I started out at Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning. Bird song was in full swing while in the horse paddock a handsome Pheasant was showing off the iridescent colours of his plumage well.
 |
| male Pheasant |
A wander down the track did not turn up anything unexpected but the sunshine seemed to have resulted in some of the birds singing even more enthusiastically today. A Wren was positively vibrating with song with tail feathers spread and a rapid fluttering of its wings.
 |
| Wren |
Sedge and Reed Warblers were in good voice as I neared the railway and two Tufted Duck flew past with another 3 Tufted Duck joining them in the air moments later.
 |
| Tufted Duck |
A Sparrowhawk was gradually circling higher above me while in one of the dykes a Mute Swan was throwing a perfect reflection in the still water.
 |
| Mute Swan |
 |
| Mute Swan |
A Cuckoo had been calling for much of the time I had been walking down the track but had remained firmly out of sight. I came across a predated egg at the side of the path. It was quite large but didn't appear to be big enough for a Mute Swan egg and I wondered if it could be a Greylag Goose egg.
I could see two Oystercatchers in one of the fields as I came up onto the embankment and overhead a couple of Yellow Wagtail called as they flew over. A Mediterranean Gull called from the direction of the sea wall while at the stables, apart from three Pied Wagtails, all was quiet in the horse paddocks. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song nearby but stayed under cover. A Whitethroat was more obliging and kept a wary eye on me as I came past.
 |
| Whitethroat |
On reaching the sea wall the tide was on its way out and a Grey Heron, landing in the shallow water, drew the unwanted attention of a couple of Herring Gulls who mobbed it repeatedly.
 |
| Grey Heron and Herring Gull |
 |
| Grey Heron and Herring Gull |
Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing as I made my way towards Plumpudding and the odd Oystercatcher was along the shore. A Cetti's Warbler was singing on the opposite side of the sea wall while a Rock Pipit was working its way along one of the island edges on Plumpudding Island itself. A couple of Mallard appeared to be the only other occupants apart from a couple of Pied Wagtail but a little further on I caught sight of a single Dunlin on one of the islands with its black belly patch showing well.
 |
| Dunlin |
A little further along both Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat were in full song and I paused to be able to enjoy listening to both.
 |
| Whitethroat |
 |
| Sedge Warbler |
I keep hoping to hear a Grasshopper Warbler but have not had any luck so far despite listening in all likely spots. I am just hoping that it is not like Goldcrest and Redwing where I suddenly realised that I couldn't hear them any more. Still, I can only keep trying each time I come out and hopefully at some point I might be lucky enough to either see or hear one. A little group of flowers offered a welcome splash of colour on the concrete slope of the sea wall and appeared to be a Marigold.
The odd House Martin was moving west with small numbers of Swallow. Several Skylarks were towering higher in their song flights. Coldharbour was quiet but on the other side of the sea wall a smart male Wheatear showed well.
 |
| male Wheatear |
I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and 7 Common Scoter were off shore. The tide was well out and a couple of Grey Plover were on the exposed Mussel bed. A Whimbrel called as it flew west a good ways out to sea and a small flock of 15 Sand Martin also headed west. I carried on towards Reculver and an Oystercatcher took exception to a passing Carrion Crow and gave chase. It got slightly more than it bargained for when the Carrion Crow turned the tables and nearly took a tail feather from the Oystercatcher. A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the far field edge on the other side of the sea wall.
 |
| Oystercatcher and Carrion Crow |
 |
| Oystercatcher and Carrion Crow |
A Little Egret was up over the oyster farm and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. A couple more Stonechat were fly catching as I neared Reculver. Cloud was continuing to build to the south but I still had clear blue sky above and out to sea the wind farm and sea forts shimmered in the heat haze.
 |
|
 |
|
With the sun still shining when I reached Reculver I had a check along the path beside the Roman wall to see if there was any sign of a Wall Butterfly. I had almost reached the end when I could see one flying towards me. It alighted very briefly before moving off to patrol again. It continued to be very active and tending, when it did settle, to be tucked down on the dried mud at the base of the wall and mostly obscured by vegetation. I only saw the one but it was a welcome sight, and my first for the year, they are lovely butterflies. It was time to make a move but luckily for me it chose just then to settle briefly in view, choosing a handy shell as a perch, closing its wings on landing and only resting for a moment before it was off again.
 |
| Wall Butterfly |
 |
| Wall Butterfly |
 |
| Wall Butterfly |
Several patches of Common Fumitory were dotted around, the colour catching my eye as I made my back and brought a walk through on a beautiful spring day to a close.
 |
| Common Fumitory |
Birds seen this visit included: 5 Pheasant, 10 Blackbird, 2 Collared Dove, 8 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock, 3 Chiffchaff, Jackdaws, 6 Wren, 3 Robin, 9 Blackcap, Wood Pigeon, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Stock Dove, 3 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Whitethroat, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Moorhen, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Mute Swan, 6 Shelduck, 9 Lapwing, Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Swallow, Reed Warblers, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Oystercatcher, 6 Reed Bunting, 3 Pied Wagtail, 10 Linnet, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 17 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Rock Pipit, 8 Mallard, 3 House Martin west, 1 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Stonechat, Skylarks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Grey Plover, 15 Sand Martin, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret
No comments:
Post a Comment