Chiffchaff Arrivals and Passing Knots - Reculver to Coldharbour 09/09/20

I paid an early morning visit to Reculver. The tide was in but on the turn and there was a nearly cloudless sky above. A Chiffchaff and a Robin were on the rocks by the car park with another 5 Chiffchaff in the bushes near the towers. As I came down onto the sea wall the air was alive with Chiffchaff calls and more new arrivals were in the bushes and scrub. Out to sea appeared quiet apart from 85 Oystercatcher flying east. A Short-eared Owl was up briefly over the oyster farm and a Common Buzzard hunting above the far fields managed to avoid any hassling from the local Carrion Crows. Groups of Black-headed Gulls were resting up on the shore but it appeared quiet for waders. 60 Mallard flew over and appeared to come down near Coldharbour.

Mallards

As I made my way along it remained quiet for waders with just a few Turnstone along the tide line. Out to sea 2 Bar-tailed Godwit flew east followed a short while later by a Whimbrel. 4 Pheasant were perched in a bush on the oyster farm while on the other side of the sea wall a Wheatear flew up onto the rocks with another on the shore below.

Wheatear

I saw more Whitethroat today than I have seen on my last couple of visits. More Chiffchaff were calling from various bushes alongside the sea wall as I made my way along. While I was watching a Hobby over the fields a flock of 30 Siskin flew overhead heading west. Coldharbour was quiet and I could hear a Sandwich Tern out to sea. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and 3 Mute Swan flew over and landed on the sea. A couple of Sandwich Tern were at the waters edge with the youngster repeatedly calling to the adult.

Sandwich Terns

On the walk back to Reculver I paused to watch a Goldfinch extracting seeds from a Teasel head. 

Goldfinch

Nearing Reculver I heard a Turnstone call and was surprised to see that it had 8 Knot in tow with it as they flew past heading west. They picked up height rapidly and were soon lost to view but they made a good end to the visit.

Knot and Turnstone

Knot and Turnstone

Knot and Turnstone

Birds seen this visit included: 20 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, 2 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 4 Dunnock, 113 Oystercatcher, 5 Little Egret, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Common Buzzard, 60 Mallard, 3 Kestrel, 13 Reed Bunting, 5 Pheasant, 7 Stonechat, 4 Linnet, 15 Goldfinch, 5 Turnstone, 13 Whitethroat, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit east, 1 Wren, 30 Siskin west, 2 Corn Bunting, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, 1 Hobby, 5 Swallow, 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Redshank, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, House Sparrows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Magpie, 3 Mute Swan, Starlings, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Knot