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