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.
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| Robin |
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| 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
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Starlings |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Goldcrest |
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| 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.
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldcrest |
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| 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.
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| 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
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