It was very overcast with some light drizzling rain when I arrived at Reculver this morning and the threat of heavier rain was on the horizon. The wind was south south westerly but swung round to southerly as the visit went on. The sea was very calm but also quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants off shore. 108 Brent Geese were on the point and as I came past the towers a Gannet flew west out to sea while a Chiffchaff was calling from the bushes. 6 Meadow Pipits were around the rocks at the base of the towers and a little further along a Rock Pipit was investigating the rocks while out to sea a single Shelduck flew west.
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Shelduck |
As I made my way along towards the green wall a Bearded Tit called from the reeds in front of the oyster farm and out to sea a Little Egret flew west. A pair of Stonechat were busy and a couple of Pied Wagtail called from the shore. A single Curlew flew east and far out to sea streams of Cormorants were once again flying east. Overall it remained quiet as I passed the green wall and headed on towards Coldharbour. I could hear Golden Plover calling and a sizeable flock of 120 birds were swirling around high above.
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| Golden Plover |
Three Grey Plover flew east and Brent Geese were also heading east as I carried on along the sea wall. Another Great Crested Grebe was off shore and 50 Ringed Plover flew in to roost while a little later 27 Sanderling and another 2 Grey Plover joined them. As I made my way along Turnstone were busily turning stones at various points along the shore. The juvenile Sandwich Tern flew past and was a welcome sight. I had kept my eyes open for the Wheatear which has been seen recently but did not have any success. It was good to catch up with Julian Perry, who was passing by on his run, and he had seen it on his way up so it was good to know it was still around and I hoped I might pick it up on the way back.
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| Sandwich Tern |
I had a seat on the sea wall for a while and a single Red-throated Diver was off shore and small numbers of Gannet were flying east. After a little while the Red-throated Diver lifted off from the water and headed east allowing a very poor photo but a nice memory shot.
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| Red-throated Diver |
I had another seat on the sea wall on reaching Coldharbour and 60 Mallard flew east and settled down on the sea a little further along. A Robin popped up onto the breakwater groyne and a flock of 46 Sanderling flew west heading for the roost on the beach.
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| Robin |
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| Sanderling |
Coldharbour itself was very quiet and I could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a few Redshank. A pair of Stonechat were busy catching insects as I was sitting on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour I could see a couple of Common Scoter off shore.
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| Common Scoter |
Gannets were continuing to fly both east and west out to sea and it is hard to know if I was counting the same ones as they went back and fore or if they were different birds going in different directions. The largest group size I saw was five, otherwise it tended to be singles or groups up to three in both directions.
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| Gannet |
The juvenile Sandwich Tern gave another fly past. It is a beautifully marked bird and appeared to fish successfully further along before coming back past.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
I had another sit on the sea wall after coming back round Coldharbour as I made my way back towards Reculver. A Gannet came in closer and gave some good views as it flew west.
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
Skylarks were calling from above and a couple of Reed Bunting shone in a welcome patch of sunlight as the clouds broke. Out to sea a juvenile Gannet moving east sent the Mallards, who had been sitting out on the water, up in a panic. I had not realised that a Gannet would cause such a reaction.
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| Gannet and Mallards |
A Kestrel was hunting over the oyster farm and a Stonechat posed nicely as it settled its balance in the wind. Out to sea a couple of Mute Swan made their way east at a leisurely pace before moving into shore further along.
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| Stonechat |
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| Mute Swans |
A Great Crested Grebe was close in-shore as I made my way towards Reculver and on its frequent dives was rewarded several times with small fish.
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
I did not manage to see the Wheatear on the way back but disturbance along the shore was high from dog walkers etc. Perhaps it might stay around and I will get another chance. The Sandwich Tern came back past and as it may be the last time I see one of them this year I took the opportunity to just sit and enjoy watching it. What a little beauty and it gave some super views.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Paste |
I finished an enjoyable visit with a Grey Seal popping its head up briefly before sinking below the waves again.
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| Grey Seal |
192 Brent Geese, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, 56 Gannet 19 west 37 east, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Shelduck west, 1 Pheasant, 2 Little Egret, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bearded Tit, 5 Redshank, 2 Kestrel, 2 Magpie, 1 Curlew east, 16 Turnstone, 73 Sanderling, 64 Mallard, 11 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Golden Plover, 50 Ringed Plover, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Reed Bunting, Skylarks, 2 Mute Swan,
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