It was a beautifully fine morning when I arrived at Shuart and the air was alive with bird song and it was lovely to be able to just spend time listening to the sheer beauty of it as various songs intermingled, some loudly competing, some dominating with bursts of vigorous singing, other melodies sweetly coming to the fore as various other singers paused before recommencing. April is a great month as more and more singers join the ensemble with new arrivals making their presence known and I love to be able to enjoy the beauty of their song once again. The pair of Ring-necked Parakeet didn't perhaps sound particularly musical as their strident calls cut through the air but they made up for it with the bright flash of colour as they appeared briefly above the trees. A Grey Squirrel was clearly enjoying the warmth from the sunshine as it sunbathed on a branch.
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| Grey Squirrel |
As I made my way along the track another Willow Warbler was singing sweetly away and a couple of Blackcap appeared to be in competition with each other. 3 Cetti's Warblers at various points burst into explosive song but still only gave tantalisingly brief views. A couple of Peacock butterflies were on the wing while Chiffchaff and many of the usual jobs were busily working their way through the hedgerow. A Grey Heron soaring high overhead showed signs of moult in some of its flight feathers.
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| Grey Heron |
Sedge Warbler song followed me as I neared the railway line and 3 Yellow Wagtail flew west. Another Cetti's Warbler burst into song as I arrived at the stables. I was pleased to see a Black Redstart fly up from one of the paddocks but it only settled for a moment before flying to behind the hedge as a furore started up with the arrival of opposing dog walkers whose dogs definitely did not want to be friends. By the time the dogs had stopped barking and the owners had stopped yelling, the Black Redstart must have been happy where it had moved to as, though I waited a little while, it did not reappear in the open. Hopefully I'll catch up with it again as it is certainly a good spot for them.
I had a wander along the sea wall towards Plumpudding and a Redshank and 28 Oystercatchers were dotted along the shore. A flock of 30 Linnet flew west. Plumpudding held another 27 roosting Redshank and 4 Pied Wagtail. A Cetti's Warbler was on the other side of the sea wall and a male Marsh Harrier was up hunting over towards the embankment. A single Brent Goose stood out in one of the fields, as I headed towards Coldharbour, before it flew west. It may well be the last one I see until later in the year.
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| Brent Goose |
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| Brent Goose |
Eighteen Common Scoter were off shore and a single Shelduck flew west as I made my way to Coldharbour. At Coldharbour a Rock Pipit flew over and settled on the sea wall. Coldharbour itself was quiet with a few Black-headed Gulls and a Mute Swan.
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
I had a sit on the sea wall for a while. 2 Sandwich Tern were a long way off shore but otherwise it appeared quiet. A small flock of 9 Grey Plover flew east.
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| Grey Plover |
A person walking along the shore flushed a flock of c200 roosting Sanderling together with 5 Dunlin and a 6 Turnstone. They flew out to sea before turning and streaming past me as they came into settle further along the shore.
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| Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin |
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| Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin |
I decided to come off the sea wall and head for Chambers Wall. Another couple of Cetti's Warbler were singing loudly as I made my way to the embankment and 3 small flocks of Swallows flew west. Skylarks were singing away with Reed Bunting and Sedge Warblers joining in. Suddenly there was a short flurry of warning calls and then total silence as a female Sparrowhawk shot through. Once the coast was clear song started up once again. From the embankment I could see a Short-eared Owl hunting briefly before settling down again.
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| Short-eared Owl |
A singing Willow Warbler together with singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chaffinch made for a pleasant walk up to the pick up point. Another Cetti's Warbler was belting out its song. Unfortunately it remained skulky but a singing Wren was much more obliging. It always amazes me that so much sound can come from such a little bird. It made a nice end to the visit.
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| Wren |
Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Jackdaws, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, 12 Goldfinch, 3 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 6 Wren, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeons, 4 Blackbird, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Magpie, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Mute Swan, 9 Reed Bunting, 7 Sedge Warbler, 1 Black Redstart, 30 Linnet, 15 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Curlew, 28 Oystercatcher, 28 Redshank, 12 Corn Bunting, 3 Mallard, 2 Coot, 7 Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Turnstone, 1 Brent Goose, 18 Common Scoter, 1 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, 200 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 9 Grey Plover, Skylarks, 13 Swallow west, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl,
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