Red-breasted Mergansers, Eider and Snow Buntings - Shuart to Reculver 30/10/19

I paid a visit to Shuart on a sunny morning with a brisk and cool easterly wind. As I had a wander down the track all the usual suspects were present apart from Goldcrests which I didn't manage to catch up with today. A Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard had an altercation following which the Common Buzzard saw the Harrier off before resuming spiralling upwards. 15 Redwing were in the hedge and although very flighty it was nice to be able to catch brief glimpses through the gaps of these beautifully marked birds. As I neared the railway crossing a Mute Swan flew across with the familiar throbbing hum of its wing beats.

Mute Swan

I didn't see any Brambling at the stables today but paused to enjoy the sound of a Cetti's Warbler as it exploded into song nearby. 18 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing flew into a bush from one of the fields before moving on. As I came up onto the sea wall a couple of Brent Geese were off shore and 8 Redshank and a Turnstone were along the shore. The tide was well on its way to being in.

Brent Geese

Apart from 3 very distant Gannet east the sea remained quiet on the walk along to Plumpudding Island. 10 Redshank were roosting there, tucked in on the far bank, while another couple were busy swimming from island to island. Redshank appear to be very good swimmers and these two covered quite a distance in fairly choppy water. 3 Mallards were tucked in out of the wind and a very smart male Stonechat fly caught from the fence.

Redshank

Redshank

While I was watching the Redshank 68 Oystercatchers flew in landed behind the shingle bank followed a short while later by 13 Grey Plover. 5 Curlew and 60 Sanderling. 42 Brent Geese were off shore and it was lovely to hear the sound of them chattering away to each other once again and nice to see numbers beginning to build.

Grey Plover

Brent Geese

I got a very nice surprise as I carried on along the sea wall when 2 Snow Buntings flew up from the shingle in front of an approaching truck from the sea defence work. They appeared to come down on Plumpudding Island but by the time I had managed to walk back there I could not pick them up. Still they had been a very welcome sight and hopefully at some point I will be able to catch up with them again. As I headed back towards Coldharbour I caught sight of 5 Red-breasted Merganser flying east. I could not manage much in the photo line but I was well chuffed to be able to get a memory shot. It is the most Mergansers  I have seen together.

Red-breasted Mergansers

A short while later a juvenile Gannet flew east and although not very close it gave some nice views as it went past. I was surprised to see that as it reached the flock of Brent Geese its presence spooked them badly with birds flying up in all directions as the Gannet came through. Presumably the Gannet is no threat to them so I was surprised at their reaction.

Gannet

Gannet

A Black-headed Gull with its wing beats slowed by flying into the wind gave the opportunity to try for some photos as did what might have been a racing pigeon. A mixed flock of 67 Ringed Plover and a few Turnstone flew towards the wader roost behind Plumpudding.

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Ringed Plover and Turnstone

 As I neared Coldharbour I had 2 Eider, a male and a female, heading east a long way out to sea. I tried for some photos and though heavily cropped and pretty poor I am pleased I was able to get them as the photo makes a good memory shot. Male Eider are certainly very handsome birds. Hopefully at some point one will fly a bit closer.

male and female Eider

As I neared Coldharbour 16 Curlew and 52 Oystercatchers were disturbed by a photographer walking along the shingle bank and 2 Little Egret flew up from Coldharbour itself. 23 Mallard were bobbing about on the sea as I started towards Reculver and a Kestrel gave a low flypast with its eye catching the light beautifully. 4 Coot were on the dyke with a couple of Mute Swan.

Mallard

Kestrel

I pressed on towards the Green Bank and could see a single Great Crested Grebe out to sea. 12 Corn Bunting were on the oyster farm together with c100 House Sparrows. A Little Egret did a near vertical take off from the edge of the dyke. As I headed towards Reculver I once again had a very obliging Stonechat. They are such gorgeous birds to watch and full of character.

Little Egret

Stonechat

On nearing Reculver a stunning female Sparrowhawk flew past out to sea before turning and coming in and heading over the oyster farm sending Meadow Pipits and and a flock of 58 Linnets flying up in alarm. I tried for some photos as it came past me but it was so fast that I did not do very well with them but what a beautiful bird and a joy to watch.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

I had a single Common Gull fly east and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls throughout the visit. I tried for photos of a couple of the Great Black-backed Gulls and though the photos did not come out very well they do show that both were in the process of moulting some of their flight feathers.

Common Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

As I reached Reculver a single Swallow flew west. It had been good to be out today and I had enjoyed seeing what went past out to sea as I walked along.


Birds seen this visit included: 12 Robin, 7 Wren, 21 Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 26 Mallard, 3 Dunnock, 13 Mute Swan, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Moorhen, 6 Magpie, 4 Chaffinch, 14 Skylark, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 18 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Pied Wagtail, 18 Fieldfare, 18 Redshank, 27 Turnstone, 52 Brent Geese, 74 Sanderling, 4 Gannet east, 132 Oystercatcher, 8 Stonechat, 6 Reed Bunting, 65 Linnet, 12 Redshank, 22 Curlew, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 67 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egret, 2 Eider, 4 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Corn Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Gull, 1 Swallow

Bramblings and An Off Balance Kestrel - Shuart 25/10/19

I headed to Shuart this morning and was greeted by a Ring-necked Parakeet calling stridantly with a back up chorus of songs and calls from the usual suspects as I walked up to the top of the bridleway. As I came into the open I caught sight of a Common Buzzard perched nearby atop the hedge. It was a lovely view but although I froze as soon as I saw it, it was unfortunately too late and, having seen me, it dropped down from the hedge and flew rapidly away. For that brief moment though, before it flew, it had been a lovely view of an immature Common Buzzard and a good start to the visit. As I made my way back to the main track I spent a few minutes watching a little group of Goldcrest working their way through some heavily shaded Ivy. They really are lovely little birds.

As I wandered down the track I came across a Robin singing away and paused to enjoy its song. When it had finished singing it worked its way closer to me and posed very nicely before moving off.

Robin

Robin

Robin

A little further on a Lesser Redpoll landed briefly near the top of a tree before continuing on its way, calling as it did so, and a couple of Green Woodpecker gave a stereo effect as they called from opposite directions at the same time. 8 Long-tailed Tit were in constant contact as they searched for insects, only pausing very briefly to work their way through a bush before flying on to the next one. I paused to watch a couple of Stonechat, a very smart male and a female, that were visible as I had a look through the first break in the hedge.

3 Redwing flew up as I neared the end of the hedge and a Yellowhammer was perched on the top of one of the bushes before flying off calling. As I came up to the stables I could hear a Brambling (154) call and ended up seeing 3. They moved from feeding on the ground to a bush. It was really nice to catch up with Brambling for the year and even the rain starting could not take away from the pleasure of being able to watch them for a while.

Brambling

Brambling

Brambling

Bramblings

Bramblings

A Kestrel that was perched and trying to get it balance in the wind gave an opportunity for some photos and after catching a mouse it flew across before settling to feed on it.

Kestrel

I was very pleased to have been able to see the Brambling but as this was proving to be a particulatly difficult day for getting around I decided to head for home.


Birds seen this visit include: 16 Robin, 11 Wren, 2 Jay, 7 Chiffchaff, 31 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 3 Common Buzzard, Jackdaws, 16 Chaffinch, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 3 Goldcrest, 15 Pied Wagtail, 4 Skylark, 4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 17 Goldfinch, 2 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Magpie, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Kestrel, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Dunnock, 4 Stonechat, 4 Redwing, 12 Reed Bunting, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer, 6 Swallow, 22 Mute Swan, 10 Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crows, Starlings, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Brambling, 65 Chaffinch, Linnets

Grey Wagtail, Hobby and Starlings on the move - Reculver to Coldharbour 24/10/19

I headed to Reculver on an overcast morning. With pretty much no wind the sea was calm as a mill pond but visibility was not great as it was decidedly murky and misty out to sea. The tide was in. I was greeted by a Robin singing away from the rocks by the car park and each time it reached the fullest part of its song it partially fanned its tail feathers and positively vibrated with song. A Wren was busy looking for insects amongst the rocks and a couple of Pied Wagtail were chasing each other back and forth.

Robin

Robin

140 Starling were feeding by the towers and a mixed flock of mainly Herring Gulls and some Black-headed Gulls were busy rooting around amongst the mown grass on the old camp site. Another Robin was singing away from the rocks as I came down onto the sea wall. It was nice to see a Grey Wagtail that landed on the rocks briefly before flying back over to the oyster farm. 4 more Pied Wagtail were on the shore. A couple of Meadow Pipits were nearby preening and the closest gave some very nice views. The light was so poor that all the photographs needed to be taken at a high ISO, something that my camera does not cope well with, but I was pleased to be able to get some memory shots

Grey Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

I could see a large raptor a long way out to sea that was almost obscured by the mist. Its flight was very reminiscent of an Osprey, but I couldn't get anything on it, and with wishful thinking definitely having overcome common sense I wondered if it could possibly be one. There are times when I can be a right idiot and this was clearly one of them. I managed to get a photo of sorts before it disappeared back into the mist and I was able to enlarge it on the computer when I got home and it indeed confirmed it was not an extremely late Osprey but rather a Common Buzzard. Now that made much more sense even if it did confirm that I was an idiot. Ah well, it is no wonder I never count a bird unless I am absolutely certain! A little further along I had 30 Brent Geese fly west in the murk.

Brent Geese

A small group of 9 Starling came in off the sea and headed south west followed shortly after by another 12. There was a movement of Starlings throughout the visit with some groups flying west and other groups coming directly in off the sea and heading south west. A small flock of 9 Ringed Plover were disturbed by a dog walker and headed for further along the shore.

Starlings

Ringed Plover

12 Meadow Pipit were feeding along the shore and a single Curlew flew east followed a while later by another. A Cormorant was drying its wings, which is always an impressive sight, while perched on one of the marker poles.

Cormorant

I caught sight of a small raptor above and was surprised to see a Hobby heading out to sea. It flew quite strongly until I had almost lost it from sight when it suddenly turned and started to come back in. Just as it reached the shore it turned once more and once again flew strongly out to sea and this time appeared to keep going and disappeared into the mist.

Hobby

A Golden Plover called from behind the oyster farm and I had 8 Siskin fly west and 4 Swallow followed by 3 House Martin headed that way a short time later. Out to sea 58 Starling flew west. A Rock Pipit was busy along the shore and a Snipe flew up from the oyster farm before settling down again. 38 Carrion Crow were on the shore and frequently whirling up into the air before settling down again. 3 immature Mute Swan flew past, giving some very nice views as they did so, and another 16 Mute Swan were in the field behind the oyster farm.

immature Mute Swans

Out to sea 3 Teal flew west closely followed by 7 Brent Geese. A large flock of 250 Starling flew west inland followed by another 80. Another 4 Brent Geese headed east before, presumably, the same birds headed west a few minutes later. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song near the green bank and gave a tantalisingly brief view before disappearing into cover again. I could hear Corn Bunting singing and 12 were atop one of the bushes. A Merlin passed over the oyster farm and alarm calls rang out and c120 House Sparrow flew up in a panic. As I carried on along the sea wall I caught sight of a Goldcrest in one of the bushes and as I watched I realised that the bush was alive with 7 of them all busily searching for food. They are beautiful little birds and I thoroughly enjoyed being treated to some close views. I do really miss not being able to hear them anymore though. Even right next to them I still could not hear any calls.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

When I reached Coldharbour I found that it was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and some Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit at the back. A Marsh Harrier caused consternation amongst the Starlings in one of the fields as it passed through. It was nice to hear another Cetti's Warbler calling and another 3 Goldcrest were in one of the bushes and once again treated me to some lovely views. The rain that had been threatening arrived as I turned for home. The only good thing was that although it fairly tipped down there was at least some breaks between the showers. Small groups of Starlings of between 3 to 50 continued to come straight in off the sea heading south west and once the rain started in earnest a pulse of the groups would come through in between the heavy showers. In total I saw 952 Starlings moving a mixture of west or either straight in off the sea and heading south west during the visit.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

As I made my way back I had 10 Shoveler fly west but the rain meant I couldn't grab a photo. I decided to head back via the green bank and the back of the oyster farm. 27 Fieldfare moved from the bushes to a field and 4 Redwing were also tucked in one of the bushes. During a brief break in the rain two Carrion Crows gave a male Sparrowhawk a very rough time over the oyster farm and after a sustained period of harassment the Sparrowhawk moved off, shooting low over the fields and scattering Starlings in panic. At this point my luck ran out and it rained steadily for the rest of the way back. As I squelched my way past the towers the rain stopped again and a Chiffchaff was calling away. I finished the visit with some good views of a Herring Gull resting up on the rocks. After yawning widely it headed off after a youngster that had been calling from above.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Birds seen this visit include: 13 Robin, 5 Wren, 8 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, 14 Blackbird, 952 Starling moving west and south west and 540 Starling feeding in various fields, Wood Pigeons, Cormorants, 2 Little Egret, 44 Meadow Pipit, 26 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Magpie, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Ringed Plover, 47 Brent Geese, 1 Hobby, 17 Linnet, 2 Curlew, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Kestrel, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Siskin, 7 Swallow west, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Redshank, 21 Turnstone, 46 Oystercatcher, 17 Reed Bunting, 8 Stonechat, 2 Mallard, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 38 Carrion Crow, 7 Skylark, 1 Merlin, 3 Teal, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Song Thrush, 3 House Martin, 12 Corn Bunting, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Coot, 10 Shoveler, 27 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff