I headed back to Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning and from the approach road could see a large group of 27 Red-legged Partridge in one of fields. They glowed in the early morning light and the few nearer the road scuttled to the edge of the hedgerow as we came down and peeped out before moving back to the others and continuing feeding.
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| Red-legged Partridge |
It seemed fairly quiet from the car park area with just the usual suspects present. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling and a pair of Magpies were scolding at something I couldn't see. Skylarks were above and a couple of Robin were in the midst of a territory disagreement. As I headed towards the track a single Stock Dove peeped down at me.
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| Stock Dove |
Making my way down the track I saw a flock of 7 Redwing fly over and I enjoyed watching the odd Goldcrest that I came across. It continued to have a fairly quiet feel to it today but was a beautiful morning for a walk through. Another 10 Red-legged Partridge were at the back of one of the fields and a Water Rail was vocal. I could hear alarm calls and through a small gap between the bushes I caught sight of the Hen Harrier but by the time I reached a gap in the hedgerow there was no sign. It is certainly a beautiful bird. The moon was still very visible in the blue sky and looked stunning.
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| Moon |
I had heard four Cetti's Warbler in total by the time I reached the railway line and 28 Stock Doves were over in one of the fields. The two Stonechat were once again in the area of the crossing. From the stables I could see 14 Redwing in one of the paddocks and another 2 Cetti's Warblers were vocal. 15 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. As I reached the sea wall a Great Black-backed Gull flew over with the light really catching its eye.
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
The tide was a good way out when I reached the sea wall and I could see 120 Oystercatchers stretched out along the shore. 10 Great Black-backed Gulls were loafing around and a single Dunlin was busily feeding. A Curlew flew east out to sea and 15 Sanderling were at the waters edge. Out to sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe offshore. I came across a group of Oystercatchers that had been attracted to the same small pool of water and they were almost exactly evenly spaced out.
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| Oystercatchers |
As I headed towards Plumpudding I caught up with a small mix of waders and far out to sea I could see 2 Sandwich Tern fishing. I am going to miss watching those. The light caught a Mute Swan's eye as it came past and highlighted its feathers beautifully. 5 Common Gulls were on the shore and out to sea 3 Gannet headed east.
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| Mute Swan |
A flock of 94 Mallard came in to land out to sea and I could see 3 Wigeon in amongst them. 240 Brent Geese also flew in and are always a very welcome sight. They tend to be a bit of a show stopper as well with quite a few people on the sea wall pausing to watch them come in.
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| Brent Geese |
Plumpudding Island proved to be very quiet and I could not see the Snipe today. A beautiful male Stonechat looked stunning in the light and I enjoyed watching it for a while.
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| Stonechat |
On the way to Coldharbour I could see 12 Gannet flying west in small groups and 4 Brent Geese gave a flypast with the light beautifully highlighting their wings.
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| Brent Geese |
Coldharbour was deserted but the disturbance from walkers along the shingle bank was high. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the other side of the sea wall but otherwise all was quiet. A Mushroom was growing amongst the vegetation on the shingle by the sea wall. I am not sure at the moment which it is.
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| Mushroom |
I headed on towards the green bank and off shore I could see another couple of Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver but otherwise it stayed quite quiet. 29 Golden Plover flew up from one of the fields.
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| Golden Plover |
Another Cetti's Warbler was calling as I carried on towards Reculver and I could hear the Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea 5 Gannet flew west.
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| Gannet |
A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm but I could not see any Short-eared Owls today. A couple of Redshank alarm called. A single Shelduck was off shore and glowed in the sunlight.
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| Shelduck |
I had a final sit on the sea wall just before I reached Reculver and watched out to sea for a while. It proved to very quiet with just another couple of Gannet west. Having watched for a while with nothing much happening I got my phone out to arrange a pick up from Reculver and a Red-breasted Merganser flew east. It is amazing how often a good bird waits until you have your hands full. By the time I had managed to put the phone down and get the camera on it the Merganser had flown well east. It has been a difficult and painful week and sometimes frustration gets the better of me and I lose my sense of humour briefly and this was definitely one of those moments. Luckily it only ever lasts for a couple of minutes but I can probably fit a years worth of swear words in, in that time, which is not good. Ah well. It was a lovely bird to end the visit with and though the photo does not do it credit it gives me a good memory shot and I was grateful to have seen it.
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
Birds seen this visit included: 37 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Skylarks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 10 Robin, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 21 Chaffinch, 29 Stock Dove, 27 Blackbird, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 4 Wren, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Corn Bunting, 13 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Common Gull, 22 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern, 94 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser
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