Pied Flycatchers Galore and a Common Redstart Chambers Wall to Shuart 26/08/19

With a beautifully fine day, and having finished work earlier because of being a Bank Holiday, I decided to pay another visit to Chambers Wall. It had turned into a very warm afternoon. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing in the car park area and it was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher as it popped into the open momentarily before disappearing back into the hedge. It boded well for the visit.

Pied Flycatcher

As I walked down the track it was clear that many of the birds were keeping very much to the shade inside the hedge. I could see 2 Pied Flycatchers tucked back in the shade, one of which may have been the same bird I had just seen. A Blackcap was tutting away and a Robin and a couple of Wren were resting up in the deep shade of the hedge. As I carried on down I was chuffed when I came across another couple of Pied Flycatchers flycatching away and I could see another further down at the same time. They are lovely birds and I stopped and thoroughly enjoyed just watching them for a while. One of them gradually worked its way closer to me and I ended up with some lovely views.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

While watching the flycatchers I had seen a Common Redstart, a fair way further down, flick out from the hedge and down onto the path before disappearing back in again a moment later but treating me to a lovely view of its fanned tail as it did so. I did not see it reappear again but, once I left the flycatchers I kept my eyes open as I carried on down the track. Unfortunately it had moved to the other side of the hedge and I just got a brief glimpse through a gap in the hedge before it disappeared from sight again. A couple of Whitethroat were a little further down and as I came up onto the embankment a Willow Warbler was calling away. Initially I had planned to walk down to Coldharbour but catching sight of another Pied Flycatcher drew me along the embankment and I decided to have a wander along there instead. Once again everything was keeping very much to the shade. As it was such a beautiful afternoon I decided to make the most of it and try and get as far as Shuart. A family of 6 Long-tailed Tits were working their way along. A Marsh Harrier was soaring above and I saw several Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers as well as a few Silver-Y moth as I headed along.

Common Darter

I was treated to some super views of a Sparrowhawk as it soared above me and I also saw a male flying fast over the hedgerow sending up some Goldfinches but unable to catch any of them.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

It turned out to be a pretty quiet walk along the embankment as keeping to the shade seemed to be the order of the day and most birds were therefore decidedly skulky. I did, however, do very well for Pied Flycatchers and saw at least 5 over the length of the embankment. I saw good numbers of Latticed Heath moths and several faded Painted Lady Butterflies were active. As I neared the crossing for Shuart a Small Heath butterfly looked lovely with the light shining though its wings.

Small Heath Butterfly

The walk through Shuart proved to be very quiet indeed but time was getting on. Very few Migrant Hawkers were still on the wing but I saw several tucked away in the hedge. A Common Darter appeared to have damaged its abdomen with a severe kink near the end but was still hawking for insects well in the last of the sunshine. A Marsh Harrier flew across carrying prey.

Common Darter

Marsh Harrier with prey

When I reached the end of the track I had a wander up to the bridleway to see if anything was making the most of the last of the sunshine and finished my visit as I started with a Pied Flycatcher. This brought my visit's total to 11 Pied Flycatchers which is the most I have ever seen in one day. 3 Ringed-necked Parakeets were noisily calling away as I made my way back to the car park after an enjoyable afternoon.

Pied Flycatcher

Birds seen this visit include: House Sparrows, 2 Robin, 3 Wren, Wood Pigeons, 11 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, 5 Magpie, Linnets, Goldfinches, 7 Swallow, 3 Collared Dove, 4 Mute Swan including 3 youngsters, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Sparrowhawk, Blackbird 3, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet,

Spotted and Pied Flycatchers Encounter - Chambers Wall 25/08/19

I paid a visit to Chambers Wall after work to see what I could see. It was a beautifully fine late afternoon with a gentle easterly wind and very warm. The visit started very well as the first bird I saw was a gorgeous Spotted Flycatcher (148) in the bushes by the car park. It really was a little beauty. I froze as soon as I saw it and apart from very slowly lifting the camera I did not move and was treated to some incredible views from a very obliging bird as it sat looking around. I think that it is the best views of a Spotted Flycatcher that I have had. It had pale edges to its greater coverts and tertials so would that make it a first winter bird? I could see a second Spotted Flycatcher atop some bushes further along.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

I caught sight of something fly catching on the other side of the hedge and heard a bird calling so I inched away from this little fella, so as to not disturb it, and had a peep around the other side of the hedge. A Pied Flycatcher (149) was sat calling away. I don't think that I have heard one call before. It was a fair way down from me and appeared fairly agitated and looked as if whatever was upsetting it was above it but whatever it was I couldn't see it from where I was. After a few moments of calling etc it moved off into the bush.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

I had a wander back round to the other side. The Pied Flycatcher was still calling and was very mobile, moving from bush to bush then over to the bushes by the river and back again. It finally settled for a little while before moving off again.

Pied Flycatcher

I headed down the track towards the railway crossing and could see a Whinchat ahead of me. Unfortunately a dog walker was coming up the track so I grabbed a quick distant shot just before it flew up and disappeared to the other side of the hedge.

Whinchat

A Hummingbird Hawkmoth settled momentarily before continuing up the track. I could not manage to get the camera onto it quick enough, which was a shame, as it would have been nice to have been able to have got a photo of it settled as it is not how I usually see them. Linnets and Goldfinches were flitting around. A couple of Whitethroat were working their way through the hedge and a Common Buzzard called from above. Common Darter and good numbers of Migrant Hawkers were on the wing. I came across a Spotted Flycatcher again but I think it is likely that it was one of the two that I had already seen as I had seen the more distant one head in this direction. I also saw a couple of Pied Flycatchers in the same area one of which was also likely to be the bird I had already seen.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

I carried on down and had another Pied Flycatcher much further along, by the river and a Green Woodpecker was on the ground. I think it highly likely that there were more than 3 Pied Flycatchers but as there was a chance of counting the same bird twice I only counted the ones I could be certain were different birds. As I crossed the railway line I could hear at least 2 Common Sandpiper calling and the calls appeared to be coming from the direction of the river. There were several Yellow Wagtail around the path as I approached Coldharbour. Coldharbour itself remained quite quiet with a Redshank and a few Black-headed Gulls. There was a also a Common Sandpiper workings its way along a muddy margin with another calling from cover. I had a seat on the sea wall for a while and could see a roost of 75 Oystercatchers and 7 Ringed Plover.

Common Sandpiper

Roosting Oystercatchers

I headed back up to towards Chambers Wall. A few Meadow Pipit were on the path and a Willow Warbler was working its way through a bush much to the disgust of a male Reed Bunting who promptly saw it off. A Latticed Heath Moth flew up and then settled back down again. They are handsome moths. A Lacewing was also enjoying the last of the sunshine.

Latticed Heath Moth

Latticed Heath Moth

Lacewing

I could hear a Grey Partridge calling from the other side of the hedge. A Sparrowhawk shot through, literally brushing the bush that a flock of roosting Linnet were chattering away from sending 80 roosting Linnet wheeling up into the air. It chased, twisting and turning after a bird but did not manage to catch it and then carried on through. The flock circled around several times before dropping back into the bushes.

Linnets

It was time to head for home but it had been a bonus to be able to have some time out and I had enjoyed my visit and thoroughly enjoyed my encounter with the Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Spotted Fycatcher, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 109 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, 1 Moorhen, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Skylark, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern, 75 Oystercatcher, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Turnstone, Cormorant, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Swallow, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Coot, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Robin, 2 Wren, 2 Mallard,

Little Terns, Snipe, Fulmar and a Weasel - Shuart to Reculver 22/08/19

For the last day of my holiday I started out from Shuart. I will not be able to spend much time bird watching for next couple of weeks so it has been good to have had the time this week to just enjoy some slow wanders through the area and I thought I would try and make the most of it today. It was a very fine morning with a light westerly wind. Willow Warbler and Blackcap were calling from the car park and a good mix of the usual jobs were either singing or calling away. As I had a wander along I kept my eyes open for a flycatcher but I did not manage to find one. Passing a gap in the hedge I could see 3 Red-legged Partridge in the field and a little further along I could caught sight through the little gaps in the hedge of another 12 at the edge of the field.

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

I saw good numbers of Blackcap today as I made my way along. 2 Common Buzzard were frequently calling and a Carrion Crow gave, first a Kestrel, and then a Sparrowhawk a rough time, coming up to meet both and then harassing them until they moved on. I saw a couple of Migrant Hawkers resting up and a couple of Common Darter were on the wing.

Migrant Hawker

I got lovely views of a Reed Warbler enjoying the warmth of the early morning sunshine. It sat for a couple of minutes and then after a quick yawn moved on.

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

A Mute Swan was preening at the edge of a dyke with 4 youngsters round it. A Grey Wagtail called as it flew over. In the stables area a Willow Warbler was working its way through the bushes and Swallows were hawking for insects above the Paddocks. Clouds of House Sparrow and Linnet were on the path ahead of me with more in the bushes. There was a mass of alarmed chirping as a Sparrowhawk streaked past brushing the bushes as it went. It was moving so fast that I did not see if it had successfully caught one or not. 2 Yellow Wagtail and 5 Pied Wagtail were in the paddocks. The manure heap was steaming and the warmth from it had attracted a fox who was sunbathing on it.

Fox

The sea appeared very quiet when I reached the sea wall and the tide was on its way out. A few Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were on the shore or the sea. A couple of Sandwich Tern were heading east. The walk along to Plumpudding was very quiet. I saw a couple of Teal flying west well out to sea before coming down and settling on the sea. Plumpudding Island itself was very quiet with just 3 Redshank on it. A confiding Reed Bunting looked lovely in the morning light.

Reed Bunting

As I neared Coldharbour I had 5 waders flying west. There were 2 Ringed Plovers and 3 Snipe. They turned inland at Coldharbour and I thought they were going to come down but they turned again and continued west.

Snipe

A Whitethroat peeped out at me as I walked past Coldharbour. A Common Sandpiper and a couple of Redshank were present together with a few Black-headed Gulls. The usual Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtails and Reed Bunting were also there.

Whitethroat

I could hear some shingle being dislodged on the bank at the back of Coldharbour and looked up to see a Weasel streaking for cover. They are so fast. It continued to move back and fore along the edge of the vegetation and remained mostly hidden. When it paused it was surprisingly well camouflaged against the shingle. I only managed a very poor memory shot but was pleased to get it. They are amazing creatures to watch.

well camouflaged Weasel

I sat on the sea wall for a while and apart from the odd Common and Sandwich Tern it appeared to be very quiet. I was idly following a Sandwich Tern when I saw a group of small birds moving out to sea and tightly grouped together. I thought they were going to be waders but when I got on them I could see that they were in fact terns and even better it was a fairly large group of Little Terns with a few Common Terns interspersed with them. I was very lucky as once they started to separate out they turned my way and flew steadily west bringing them past me. I really hoped that they might move in a bit closer but unfortunately they didn't. They were a very welcome sight indeed and definitely made my day. Unfortunately they were too far out for any decent photos, particularly with the heat haze, but I gave it a go and although they have come out very badly, and are heavily cropped, they make really good memory shots of a lovely sight. There appeared to be c30 Little Terns and 5 Common Terns. I bumped into Marc Heath on the sea wall later on, as he was also out at Reculver, and he said that Chris Hindle had had a group of Little Terns amongst the Gull roost behind Coldharbour earlier that morning so it seems likely that they were the same birds moving off from there.

Little and Common Terns

Little and Common Terns

Well chuffed I sat for a while longer just enjoying the glorious morning's weather and watching an immature Yellow Wagtail looking for insects along one of the groynes. It appeared to be catching plenty.

immature Yellow Wagtail

I looked up from watching that to see a Fulmar flying west close into shore but it had already started to pass me and all I could see was a rear end view. Luckily a little further along it turned slightly and I was able to get some photos before it turned again and continued west. It was a lovely sight. A group of 17 Common Tern were also going west.

Fulmar

Fulmar

Fulmar

A Grey Heron was hunting along the dyke running parallel to the sea wall and gave some good views as it did so. It did not seem concerned by the activity on the sea wall.

Grey Heron

A couple of Stonechat were active and a Whinchat popped up briefly amongst them. I caught sight of a Wheatear on the rocks and then, at the same time, had another one on the beach.

Wheatear

I could hear Grey Herons calling and had 4 flying in off the sea from the north. They turned as they neared the shore and flew west.

Grey Herons

I was sorry that my holiday was coming to an end but it had been an enjoyable visit to finish on.

Birds seen this visit include: 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 9 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 8 Blackbird, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chaffinch, Carrion Crows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 15 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Jay, 4 Mallard, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 9 Goldfinch, 2 Kestrel, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler, 7 Mute Swan, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, Linnets, House Sparrows, Starlings, 25 Swallow, 10 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail, 12 Sandwich Tern, 5 Magpie, 12 Meadow Pipit, Cormorant, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Collared Dove, 20 Ringed Plover, 12 Oystercatcher, 36 Common Tern, 6 Redshank, 2 Teal west then settled on the sea, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Snipe west, 12 Turnstone, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Coot, 5 Grey Heron, c30 Little Tern, 1 Fulmar west, 1 Pheasant, 2 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear,