Friday, 14 May 2021

A Rough Time for a Grey Heron - Shuart to Reculver 14/05/21

On an overcast morning with a cold north easterly wind I paid a visit to Shuart. The usual were in the area around the start of the track with an addition of a Mistle Thrush and my wander down the track did not turn up any surprises. An Oystercatcher was being pursued by a Carrion Crow over one of the fields while in the hedgerow a Lesser Whitethroat was in full song. A Lapwing came past, having successfully mobbed a passing Carrion Crow before banking and returning to the field from which it had flown up.

Lapwing

It remained quiet as I came past the stables and coming up onto the sea wall the north north easterly wind was decidedly chilly. The tide was well in and 4 Sanderling were working their way along at the  waters edge before the advancing tide moved them off to roost. A Grey Heron was having a very rough time with a couple of Herring Gulls who were in hot pursuit and chased it first west and then, when it turned and came back to try and avoid them, they continued to mug it as it flew east. 

Grey Heron and Herring Gulls

Grey Heron and Herring Gull

Grey Heron and Herring Gull

As I approached Plumpudding I could see 3 Curlew roosting on the shore and on Plumpudding itself 6 Mallard and a Redshank were tucked in out of the wind. I carried on along the sea wall and 2 Whimbrel flew east and a distant Gannet was also flying east. A female Reed Bunting was on the sea wall collecting nesting material.

female Reed Bunting collecting nesting material

female Reed Bunting collecting nesting material

On the way to Coldharbour another 3 Whimbrel flew east and out to sea another Gannet and a single Fulmar also flew east. 1 Grey Plover and 5 Turnstone were on the shore and out to sea a Shelduck flew east.

Grey Plover and Turnstone

Coldharbour was completely deserted and as I continued on towards Reculver a Turnstone was feeding very close to the sea wall and I enjoyed watching it. It seemed to be managing to find quite a few food items under the various stones.

Turnstone

Turnstone

Turnstone

As I arrived at Reculver a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew east bringing the visit to a close.

Birds seen this visit included: 4 Blackcap, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Wren, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Magpie, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Pheasant, 7 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Moorhen, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, 1 Collared Dove, Linnets, 4 Sanderling, Herring Gulls, Cormorants, 3 Oystercatcher, 9 Turnstone, 5 Swallow west, 6 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Whimbrel east, 2 Gannet east, 1 Fulmar east, 1 Shelduck east, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

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