Migrant Hawker. As I came to the end of the hedge a male Marsh Harrier must have been flying very low and parallel to the hedge as we arrived at the end of the hedge at the same time and it was so close. On seeing me it shot upwards and veered off. I only managed to get a shot as it flew away from me but it makes a good memory shot.

male Marsh Harrier

Reed and Sedge Warblers were busy amongst the reeds as I made my way to the embankment. Once across the railway line a flock of 150 Starling were in the horse paddocks and 15 Swallow were weaving in and out as they hawked for insects. I could see a couple of Pied Wagtail and 50 House Sparrow and an equal number of Linnet. 10 Swifts were above me and I tried for some photos.

Swift

Swift

The south easterly breeze was welcome once I reached the sea wall. A Great Black-backed Gull was out to sea and another 3 flew east A couple of Dunlin and Sanderling were working their way along the shore.

Dunlin

Sanderling

A little further on I could see 8 Whimbrel on the shore in groups of 5 and 3. Presumably these are the same 8 that I saw yesterday although those were flying east but may have just been moving to further along the shore. A couple of Pied Wagtail were in dispute with some Meadow Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail called.

Whimbrel

Plumpudding was very quiet while off shore I could see a Great Crested Grebe. Small numbers of Sandwich Tern and Common Tern were also offshore. One of the Sandwich Tern was very adept at catching small fish. A juvenile Common Tern and an adult gave some very good views.

Sandwich Tern

juvenile Common Tern

Common Tern

Coldharbour was also very quiet. While sat on the sea wall I watched a fascinating interaction between a young Common Tern and a couple of Sandwich Tern, one of whom was ringed. The juvenile Common Tern was sat on one of the poles minding its own business when 2 passing Sandwich Terns decided they wanted to sit on it and chased the youngster off. It wasn't, however, having any of it, and despite there being two it took on both Sandwich Terns, chasing them off each time one of them tried to settle until eventually they left it to it. It was one plucky youngster.

Sandwich Terns and Common Tern

Sandwich Terns and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Terns and Common Tern

A little further along 11 Sanderling were feeding on the shore before being flushed by a dog walker. A Common Sandpiper was flushed at the same time.

Sanderling

Sanderling and Common Sandpiper

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The immature male Eider was out on the rock preening.

immature male Eider

immature male Eider

I was pleased to see a juvenile Whinchat. It was a lovely little bird.

juvenile Whinchat

juvenile Whinchat

juvenile Whinchat

juvenile Whinchat

juvenile Whinchat

 I continued on towards Reculver and a Little Egret gave a close fly by. A single Lapwing was on the oyster farm while Sand Martin and Swallow hawked for insects above. Another Common Sandpiper was on the shore. An overheated Cormorant flew over with its mouth agape to try and cool down.

Little Egret

Common Sandpiper

Cormorant

I had a short look along the bottom path and saw a couple of Emperor Dragonflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies. There was also a Common Darter but otherwise it was very quiet for insects. As I came back up onto the sea wall I could see a couple of Green Sandpiper on the oyster farm

Common Darter

I finished off the visit enjoying views of the Starlings as they looked for food amongst the rocks. They also had their bills wide open to try and help themselves to cool down. It was certainly very warm by this time. The Starlings plumage looked lovely in the sun. A little House Sparrow also had bill agape.

Starling

Starling

Starling

House Sparrow

Birds seen this visit include: 6 Robin, 5 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 8 Magpie, 5 Wren, 4 Green Woodpecker, Herring Gulls, 2 Blackbird, 2 Moorhen, 2 Blackcap, 11 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Whitethroat, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 9 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Mallard, 8 Goldfinch, 22 Swallow, 10 Swift, 150 Starling, 50 House Sparrow, 6 Pied Wagtail, 71 Linnet, 10 Sedge Warbler, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling, 8 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Sandwich Terns, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Coot, 6 Little Egret, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 immature male Eider, 3 Stonechat, 1 juvenile Whinchat, 10 Sand Martin, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper