My First Turtle Dove of Spring - Marshside 25/05/20

I paid another visit to Chitty Lane this afternoon and had a wander up to the embankment and back. A Chaffinch peeped out at me as I started up the track. Once again it was lovely to hear the sound of singing Reed and Sedge Warblers.

Chaffinch

A Large Skipper Butterfly was sunning itself and looked gorgeous in the light.

Large Skipper

A little further along I came across loads of Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars outside their cocoon. I am not sure what the paler brown ones amongst them are. At first I thought they must just be at a different stage of development but they do not seem to be as spiky as the black Small Tortoiseshell ones. It will be interesting to try and find out.

Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars

A male Goldfinch was perched high in the hedgerow and repeatedly singing away enthusiastically. It would pause between each burst of song and look round before breaking into song again. Though I think it was aware of my presence it did not seem to put if off its stride at all and after a fair while waiting, as I did not want to disturb it, I carried on down the track and left it still singing away.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

It was much quieter for Damselflies today and I did not see any sign of a Red-eyed or a Banded Demoiselle as I made may way up to the embankment. Several Azure Damselflies were tucked here and there and as I walked along the embankment I could see a Cuckoo on the edge of a bush way ahead. A little further along, from the hedgerow, I could hear my first Turtle Dove (117) of the year which was a very welcome sound.

Cuckoo

Reed and Sedge Warbler were singing as I made my way along and over in one of the fields good numbers of Corvid had been attracted to the area where the farmer was irrigating his crops.

Corvids making the most of the wet ground

It remained fairly quiet on the walk back but it was just good to be out.

Wheatear, Caterpillars and Sparrowhawk - Reculver to Chambers Wall 20/08/19

I came to Reculver on a beautiful morning with the sun rising into a clear blue sky and with next to no wind. The tide was starting to go out and the sea was very calm. As I approached the towers I had a very confiding Wheatear on the grass who did not seem to mind my presence at all. It was nice to be treated to such a close view as it moved closer to me. Unfortunately I didn't get long to admire it as 3 cyclists came up, with one of them on the grass, and it flew towards the rocks by the car park but it had made a lovely start to today's visit.

Wheatear

A group of Black-headed Gulls were resting up on the rocks below the towers and several rabbits were out feeding on the grassy areas. Out to sea appeared to be very quiet with only the odd Black-headed or Herring Gull flying past. I had a couple of Robin on the way down to the sea wall and a Kestrel flying over the towers lead to a lot of alarmed chirping from the House Sparrows. I saw 4 Little Egret over the oyster farm and another Wheatear on the rocks with another couple seen, at the same time, on the beach made a welcome sight.

Wheatear

It was nice to see that both Whinchat were still present but one of them was having a fairly rough time from a male Reed Bunting that was regularly flying up at it to dislodge it from the bush. Once it moved the Reed Bunting seemed to lose interest. 2 Stonechat were also out fly catching. I came across 2 Common Tern roosting on the beach with some Black-headed Gulls. A  little further along there was a group of waders with 22 Ringed Plover spread along the shore, and 12 Sanderling and a couple of Dunlin roosting together. I couldn't manage much in the photo line but they make good memory shots for me.

Common Tern

Sanderling and Dunlin

The walk up to Coldharbour remained fairly quiet. Some Common and Sandwich Terns had started to be on the move with the largest group being 15 Common Tern flying west. Both Hobby and Sparrowhawk were patrolling and both were met with alarm calls from Meadow Pipits and Swallows. Coldharbour itself was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls. A Common Sandpiper called as it flew to cover. Meadow Pipits appeared to be chasing the couple of Yellow Wagtails present and there also appeared to be several clashes between Linnet and Meadow Pipit. I turned off the sea wall and headed up to Chambers Wall. I could see a Mute Swan and 5 Coot in the dyke. One of the Coot swam parallel with me for a while before it spotted me and headed for cover. A Cormorant flying down the river was moulting several of its flight feathers.

Coot

Cormorant

I came across some Peacock caterpillars on some nettles. Quite a few of them had white/clear spines and white prolegs rather than the usual black spines and orange prolegs. I wondered if the ones with white/clear spines had recently shed their skin and whether the spines change colour as they harden and age. I could not get much of a photo as they were fairly far into the nettle patch but  it does show several with white/clear spines.

Peacock Caterpillars - some with white/clear spines and white prolegs

Common Toadflax was in patches along the side of the path and was proving attractive to some bees. A Common Blue butterfly went from unseen with its wings closed to glowing like a blue jewel amongst the grass as it opened them to sunbath. They are beautiful butterflies.

Common Toadflax

Common Blue Butterfly

A Willow Emerald showed well and a Common Darter settled at eye level and gave some super views. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and settled now and then.

Willow Emerald

Common Darter

Migrant Hawker

It remained fairly quiet for birds but with all of the usual jobs present. A Common Buzzard was soaring high up and a little further along I was treated to some super views of a large female Sparrowhawk soaring right overhead.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

It made a nice end to the visit.

Birds seen this visit include: 4 Wheatear, 2 Robin, Starlings, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Wood Pigeons, 4 Carrion Crows, 3 Kestrel, 8 Swallow, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Cormorant, 65 Linnet, 5 Little Egret, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Redshank, 8 Reed Bunting, 14 Turnstone, 2 Mallard, 2 Common Sandpiper, 26 Meadow Pipits, 2 Whinchat, 18 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Sandwich Tern, 12 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 17 Common Tern,  1 Hobby, 7 Sedge Warbler, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Mute Swan, 5 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Magpie, 6 Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Pheasant, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Moorhen, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wren, 2 Magpie, 2 Blackbird, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Common Buzzard,

Hummingbird Hawkmoth and juvenile Cuckoo - Reculver to Shuart 08/08/19

I headed back to Reculver on a beautifully fine morning. It appeared to be very quiet overall on arrival. Some of the group of Starlings, up by the towers, were having a wash and brush up and then settling up on the ruins to preen. The youngsters were well on with their moult into adult plumage.

Starlings

A Little Egret flew past and a few Sand Martins were hawking for insects. I got a surprise when a couple of large groups of Mallard flew up at the same time over the far fields totalling 84 altogether. Their numbers have certainly built up. I couldn't see what had put them up though. A little further on several Redshank were calling noisily from the oyster farm and I could see a Common Sandpiper on there while 30 Sand Martins were hawking for insects over it. Further along 7 young Mallard were keeping together down one of the dykes.

young Mallard

3 Yellow Wagtail were on the sea wall and a couple of Wheatear were on the beach side and continually moving along as they looked for insects. A Meadow Pipit was tucked in out of the wind.

Meadow Pipit

A group of 23 Common Tern flew west and I had 3 Sandwich Tern east. I had another Wheatear in a completely different area and I think that it was a third bird. Good numbers of Ringed Plover were along the shore as well as good numbers of Turnstone. I saw one Dunlin amongst a mixed group of roosting Ringed Plover and Turnstone. A Mediterranean Gull flew west. I came across small numbers of Pied Wagtail throughout my visit. As I neared Coldharbour I saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding from the Teasels on the shore side of the sea wall. They are beautiful insects to watch and the control they have over hovering and their proboscis is breathtaking.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

A couple of Common Sandpipers were on one of the groynes and a Meadow Pipit was searching for insects on another groyne. It appeared to be quite successful.

Common Sandpipers

Meadow Pipit

Some walkers flushed a juvenile cuckoo from the reeds alongside the dyke at Coldharbour.

juvenile Cuckoo

On the walk up to Plumpudding I was treated to some good views of Sandwich Terns and enjoyed trying for some flight photos.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

I came across another 3 Yellow Wagtail and some Sandwich Terns and Common Terns continued to move west. Plumpudding Island was very quiet with the only bird being a single Little Egret.

Little Egret

Good numbers of House Sparrow were around the stables area and some Common Blue Butterflies were active along the embankment. A Common Buzzard was circling and calling high above me.

female Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue 

As I walked down the track at Shuart I kept my eyes open for Hawkers but I could only see Migrant Hawkers today. Wren were singing away and I saw most of the usual jobs on the walk through. There were a lot of mating joined Migrant Hawkers on the wing but I did not see any land to photograph. I also saw several pairs of mating Common Darter. A couple of Migrant Hawkers paused for a rest and allowed some photos.

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

A Willow Warbler was working its way through the bushes. At one point a female Marsh Harrier flew low over the hedge causing consternation from the birds below. I came across a tent of Peacock caterpillars.

Peacock Butterfly Caterpillars

Peacock Butterfly Caterpillars

A Green Woodpecker was calling as I neared the car park and a couple of Blackcap were tutting away. 20 Lapwing were resting up in a field and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker gave some nice views even if it was into the light. It has been a quieter visit today but an enjoyable walk through.

Lapwings

female Great Spotted Woodpecker

Birds seen this visit include: 13 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, House Sparrows, 58 Sand Martin, 8 Little Egret, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 103 Linnet, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 91 Mallard, 8 Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 27 Turnstone, 3 Grey Heron, 21 Meadow Pipit, 13 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Pheasant, Carrion Crows, 1 Dunnock, 3 Magpie, 3 Wheatear, 32 Ringed Plover, 18 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Tern, 1 Dunlin, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Coot, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Mute Swan, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Wren, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Warbler, Jackdaws, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Marsh Harrier, 20 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,

Painted Ladies and a Norfolk Hawker - Chambers Wall to Shuart 28/06/19

I had a day off today so aimed to have a slow wander from Chambers Wall through to Shuart, via the embankment. It was mainly sunny with a breezy cool east north easterly wind. Skylark song filled the air as I walked up to the car park and a couple of faded Painted Lady butterflies were sunning themselves on the road. Overall it seemed very quiet bird wise apart from the usual suspects. A few Blue-tailed damselflies were here and there in the car park area and a young Dunnock disappeared into cover as I approached. From the bridge I got good views of a female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing. There were also a couple of joined pairs of Red-eyed damselfly with the females doing the same.

female Emperor Dragonfly

female Emperor Dragonfly

It was a very quiet walk down to the embankment. I saw another couple of young Dunnock and a family of Blue Tits were busy feeding. Whitethroats were carrying food as were a couple of Reed Warblers. An Emperor Dragonfly was on the hunt just before the railway crossing. As I came up onto the embankment a Common Tern was flying down the river towards the coast and stopped to fish briefly at several points. A Dark Bush-cricket nymph was sunning itself on a leaf and there were good numbers of them throughout the visit in various instars. Apparently there are six instars in Dark Bush-cricket's until they become adults and they become adults from mid July. A Large and Small Skipper were also in the same area.

Dark Bush-cricket nymph

Dark Bush-cricket nymph

I could hear some Goldfinches calling and on peeping round a bush I could see one perched on the fence bordering the railway line. It appeared to have been busy in amongst seed heads as it had a fair bit of the white fluffy part stuck around its bill.

Goldfinch

I had a little moth fly up from the grass and luckily it settled where I could see it. I think that it is another Pyrausta despicata despite being much brighter than the one I saw the other day. A Meadow Brown butterfly and a Silver -Y moth were in the same sheltered area. While looking at the Silver-Y moth I stepped forward and suddenly had a male Pheasant explode from cover at the side of the track and run away down the path in front of me at a rapid rate of knots before disappearing down the bank. I hadn't seen it at all until then. I am not sure who had the biggest surprise.

Pyrausta despicata

Meadow Brown butterfly

Silver-Y moth

Apart from the odd Skipper and Holly Blue butterfly I did not see any small butterflies but I started to come across good numbers of some of the larger butterflies. I only saw a couple of Tortoiseshell and 1 Large White but Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies appeared numerous in the sheltered areas. Many of the Painted Ladies were very faded and quite a few were missing chunks from their wings. A Red Admiral was still managing to fly well despite missing large areas of its lower wings.

Painted Lady butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

I could see 9 Lapwing in one of the fields and a few Swallows were hawking for insects. A couple of Sand Martin flew over and a couple of Swift were high above me. I dropped down to the lower path briefly to see if I could see anything round one of the dyke gates area and came across a couple of Peacock butterfly caterpillars crossing the path. They are striking caterpillars.

Peacock butterfly caterpillars

Peacock butterfly caterpillars

Peacock butterfly caterpillars

I was continuing to see good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies. At one point I saw 2 sitting close to each other on the path. One kept moving closer to the other until one of its antenna was touching the other butterflies wings and it appeared to then repeatedly stroke the wings with its antenna. After a little while they flew up together and remained close to each other at all points, presumably prior to mating.

Painted Lady butterflies

Painted Lady butterflies

Painted Lady butterflies

I came across a small patch of Pyramidal Orchids. A Chiffchaff was calling away and 2 Lesser Whitethroat were singing. A Meadow Brown butterfly landed and after a short while opened its wings.

Pyramidal Orchids

Pyramidal Orchid

female Meadow Brown butterfly

A little further on I came across a Meadow Brown butterfly that had two white pupils, one of which was smaller than the other, in its eye spots. On looking it up apparently the females sometimes can have a second subsidiary white pupil. A male Meadow Brown was also resting with his wings open and looking very handsome in the sunshine.

female Meadow Brown butterfly with 2 white pupils

female Meadow Brown butterfly with 2 white pupils

male Meadow Brown butterfly

In the same area there was a small micro moth that I do not know what it is at the moment and I will update when I find out. A Large Skipper was tucked out of the wind in the sunshine. Over at the back I could see a female/immature Marsh Harrier hunting over the fields.

Large Skipper

I crossed over the railway line and started to make my way up to Shuart. A male Reed Bunting was singing and another male popped up to have a look before chasing the singing bird. Some Herring and Black-headed Gulls were over the fields but otherwise it was very quiet.

Reed Bunting

I caught sight of a dragonfly that promptly disappeared from view but appeared, from the brief view to be a Norfolk Hawker. I waited to see if it came back and after a while I was lucky enough for it to reappear and even luckier when it then settled on the vegetation a little way in front of me. It stayed soaking up the early evening sunshine and I was chuffed to be able to enjoy some very good views and to be able to get some photos. It made a lovely end to the visit and I left it enjoying the warmth from the sun as I continued down the track.

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

A Song Thrush was singing away, as were a couple of Blackcap. Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch and Wren were all in good voice as well. I came across a small moth that, at present, I do not know what it is but will update when I find out. A Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens was enjoying the last of the sunshine.

Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens

Red Admiral butterflies were sunning themselves at various points along the track as were a few Painted Ladies. I had certainly done well for both today having seen 21 Red Admiral and 58 Painted Ladies.

Red Admiral butterfly

Painted Lady butterfly

I finished the visit with a Common Buzzard flying over and both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel in the air. It may have been very quiet, on the whole, but it had been good to be out and an enjoyable visit.

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Reed Warblers, 9 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 11 Goldfinch, 12 Linnet, 1 Sedge Warbler, 18 Reed Bunting, 6 Chaffinch, 10 Dunnock, 20 Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Tern, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Herring Gulls, 3 and 2 young Mute Swan, 7 Magpie, 5 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, Carrion Crows, 3 Pheasant, 9 Swallow, 2 Swift, 9 Lapwing, 2 Sand Martin, Cormorants, 3 Lesser Whitethroat,  1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel

Butterflies seen this visit include: 58 Painted Lady, 21 Red Admiral, 2 Tortoiseshell, 4 Small Heath, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Large White, 10 Meadow Brown,  2 Large Skipper, 5 Silver-Y Moths, 1 Small Skipper