I started out from Reculver this morning and the first bird that I saw when I arrived was a Black Redstart flitting up from the back of the rocks by the car park. The resident Robin was once again taking distinct umbridge at its presence and before I could even lift the camera it had driven it back down behind the rocks again. I waited a while but though the Robin reappeared there was no further sign of the Black Redstart. I hoped with a bit of luck that I might pick it up further along but even if I didn't it had made a good start to the visit.
I checked as I came past the towers but there was still no sign of the Black Redstart. A Chiffchaff was calling from the bushes as I came down onto the sea wall and above a Lesser Redpoll flew west calling away. It appeared quiet out to sea with just a single Shelduck flying east. A male Kestrel perched on the wires appeared to have lost its tail feathers and from what I could see it was completely missing them. It gave some lovely views as it looked round.
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| male Kestrel |
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| male Kestrel |
Three Pied Wagtails and 4 Meadow Pipit were flitting to and fro from either side of the sea wall and out to sea a single Curlew flew west. A Short-eared Owl was up over the oyster farm and was a very welcome sight. I always enjoy watching owls and, as usual, it made my morning to see it and its feathers were beautifully backlit as it banked.
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| Short-eared Owl |
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| Short-eared Owl |
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| Short-eared Owl |
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| Short-eared Owl |
A flock of 110 Corn Bunting were high above and a Sparrohawk streaking through the oyster farm seemed a likely culprit for having put them up. I only heard one Sedge Warbler today and I paused to enjoy its song. A single Yellow Wagtail flew overhead and it was nice to hear its call again, my first for the spring. A Great Crested Grebe was off shore but otherwise, apart from a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls it appeared to still be quite quiet out to sea as I made my way to Coldharbour. A Greylag Goose tucked near one of the banks at Coldharbour made a welcome addition to the day. Its reflection was gently broken by the slight ruffles in the waters surface.
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| Greylag Goose |
I carried on round and as I approached the other end of Coldharbour I heard the Greylag Goose calling and it had flown from Coldharbour and was heading inland.
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| Greylag Goose |
A Rock Pipit flew up from the shingle bank and a couple of male Mallard's head colours and bills glowed in the bright light.
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| male Mallards |
After a sit on the sea wall for a little while I decided to carry on towards Plumpudding. As I made my way along I heard a Mediterranean Gull call and 2 adults flew east.
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| Mediterranean Gull |
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| Mediterranean Gull |
A couple of Curlew were along the shoreline and 2 Shoveler were off shore as I made my way along.
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| Shoveler |
I had another stop on the sea wall and as walking was definitely proving not to be a strong point today I decided to turn around rather than carrying onto Plumpudding. A Common Buzzard was up at the back above the railway embankment and as I had a scan round I could see a distant Red Kite. Unfortunately it did not come any closer but it was good to see.
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| Red Kite |
There was a reasonable mix of waders as I made my back towards Reculver and 4 Shelduck flew in and headed towards the oyster farm.
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| Shelduck |
The sea wall had become very busy so I decided to come off at the green wall and take the path behind the oyster farm back to Reculver. A male Marsh Harrier was quartering the far field edges. A good selection of insects were on the vegetation as I made my way along and were clearly appreciating the warmth of the sunshine. A Lacewing showed the intricacy of its wings well.
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| Lacewing |
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| Lacewing |
There was also a couple of different Ichneumon Flies.
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| Ichneumon Flies |
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| Ichneumon Flies |
7-spot Ladybird and Harlequin Ladybird were both active. I wasn't sure if a black ladybird with red spots was a 2-spot Ladybird or a Harlequin Ladybird.
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| 7-spot Ladybird |
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| 7-spot Ladybird |
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| Harlequin Ladybird |
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| Harlequin Ladybird |
A pair of Mallard flew in as I made my way round and a couple of Little Egret were atop one of the bushes.
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| Mallards |
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| Little Egrets |
A pair of Oystercatchers were making the most of one of the walkways and a Little Egret was throwing a gently ruffled reflection.
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| Oystercatchers |
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| Little Egret |
It was good to reach Reculver and I finished an enjoyable visit with the Kestrel that appears to be missing its tail feathers again. Once again it gave some very good views and I wonder how it lost its tail feathers
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel minus tail feathers |
Birds seen this visit included: 1 Black Redstart, 1 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Redpoll west, 5 Shelduck, 5 Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Curlew, 2 Kestrel, 1 Short-eared Owl, 110 Corn Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Stonechat, 6 Reed Bunting, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Mallard, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Shoveler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 28 Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Redshank, 12 Oystercatcher, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret
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