I headed to Reculver on an overcast morning with a fairly brisk south westerly wind. The tide was well out when I arrived and a Cormorant eyed me warily from the exposed rocks near the car park as I made my way up to the towers.
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| Cormorant |
Coming down onto the sea wall there were 3 Pied Wagtail on the rocks with lots of Black-headed and Herring Gulls dotted along the exposed shore. I could not see any waders except for a Redshank. 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were further along and a Common Buzzard was hovering in the wind over the oyster farm, much to the annoyance of the resident Carrion Crows who promptly mugged it until it moved on. I wondered why a Little Egret was carrying a large bill full of seaweed. All became clear when it suddenly shook the seaweed vigorously and a sizeable fish fell out which appeared to be a Dogfish. It took a few attempts to get it into the right position for swallowing but once it was it disappeared in a few seconds.
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| Little Egret with seaweed hidden fish |
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| Little Egret with fish |
Suddenly distant alarm calls rang out and every gull, as far as the eye could see, lifted off from the shore and flew up, joining in with the ever increasing alarm calls as they did so. With that level of panic I really hoped there might be an Osprey coming in and scanning round I couldn't believe my luck when I could see one in the far distance circling well offshore from Coldharbour. It started to fish, catching one on the first attempt, and flew towards the shore carrying it. Whatever it had caught must have been too heavy for it because it dropped it just before it reached the shore and it continued in before coming down on the beach.
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| Osprey with catch |
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| Osprey |
I was still a long way off but with the hopes it might rest for a while I made way up towards Coldharbour. A Rock Pipit flew along the beach and alighted briefly before carrying on. 16 Redshank were on the shore and another flock of 38 Swallows flew west. Small numbers had been moving west throughout the visit.
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| Rock Pipit |
The Osprey obligingly stayed on the furthest point of the exposed shore allowing me to get further along the sea wall. As the tide rose the sand it was standing on gradually became submerged and as the water got deeper the Osprey lifted off and started to fly west towards me.
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
I thought it was going to keep going but as it gained height it started to circle back and come back east giving some impressive views of its wingspan as it did so.
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
It came back into land, once again on the furthest point of the exposed shore, but this time a bit closer to me, and folding its wings away tidily once again sat as the tide came in and started to cover the part of the shore it was on.
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
As it took off this time the feathers of its wing must have folded back giving the impression of a large gap. Once again I thought it was going to come in but, as before, it turned and headed west, still remaining a fair way out.
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
It rapidly gained height and this time carried on going, circling now and then, looking down, as presumably it searched for fish. I could see it circling offshore from Reculver for a while before carrying on west out to sea and it was lost to view. Without a doubt it is the longest and best views of Osprey that I have had and it was a privilege to be able to watch such a beautiful bird.
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
Well chuffed, and with the Osprey definitely having made my day, I carried on along the sea wall towards Coldharbour. Turning to check the shore I saw 4 Egyptian Geese (145) flying east and giving some superb views as they did so. They really are striking birds in flight and with great views of the Geese it really was turning out to be a superb morning.
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| Egyptian Geese |
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| Egyptian Geese |
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| Egyptian Geese |
A flock of 70 Golden Plover flew up in alarm as a Hobby moved through before coming down into one of the fields ahead of me. The Hobby meanwhile caused consternation amongst some of the birds on the shore before turning its attentions inland again. I came across the Golden Plover who had settled down in the field as I neared Coldharbour and they were near enough to try for a photo from the sea wall. They really are superbly camouflaged.
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| Golden Plover |
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| Golden Plover |
A Whimbrel flew west calling and a short while later a Bar-tailed Godwit flew west allowing a quick photo. 3 Yellow Wagtails were busy along the tide line and Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the shore.
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| Bar-tailed Godwit |
Coldharbour was quiet with just a couple of Redshank and a few Black-headed Gulls. On the walk back to Reculver a Wheatear was on the shore but decidely camera shy. A Common Sandpiper flew east calling and a few more Sanderling and Ringed Plover were on the shore. A Hobby moved back out to sea again causing alarm amongst the waders.
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| Hobby |
A passing Black-headed Gull showed its regrowing moulted outer primaries well and I finished a hugely enjoyable visit with 10 Little Egret and a Grey Heron in their customary tree.
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Grey Heron and Little Egret |
Birds seen this visit included: 3 Pied Wagtail, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 105 Swallow west, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Sand Martin, 12 Little Egret, 17 Redshank, 1 Osprey, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 55 Ringed Plover, 4 Kestrel, 10 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Oystercatcher, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 5 Goldfinch, 12 Linnet, 23 Sanderling, 3 Stonechat
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