Grey Wagtail, Hobby and Starlings on the move - Reculver to Coldharbour 24/10/19

I headed to Reculver on an overcast morning. With pretty much no wind the sea was calm as a mill pond but visibility was not great as it was decidedly murky and misty out to sea. The tide was in. I was greeted by a Robin singing away from the rocks by the car park and each time it reached the fullest part of its song it partially fanned its tail feathers and positively vibrated with song. A Wren was busy looking for insects amongst the rocks and a couple of Pied Wagtail were chasing each other back and forth.

Robin

Robin

140 Starling were feeding by the towers and a mixed flock of mainly Herring Gulls and some Black-headed Gulls were busy rooting around amongst the mown grass on the old camp site. Another Robin was singing away from the rocks as I came down onto the sea wall. It was nice to see a Grey Wagtail that landed on the rocks briefly before flying back over to the oyster farm. 4 more Pied Wagtail were on the shore. A couple of Meadow Pipits were nearby preening and the closest gave some very nice views. The light was so poor that all the photographs needed to be taken at a high ISO, something that my camera does not cope well with, but I was pleased to be able to get some memory shots

Grey Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

I could see a large raptor a long way out to sea that was almost obscured by the mist. Its flight was very reminiscent of an Osprey, but I couldn't get anything on it, and with wishful thinking definitely having overcome common sense I wondered if it could possibly be one. There are times when I can be a right idiot and this was clearly one of them. I managed to get a photo of sorts before it disappeared back into the mist and I was able to enlarge it on the computer when I got home and it indeed confirmed it was not an extremely late Osprey but rather a Common Buzzard. Now that made much more sense even if it did confirm that I was an idiot. Ah well, it is no wonder I never count a bird unless I am absolutely certain! A little further along I had 30 Brent Geese fly west in the murk.

Brent Geese

A small group of 9 Starling came in off the sea and headed south west followed shortly after by another 12. There was a movement of Starlings throughout the visit with some groups flying west and other groups coming directly in off the sea and heading south west. A small flock of 9 Ringed Plover were disturbed by a dog walker and headed for further along the shore.

Starlings

Ringed Plover

12 Meadow Pipit were feeding along the shore and a single Curlew flew east followed a while later by another. A Cormorant was drying its wings, which is always an impressive sight, while perched on one of the marker poles.

Cormorant

I caught sight of a small raptor above and was surprised to see a Hobby heading out to sea. It flew quite strongly until I had almost lost it from sight when it suddenly turned and started to come back in. Just as it reached the shore it turned once more and once again flew strongly out to sea and this time appeared to keep going and disappeared into the mist.

Hobby

A Golden Plover called from behind the oyster farm and I had 8 Siskin fly west and 4 Swallow followed by 3 House Martin headed that way a short time later. Out to sea 58 Starling flew west. A Rock Pipit was busy along the shore and a Snipe flew up from the oyster farm before settling down again. 38 Carrion Crow were on the shore and frequently whirling up into the air before settling down again. 3 immature Mute Swan flew past, giving some very nice views as they did so, and another 16 Mute Swan were in the field behind the oyster farm.

immature Mute Swans

Out to sea 3 Teal flew west closely followed by 7 Brent Geese. A large flock of 250 Starling flew west inland followed by another 80. Another 4 Brent Geese headed east before, presumably, the same birds headed west a few minutes later. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song near the green bank and gave a tantalisingly brief view before disappearing into cover again. I could hear Corn Bunting singing and 12 were atop one of the bushes. A Merlin passed over the oyster farm and alarm calls rang out and c120 House Sparrow flew up in a panic. As I carried on along the sea wall I caught sight of a Goldcrest in one of the bushes and as I watched I realised that the bush was alive with 7 of them all busily searching for food. They are beautiful little birds and I thoroughly enjoyed being treated to some close views. I do really miss not being able to hear them anymore though. Even right next to them I still could not hear any calls.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

When I reached Coldharbour I found that it was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and some Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit at the back. A Marsh Harrier caused consternation amongst the Starlings in one of the fields as it passed through. It was nice to hear another Cetti's Warbler calling and another 3 Goldcrest were in one of the bushes and once again treated me to some lovely views. The rain that had been threatening arrived as I turned for home. The only good thing was that although it fairly tipped down there was at least some breaks between the showers. Small groups of Starlings of between 3 to 50 continued to come straight in off the sea heading south west and once the rain started in earnest a pulse of the groups would come through in between the heavy showers. In total I saw 952 Starlings moving a mixture of west or either straight in off the sea and heading south west during the visit.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

As I made my way back I had 10 Shoveler fly west but the rain meant I couldn't grab a photo. I decided to head back via the green bank and the back of the oyster farm. 27 Fieldfare moved from the bushes to a field and 4 Redwing were also tucked in one of the bushes. During a brief break in the rain two Carrion Crows gave a male Sparrowhawk a very rough time over the oyster farm and after a sustained period of harassment the Sparrowhawk moved off, shooting low over the fields and scattering Starlings in panic. At this point my luck ran out and it rained steadily for the rest of the way back. As I squelched my way past the towers the rain stopped again and a Chiffchaff was calling away. I finished the visit with some good views of a Herring Gull resting up on the rocks. After yawning widely it headed off after a youngster that had been calling from above.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Birds seen this visit include: 13 Robin, 5 Wren, 8 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, 14 Blackbird, 952 Starling moving west and south west and 540 Starling feeding in various fields, Wood Pigeons, Cormorants, 2 Little Egret, 44 Meadow Pipit, 26 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Magpie, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Ringed Plover, 47 Brent Geese, 1 Hobby, 17 Linnet, 2 Curlew, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Kestrel, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Siskin, 7 Swallow west, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Redshank, 21 Turnstone, 46 Oystercatcher, 17 Reed Bunting, 8 Stonechat, 2 Mallard, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 38 Carrion Crow, 7 Skylark, 1 Merlin, 3 Teal, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Song Thrush, 3 House Martin, 12 Corn Bunting, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Coot, 10 Shoveler, 27 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff

Ducks Galore - Grove Ferry to Stodmarsh 06/03/19

I came to Grove Ferry on a very different day to my last visit. There was a very blustery westerly wind with frequent light rain showers.

I started the visit well with brief views of a female Hen Harrier being mobbed by a Carrion Crow before it then flew away from the reserve. I hoped that I might see it again but that was my only view for the day. There were a few Blackbirds dotted around and the usual little jobs. Chaffinch were singing away and I could hear a Cetti's warbler singing. 12 Lapwing flew up before wheeling back towards the area from the viewing ramp.

From the viewing ramp there was a good mix of duck with Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard all present, and at least 60 Lapwing. A male and a female Marsh Harrier flew over at the back.

As I was getting decidedly wet I headed along to the David Feast hide. Passing the first small body of water I could see 3 Coot and a smart summer plumaged Little Grebe. As I approached the hide I had another 2 Cetti's Warbler singing. I managed to get brief views of one of them but it was too quick for me to get any photos.

There were some very smart Tufted Duck which were coming quite close and allowing good views. The male's head shape and tuft showed well from some angles.

Male Tufted Duck

Male Tufted Duck showing tuft

The female had some white on her face at the base of her bill.

Female Tufted Duck

The male and female appeared to be a pair and were usually close to each other.

Tufted Duck pair

Tufted Duck pair

There was also another male who every now and then would move in closer. He seemed to be reasonably well tolerated but the speed they were swimming at would always pick up and the first male invariably showed an alert posture.

Tufted Duck trio

Two Greylag Geese moved out from the cover of the reeds and had a brief wash and brush up before the male moved in and they mated. The male looked immensely pleased with himself when they had finished and swam with head and bill pointing upwards and wings held partly apart for a minute or so afterwards.

Greylag Geese mating

Greylag Geese mating

One very pleased with himself Greylag Goose

The both then went back to having a wash and brush up.

Greylag Goose - wash and brush up

Greylag Goose - wash and brush up

Heading over to the island they started preening and in between beat their wings vigorously.

Greylag Goose wing flapping

Greylag Goose wing flapping

After this they both started calling and then one after another they flew heading in the direction of Stodmarsh.

Greylag Goose in flight

 A Coot was diving and surfacing holding a stem which it then proceeded to swallow whole. It ate several in quick succession before going back to eating pond weed. I don't know if they were softer than they looked to swallow.

Coot eating stem

Coot swallowing stem whole

Coot - almost gone

I walked on to the Marsh Hide in increasingly heavy rain. I came across at least 3 more singing Cetti's Warblers. A Kestrel was hunting. It was very quiet from the Marsh Hide. There were a couple of Stock Dove but that was about it.

Stock Doves

Stock Dove in flight

I carried on towards Stodmarsh hearing several more Cetti's Warblers on the way. I got completely sidetracked at this point as my camera suddenly said to insert a memory card, despite there being one already in there, and then froze and would not close or turn off. Re-inserting the card did not help so once I got back to the car, and could sit down, I tried a new battery but that did not help either so I then tried a new memory card and everything seemed to work okay again. I headed along to the Reedbed Hide to try the camera out and see how things went.

There were several pairs of Shoveler all feeding in the same manner. Each pair was swimming round in tight circles with their heads under water. They are handsome ducks with spectacular bills.

Male Shoveler

Female Shoveler

Every now and then a fight would break out between rival males whereupon one would fly at the other and they would collide in a flurry of beating wings.

Male Shoveler fighting

Male Shoveler fighting

I tried for some shots of the Shoveler as they flew, with varying levels of success but I enjoyed trying.

Male Shoveler in flight

Female Shoveler in flight

Male Shoveler in flight

A female Pochard swam into the bay briefly but was too far away for a decent photo. A Cormorant flew in and after a quick fishing session stood out to dry its wings. In between having them outstretched it also beat them rapidly.

Cormorant drying its wings

Cormorant wing flapping

Cormorant wing flapping

Cormorant wing flapping

I could not see any sign of the Snipe today. Teal were tucked into the same area.

Teal

While I was watching the Teal a pair of Long-tailed Tits flew into the bush. They were mainly obscured by branches but I did manage to get a shot of one of them peeping through.

Long-tailed Tit

A least 3 Marsh Harrier's came past at various times. I found it hard to get any decent photos today but I enjoyed watching them.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

I had enjoyed my visit. It may not have been the best of weather but in the hides it does not really matter. Luckily the camera seems to have got over whatever happened and appears to be working okay. When I got home I tried the failed memory card in the computer but it struggled to read it. Luckily, though it took several hours as the transfer rate was so slow, it did manage to finally locate and load in the photos I had taken before the card failed. I felt very lucky for that as I would have been sorry to have lost them. I have not had a memory card fail before and I do not really understand how it can have had such an effect on the camera as to cause it to freeze open and be unable to turn it off etc. I do not know if the memory card failed and affected the camera, or the camera failed and affected the memory card. I guess time will tell. I am just hoping now that it does not happen again, once is definitely enough.

Birds seen this visit include: 1 Hen Harrier, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 125 Lapwing, 6 Marsh Harrier, 130 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 15 Shoveler, 9 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Gadwall, 3 Greylag Geese, 15 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Reed Bunting, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Jay, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Water Rail, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Wren, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Moorhen, 1 Pochard,