I headed to Reculver today. It was a sunny and warm day with initially a south south easterly wind which gradually swung round to southerly. 6 Pied Wagtail were active around the car park area, a mix of adults and youngsters. a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls flew east. Lots of House Sparrows were chirping away. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across and Blackbirds and Linnet were busy feeding amongst the cut grass.
As I neared the sea I saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding from the plants by the last section of Roman Wall. It was ever active and, as always, an absolute joy to watch. It had an amazing turn of speed and such control when hovering. It would feed for a couple of minutes then shoot off and return a few minutes later. I tried for some photos and was lucky as the light was very good which enabled me to get some shots. It was really beautiful to watch and had such precise control over its long proboscis.
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
Out to sea appeared to be quiet except for a single Teal that flew west. A Little Owl was perched on one of the telegraph poles I tried for some photos but as I was taking into the light I struggled to get exposure right but was chuffed to have been able to get any at all. As a dog walker came past the owl flew over to the fence by the pumping station and after watching the ground intently dropped down and came back up with a mouse which it promptly swallowed.
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| Little Owl |
A juvenile Black-headed Gull was with 4 Black-headed gull on the shore and a Common Gull dropped in briefly.
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| juvenile Black-headed Gull |
There was a huge number of insects on the wing and a mixed group of Black-headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls were making the most of them. I could see 6 Mediterrranean Gull and a couple came close and gave superb views as they swooped after the insects.
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| Mediterranean Gull |
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| Mediterranean Gull |
I could see a Little Ringed Plover in the same place as the other day. A Mute Swan was also there having a wash and brush up while a Kestrel hovered over the oyster farm. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly zoomed by on the lower path without stopping. A summer plumaged Turnstone looked gorgeous in the light.
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| Turnstone |
The rest of the walk up to Coldharbour remained quite quiet. A Whimbrel flew west and I had a single Common Tern. On Coldharbour itself there only appeared to be a few Black-headed Gulls. I was pleased to see a Greenshank on the shore and it gave some good views.
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| Greenshank |
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| Greenshank |
Before heading up to Chambers Wall I had a short look along the bottom path. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly was patrolling but never paused long enough for a photo. A Conehead nymph had lost part of one of its antenna while a metallic beetle shone in the sunshine. I am not sure what it is at the moment.
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| Conehead nymph |
A Sedge Warbler was working its way through the vegetation and a couple of mating Gatekeeper Butterflies fluttered past before settling. Peacock butterflies were enjoying the Red Clover as was a single Painted Lady. Small and Essex Skippers were plentiful and a few Small Heath were here and there.
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| mating Gatekeeper Butterflies |
A couple of Skylark were on the path up to Chambers Wall and gave some good views. A Yellow Wagtail called as it flew over.
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
By the river at Chambers Wall Small Red-eyed Damselflies were plentiful and there were also good numbers of Red-eyed. Many females were conjoined and and ovipositing. Blue-tailed damselflies fluttered about.
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| Small Red-eyed Damselfly |
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| Large Red Dameslfly |
I saw 5 Emperor Dragonflies and 3 Brown Hawkers. I also saw a Norfolk Hawker. Once again I tried for some flight photos and once again did really badly. Still, as before, at least they make good memory shots.
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| Brown Hawker |
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| Norfolk Hawker |
There were a few Ruddy Darter here and there and I saw a single Willow Emerald. I saw some handsome metallic beetles and will need to try and find out what they are.
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| Ruddy Darter |
I finished the visit with some very nice views of a female Banded Demoiselle sheltering out of the wind.
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| Banded Demoiselle |
Birds seen this visit include: 8 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrows, Starlings, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, 4 Blackbird, 40 Linnet, Cormorants, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Teal, 1 Common Gull, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Kestrel, 21 Meadow Pipit, 6 Little Egret, 8 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 7 Oystercatcher, 8 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 4 Ringed Plover, 7 Reed Bunting, 18 Sedge Warbler, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Partridge calling, 1 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Shelduck, 2 Magpie, 2 Grey Heron, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Carrion Crows
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