I paid a visit to Reculver on a warm morning with very little wind. As I passed the towers a pair of Pied Wagtail were chasing after insects and two Robin were amongst the ruins. Swallows were overhead and a Little Egret flew west. Out to sea 7 Teal flew west but otherwise it appeared quiet with only a few Black-headed and Herring Gulls passing by out to sea.
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| Teal |
The tide was in as I headed along the sea wall and 8 Little Egret were resting up in their usual tree. Small numbers of Swallows were regularly moving west with the odd Swift now and then. I saw 2 Wheatear as I made my way towards Coldharbour but both were decidedly camera shy today. Several Whitethroat were amongst the bramble bushes and one popped up before quickly disappearing again as a cyclist approached.
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| Whitethroat |
A flock of 28 Golden Plover lifted off from one of the far fields flying high and bunched in alarm but I could not see what had put them up. A Whimbrel peeped at me from behind a shingle ridge giving me one of the closest views that I have had of one.
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| Whimbrel |
I sat on the sea wall for a while near Coldharbour and a flock of mixed waders flew past having been disturbed from roost by a dog walker. I got an unexpected treat when a juvenile Shag suddenly appeared, having swam round from the other side of the groyne,and gave some great views as it searched for food, diving frequently. Marc Heath had seen a Shag at Reculver yesterday so presumably it was the same one. It was great to be able to see it so close in.
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| Redshank |
As I made my way back to Reculver I could see a Hobby chasing after Linnets and then Reed Buntings over the reed beds. It was still a good distance from me but it was fascinating to watch as it twisted and turned before suddenly appearing to almost stop prior to a sudden change in direction before the chase was on once again. It did not appear to be successful this time before moving on.
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| Hobby |
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| Hobby |
The weather had rapidly started to deteriorate and the wind steadily gathered strength. I could see heavy rain showers and a thunder storm moving through to the south but luckily still quite distant. As I made my way back to Reculver 5 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit flew high north west. The threatening rain arrived and I was absolutely drenched as a torrential rain shower moved through. Just before the rain hit a flock of 75 Swallow and 2 Swift flew ahead of it moving east. As the rain eased off and the sun came out briefly 4 Golden Plover flew over and gave some great views as they passed overhead.
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| Golden Plover |
Rain then definitely stopped play as shower after shower moved through. Thunder storms were both to the south and the north with some spectacular lightening and very loud cracks of thunder but luckily they never came overhead. At one point, as the sun broke through briefly while it was still raining, rainbow colours appeared to be floating just above the sea before disappearing as quicky as they had appeared. For those few seconds it was absolutely beautiful and almost made it worth getting drenched just to see that. I tried for a photo but only managed to catch the tail end of it and it really does not do it justice.
It was good to reach Reculver and to be able to get out of the rain.
Birds seen this visit included: 19 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 14 Little Egret, 7 Swift, 157 Swallow, 35 Ringed Plover, 11 Turnstone, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Linnet, Cormorants, 4 Stonechat, 1 Kestrel, Starlings, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 5 Whitethroat, 5 Reed Warbler, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Kestrel, 1 Wren, Carrion Crows, 5 Reed Bunting, 8 Whimbrel, 28 Golden Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 45 Sanderling, 11 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pheasant, 2 Wheatear, 1 Coot, 2 Magpie, 9 Sandwich Tern, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 38 Oystercatcher, 2 Dunlin, 1 Shag, 6 Redshank, 6 Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeons, 1 Hobby, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Great Black-backed Gull,
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