I arrived at Reculver on a cold but sunny morning. The tide was still going out with good amounts of shore already covered with birds and I could see 125 Brent Geese off the point with lots of Herring and Black-headed Gulls strung along the exposed shore. As I came down onto the sea wall I glanced back at the towers and every stone was highlighted in the early morning light as a few Starling launched themselves from the ruins.
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| Reculver Towers |
Making my way along the sea wall a couple of Stonechat were active and 3 Pied Wagtails were busy along the shore. 4 Mute Swan moved out to sea and a Common Buzzard was hunting along the back field edge. A Wren, Blue Tit and a couple of Reed Bunting were working their way through the reeds and a Kestrel hovering above caused them to move deeper into cover. A few Brent Geese had started to move round to the newly exposed shore and looked lovely in the golden light, with more of them arriving in small groups.
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| Brent Geese |
Some started to make their way along the shore and initially they were almost exactly the same distance apart which made it look as if even the geese were socially distancing in these strange times as they ate some of the vegetation left by the retreating tide.
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| Brent Geese |
I didn't see them eat any of the red/orange seaweeds, they only appeared to be looking for the freshest green vegetation of which there seemed to be much less of than the rest.
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| Brent Geese |
A single Curlew was also working its way along the shore and gave some good views as it did so. It was nice to see one a little closer than I am used to. Initially it was wading a little way into the sea and probing the sand but then moved closer to me and probed along the edge of the exposed shingle band.
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
As I continued up towards the Green Wall 5 Pheasant flew across to the oyster farm from the fields and 7 Corn Bunting were vegetation hopping as they moved from seed head to seed head. A Great Black-backed Gull flew low along the shore with the size of its bill highlighted as it gleamed palely in the bright sunshine.
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
While walking on towards Coldharbour good numbers of Ringed Plover were on the exposed mussel beds and shore with some Turnstone and plenty of Redshank. A flock of 27 Golden Plover lifted off from the fields before settling down again with their calls carrying well as they swirled round. I had a sit on the sea wall again just before Coldharbour and enjoyed watching a Grey Plover, a few Oystercatchers and a Curlew out on the mussel bed. 16 Mallard were off-shore and I heard a Lapwing call with a single bird coming in off the sea and flying overhead as it headed inland.
I had hoped to get as far as Shuart but with walking proving to be decidedly problematic today I decided to head to Chambers Wall for a nearer pick up point. I had a quick look at Coldharbour but could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a couple of Black-headed Gulls. A couple of Stonechat greeted me as I made my way towards Chambers Wall and a Wren was alarm calling from one of the bushes.
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| Wren |
Nearing the railway line I came across a single Mushroom and a Cetti's Warbler was alarm calling on the other side of the railway. I caught a glimpse of it flicking its tail up as it called before it disappeared into cover. I couldn't see what it had been alarm calling at.
The walk through Chambers Wall was fairly quiet but it was nice to catch up with some Redwing and Fieldfare together with Blackbird in the hedgerow. I couldn't find any Goldcrest or a Firecrest today but enjoyed looking. 7 Magpie were in one of the fields and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. I was checking a bush covered in ivy to see if any late insects were out when a Wren popped out and gave some great views of its undertail coverts before turning and peeking at me briefly before it dived back into cover. It was a little beauty.
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
I finished with a Robin giving a classic Christmas card pose before it worked its way towards me, stopping to check me out, before carrying on. Another little beauty to finish the visit with.
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| Robin |
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| Robin |
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| Robin |
Birds seen this visit included: 125 Brent Geese, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 10 Blackbird, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Common Buzzard, 9 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 27 Golden Plover, 54 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 7 Corn Bunting, 10 Magpie, 5 Pheasant, Skylarks, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Moorhen, 16 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 4 Linnet, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Robin, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare,
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