I headed back to Reculver on a beautifully fine morning. It appeared to be very quiet overall on arrival. Some of the group of Starlings, up by the towers, were having a wash and brush up and then settling up on the ruins to preen. The youngsters were well on with their moult into adult plumage.
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| Starlings |
A Little Egret flew past and a few Sand Martins were hawking for insects. I got a surprise when a couple of large groups of Mallard flew up at the same time over the far fields totalling 84 altogether. Their numbers have certainly built up. I couldn't see what had put them up though. A little further on several Redshank were calling noisily from the oyster farm and I could see a Common Sandpiper on there while 30 Sand Martins were hawking for insects over it. Further along 7 young Mallard were keeping together down one of the dykes.
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| young Mallard |
3 Yellow Wagtail were on the sea wall and a couple of Wheatear were on the beach side and continually moving along as they looked for insects. A Meadow Pipit was tucked in out of the wind.
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| Meadow Pipit |
A group of 23 Common Tern flew west and I had 3 Sandwich Tern east. I had another Wheatear in a completely different area and I think that it was a third bird. Good numbers of Ringed Plover were along the shore as well as good numbers of Turnstone. I saw one Dunlin amongst a mixed group of roosting Ringed Plover and Turnstone. A Mediterranean Gull flew west. I came across small numbers of Pied Wagtail throughout my visit. As I neared Coldharbour I saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding from the Teasels on the shore side of the sea wall. They are beautiful insects to watch and the control they have over hovering and their proboscis is breathtaking.
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
A couple of Common Sandpipers were on one of the groynes and a Meadow Pipit was searching for insects on another groyne. It appeared to be quite successful.
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| Common Sandpipers |
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| Meadow Pipit |
Some walkers flushed a juvenile cuckoo from the reeds alongside the dyke at Coldharbour.
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| juvenile Cuckoo |
On the walk up to Plumpudding I was treated to some good views of Sandwich Terns and enjoyed trying for some flight photos.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
I came across another 3 Yellow Wagtail and some Sandwich Terns and Common Terns continued to move west. Plumpudding Island was very quiet with the only bird being a single Little Egret.
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| Little Egret |
Good numbers of House Sparrow were around the stables area and some Common Blue Butterflies were active along the embankment. A Common Buzzard was circling and calling high above me.
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| female Common Blue Butterfly |
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| Common Blue |
As I walked down the track at Shuart I kept my eyes open for Hawkers but I could only see Migrant Hawkers today. Wren were singing away and I saw most of the usual jobs on the walk through. There were a lot of mating joined Migrant Hawkers on the wing but I did not see any land to photograph. I also saw several pairs of mating Common Darter. A couple of Migrant Hawkers paused for a rest and allowed some photos.
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| Migrant Hawker |
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| Migrant Hawker |
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| Migrant Hawker |
A Willow Warbler was working its way through the bushes. At one point a female Marsh Harrier flew low over the hedge causing consternation from the birds below. I came across a tent of Peacock caterpillars.
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| Peacock Butterfly Caterpillars |
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| Peacock Butterfly Caterpillars |
A Green Woodpecker was calling as I neared the car park and a couple of Blackcap were tutting away. 20 Lapwing were resting up in a field and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker gave some nice views even if it was into the light. It has been a quieter visit today but an enjoyable walk through.
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| Lapwings |
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| female Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Birds seen this visit include: 13 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, House Sparrows, 58 Sand Martin, 8 Little Egret, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 103 Linnet, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 91 Mallard, 8 Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 27 Turnstone, 3 Grey Heron, 21 Meadow Pipit, 13 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Pheasant, Carrion Crows, 1 Dunnock, 3 Magpie, 3 Wheatear, 32 Ringed Plover, 18 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Tern, 1 Dunlin, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Coot, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Mute Swan, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Wren, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Warbler, Jackdaws, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Marsh Harrier, 20 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
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