It was very nice to have my first free day for birdwatching, that I have been able to have for the last couple of weeks, allowing me to aim for a slow wander from Reculver to Shuart. It was overcast with a light south westerly wind when I arrived but with the wind increasing to blustery as the visit went on. The tide was on the turn and had already started to go out. As I passed the towers a couple of Willow Warbler were working their way through one of the bushes and they made a good start to the visit. 6 Yellow Wagtail flew west overhead and 160 Starling around the towers area.
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| Willow Warbler |
As I walked round to the sea wall I saw a Little Owl in its usual spot which is always a welcome sight. A Robin was ticking away and a couple of Little Egret flew overhead. On reaching the sea wall I had a look out to sea but it appeared to be very quiet with just a few passing Herring and Black-headed Gulls. 3 Turnstone flew east and another couple of Little Egret flew towards Coldharbour. A Greenshank flew up briefly, calling away, from the dyke running parallel to the oyster farm before settling back down again. A juvenile Herring Gull was ousted from one of the marker poles as a Cormorant flew in and laid claim to it.
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| Cormorant and juvenile Herring Gull |
A mixed flock of 24 Ringed Plover, 9 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 1 Sanderling flew past before settling on the newly exposed shore. The Greenshank from the oyster farm flew up from where I had seen it settle and then was joined by another and both flew away calling before coming down again further into the oyster farm.
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| Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling |
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| Dunlin |
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| Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone |
A Mediterranean Gull flew west as I carried on along the sea wall. Small numbers of Oystercatcher were flying east calling nosily. I came across a couple of Wheatear.
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| Wheatear |
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| Wheatear |
A juvenile Peregrine flew past me, coming from behind, and unfortunately I only saw it as it was flying away which was a shame as it came past me pretty close. Luckily for me it settled on the shore further along, for a little while, which enabled me to try for some photos. They are not very good, and cropped, but I felt really lucky to be able to get them and they make good memory shots.
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
There appeared to be a small movement of Meadow Pipits with small groups heading west. Goldfinches were feeding amongst the Teasels. I saw another Wheatear on the rocks together with a Whinchat. The Whinchat was chased off the rocks by a Meadow Pipit and flew across to the bushes before dropping to the other side. Whinchat's seem poorly tolerated by both Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. A Teal flew east out to sea and Sandwich Terns were mainly heading west with the largest group being 20. As the morning went on it became more difficult to count the Sandwich Terns as they appeared to be moving both east and west and it was hard to know which were the same ones I was seeing. A first winter Sandwich Tern gave a good view as it went past.
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| 1st winter Sandwich Tern |
Coldharbour was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls on it. I carried on up to Plumpudding and caught up with the juvenile Peregrine again as it shot through putting up a flock of 35 Linnet but otherwise Plumpudding was also very quiet. 19 House Martin came in off the sea in a group and then continued west.
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| Peregrine |
I added Curlew and Common Sandpiper to the waders seen today as I carried on towards the turn off the wall I would take for Shuart. A large number of House Sparrows were flying down to feed amongst the stubble with c300 moving from the stubble to bushes and back again.
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| House Sparrows |
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| House Sparrows |
I got a nice surprise as I neared the turn off when I saw a pipit land on the shore and could see it was a Rock Pipit, my first of the autumn. It only stayed very briefly before flying low over the shore west and possibly coming down beyond the rocks. I couldn't manage much of a photo but was pleased to be able to get anything before it moved on. A few Wood Pigeon were feeding in one of the fields and a hovering Kestrel suddenly dived at the pigeons and made contact with one, plucking a few feathers as it did so but it did not appear to be able to do more than that as it immediately carried on flying off after making contact. Apart from having lost a few feathers the Wood Pigeon appeared to have survived the encounter.
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| Rock Pipit |
I came off the sea wall and made my way past the stables. A Kestrel was hovering and causing consternation amongst the House Sparrows and Linnets. It was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher and a Blackcap appeared to be tutting away at its presence. 6 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks. House Sparrow numbers seem higher each time I come and a large group were in the stables area, with some of them giving a chance for a closer photo.
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| Kestrel |
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| male House Sparrow |
After crossing over the railway line I had a couple of Swift at Shuart. While taking photos of one of them I heard a plane and looked up to see the Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress going over.
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| Swift |
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| Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress |
Common Darters were plentiful as I made my way though Shuart and a few Migrant Hawkers were on the wing, despite the coolness of the wind. At least they were sheltered from the worst of the wind by the hedge.
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| Common Darter |
Several Holly Blue Butterflies were resting up on the ivy. A Green-veined White gave the chance for a photo as did a smart Red Admiral butterfly. A very worn Comma was resting on the ground.
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| Green-veined White |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Comma |
A couple of bushes had attracted a mix of birds, as they moved through, with 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, Blue and Great Tits and 7 Long-tailed Tits. I finished an enjoyable visit with 4 Common Buzzard in the air at the same time and a singing Red-legged Partridge giving some good views.
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| Red-legged Partridge |
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| Red-legged Partridge |
Birds seen this visit include: 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Wood Pigeons, 420 House Sparrows, 220 Starling, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl, 23 Turnstone, 4 Robin, 6 Little Egret, 8 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Greenshank, 48 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Redshank, 41 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mallard, 4 Wheatear, 169 Linnet, 26 Swallow, 1 Pheasant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Whitethroat, 33 west, 8 east Sandwich Tern, 1 Whinchat, 4 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Teal east, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Coot, 1 Dunlin, 27 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Moorhen, 2 Swift, 1 Wren, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Red-legged Partridge
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