On a chilly and windy day at Shuart the local Jackdaws were noisy as I arrived, with the commotion coming from the paddock, and when I looked they were impatiently taking it in turns to land on the horse's back were and taking beakfulls of hair from its back for their nests. The horse seemed remarkably unconcerned on the whole only appearing to react a couple of times.
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| Jackdaw gathering nesting material from Horse's back |
I had a wander up to the top of the bridleway and above a Common Buzzard was calling away as it was repeatedly mobbed by a couple of Carrion Crows. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet were very vocal as I headed down to the main track. I could hear a Cuckoo calling but it sounded a fair distance away. Blackcap and Chiffchaff were in good voice and a Sparrowhawk circled lazily over to the side before a Carrion Crow spotted it and drove it on. I paused to enjoy a Dunnock singing away. He may not be the most musical but he certainly makes up for it with enthusiasm.
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| Dunnock |
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| Dunnock |
I enjoyed listening to Sedge Warbler song on my way to the stables and from the embankment I could see a male Tufted Duck tucked into the side of one of the dykes. Even at that distance its yellow eye shone brightly.
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| Tufted Duck |
It continued to be quiet as I passed the stables apart from a vocal Lesser Whitethroat. The tide was rapidly coming in when I reached the sea wall with only a little sandy shore still exposed. A Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Sanderling were making the most of the last bit of sandy shore uncovered. The Bar-tailed Godwits are beautiful birds in summer plumage, the male particularly striking but the female was also very attractive. I couldn't manage much in the way of photos but it was lovely to be able to watch them for a while, even if I was freezing cold and continuously buffeted by the wind. They mainly fed just beyond the water's edge, their heads partially under water as they probed the sand below the water.
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
The incoming tide brought them gradually closer but light levels remained very poor. The Sanderling helpfully moved closer to them and looked tiny against the size of the Godwits.
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| Bar-tailed Godwits and Sanderling |
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
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| Bar-tailed Godwits |
I haven't seen a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit for years so it was a real pleasure to be able to watch these two birds today. The Whimbrel that was a little further along headed for roost and the Godwits and Sanderling moved off too.
Plumpudding was very quiet when I reached it with just a couple of Mallard while on the either side of the sea wall a Cetti's Warbler was positively belting out its song. Coldharbour was equally quiet with another pair of Mallard, a Little Egret and the usual Black-headed Gulls. The female Mallard appeared quite pale in colour but with beautifully crisp plumage and the male kept his eye on her when he wasn't by her side.
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| female Mallard |
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| male Mallard |
A few Linnets were on the shore as I made my way towards Reculver the bright colours of the males breeding plumage shining out amongst the shingle even in the dull light. A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over towards the embankment while off shore a Great Crested Grebe moved closer in to fish as the tide continued to rise.
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| Great Crested Grebe |
As I passed the oyster farm a couple of Grey Heron were moving from lagoon to lagoon and on nearing Reculver a couple of Sandwich Tern flew east giving some nice views as they did so.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
I arrived at Reculver windswept and frozen but I had thoroughly enjoyed watching the Bar-tailed Godwits and though otherwise it had remained pretty quiet it had been good to be out.
Birds seen this visit included: Jackdaws, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Wood Pigeons, 2 Robin, 1 Pheasant, 2 Wren, 14 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Dunnock, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Moorhen, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Lapwing, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, Goldfinches, 2 Magpie, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Starlings, Linnets, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Sanderling, 4 Mallard, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, 2 Grey Heron
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