I paid a visit to Shuart this morning and on the walk down the road had a small group of 7 Swallows on the wires, a mix of adults and juveniles. A Chiffchaff flicked up from the hedgerow and another 2 were calling further down with a single Willow Warbler working its way along the hedgerow.
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| Swallow |
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| Swallows |
As I had a wander down the track I saw a couple of beautifully fresh and bright immature Willow Warblers and enjoyed watching them as they made their way through the hedgerow. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and one was returning to persistently hover over one of the dykes giving the chance to try for some flight photos..
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| Migrant Hawker |
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| Migrant Hawker |
It appeared fairly quiet as I came past the stables. 3 male Blackcap were in one of the Blackberry bushes and 2 Stonechat were on the fence at the back of one of the paddocks. A charm of 35 Goldfinches swirled round as they moved from Teasels to Thistles. Another Stonechat was by the sea wall as I came up onto it. A flock of c150 Starling appeared to be flycatching as they swooped and turned above me. The tide was mostly in and as I started along the wall I could see 17 Turnstone on the rocks.
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| Turnstones |
I was pleased to see 2 Whinchat with a third seen a little further along. They seemed very wary of the people passing on the sea wall and tended to keep their distance.
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| Whinchat |
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| Whinchat |
A couple of juvenile Stonechats were begging from their parents. They are beautifully marked little birds.
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| juvenile Stonechat |
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| adult and juvenile Stonechat |
As I headed along the sea wall it became increasingly overcast and noticeably cooler. I saw a good mix and numbers of waders roosting at various points as I made my way towards Coldharbour. 3 Teal flew east and a little further along 4 were a fair distance out on the sea but gradually drifted a little closer in. A short while later 4 Teal flew east and I thought the ones on the sea had taken off but they were still present.
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| Teal |
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| Teal |
Small flocks of Ringed Plover flew past now and then giving the opportunity to try for some flight photos. An adult Dunlin showed its black belly patch well as it came into land.
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Dunlin and Ringed Plover |
A Knot flying east in the company of 3 Oystercatcher was a welcome sight.
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| Knot and Oystercatchers |
Pied Wagtails were busily feeding along the shore with 3 Yellow Wagtails working their way along the tide line. 3 Bar-tailed Godwit flying east were a good addition to the waders seen today.
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
Coldharbour had the usual few Black-headed Gulls in attendance and 7 Redshank roosting on one of the banks. 4 Goldfinch were amongst the thistle heads. As I carried on to Reculver I saw another 77 Ringed Plover roosting on the beach on the high tide line roost with 40 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone and 5 Dunlin. A Hobby was over the far edge of the fields and another 3 Stonechat were busy insect catching. The last part of the walk to Reculver was fairly quiet and I finished the visit with a good view of a Carrion Crow as it banked.
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| Carrion Crow |
Birds seen this visit included: 7 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Wren, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, 2 Magpie, 43 Linnet, 8 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 39 Goldfinch, 6 Stonechat, 150 Starling, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 15 Turnstone, 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 98 Oystercatcher, 189 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 49 Turnstone, 46 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 11 Teal, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Sandwich Tern, 7 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, Carrion Crows
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