I came down to Reculver after work and thought I would try for a short wander along the sea wall. There was a cold north westerly breeze with sunny intervals and the tide was on the way out. As I came to the pumping station I could see a Kingfisher tucked in out of the wind and out to sea Black-headed and Herring Gulls were moving to and fro while a good way out a couple of Curlew flew west. A Stonechat popped up next to the sea wall and its eye glinted in the light.
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| Stonechat |
I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and had 4 Gannet east and and another 4 west. From the ages of the first bird I saw they appeared to be different birds rather than the same ones coming back but as I saw more it became difficult to know so I have just recorded as east or west.
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| Gannets |
Five Common Gulls flew east in a couple of groups and 6 Great Black-backed Gulls. A single Brent Goose flew west coming reasonably close in.
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| Brent Goose |
I could see a small duck coming, close in to shore, that was being pursued by a juvenile Herring Gull. The gull broke off but the duck kept coming and gave some nice views of its wing pattern before coming down on the sea close by. It was a gorgeous Teal and a lot closer than I normally see them at sea.
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| Teal |
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| Teal |
It settled down for a preen and seemed at home amongst the waves.
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| Teal |
It looked so small as the waves came towards it but appeared to take them in its stride using two approaches. It either turned sideways and rode the wave in or faced it head on and took briefly to the air to glide over it.
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| Teal tackling waves |
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| Teal tackling waves |
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| Teal eying up the next wave |
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| Teal tackling wave with a different approach |
After a while more preening it moved off, its speculum changing colour depending on the angle of the light. I had thoroughly enjoyed watching it.
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| Teal |
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| Teal |
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| Teal |
It was time to head for home. 55 Mallard flew out to sea and settled on the water near Coldharbour.
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| Mallards |
The largest flock of Gannet I had seen during the visit headed east with nine birds in the flock.
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| Gannets |
On the way back a single Short-eared Owl was up over the oyster farm which was a welcome sight. Though it remained distant it gave some lovely views as the light shone through its wings.
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| Short-eared Owl |
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| Short-eared Owl |
As I neared Reculver a partial Rainbow glowed faintly in the dark clouds above and another Gannet flew east reasonably close in.
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| Rainbow |
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| Gannet |
Up by the towers another couple of Common Gull were in amongst the Black-headed Gulls with one being almost unconcerned by passers by and remaining fairly close.
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| Common Gull |
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| Common Gull |
Starlings were using the tower ruins as a launch pad down to the grassy areas and the air was full of their constant whistles and chatter.
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| Starlings |
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| Starlings |
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| Starling |
I finished the visit by watching the rain showers moving through out to sea and enjoying the ever changing scene of the clouds as they came over.
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| Rain showers out to sea |
Birds seen this visit included: 1 Kingfisher, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Curlew, 4 Stonechat, 8 Gannet, 32 east, 11 west, 1 Oystercatcher, 7 Common Gull, 6 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Brent Goose, 2 Rock Pipit, 7 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, Starlings
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