Sedge Warblers and a Snow Bunting Encounter - Shuart to Reculver 30/03/21

It was great to be able to head to Shuart today. It has been a long time since I have been able to visit the Reculver area and with a few days holiday from work it was nice to have the whole morning ahead of me. A couple of Red-legged Partridge flew from the field edge as I made my way down the road and near the beginning of the track a handsome male Pheasant looked stunning as he made his way along.

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

A male Blackcap was singing and was a welcome sound, my first for the spring. The air was alive with the song and calls of Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees calling away before moving off. As I started down the track I could hear a Green Woodpecker calling and a Peacock butterfly flew past. A little further on a Chiffchaff was calling and from the first gap I could see a Common Buzzard hunting over the far fields. A few Blackbirds and a Redwing were moving between the track and the hedgerow and Blue and Great Tits were making their way through the bushes. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song nearby and as I neared the end of the hedgerow a second bird also burst into song.

It was surprisingly quiet as I made my way past the stables apart from another very vocal Cetti's Warbler. On reaching the sea wall it was nice to catch up with Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Redshank as I headed towards Plumpudding. I also saw a couple of distant Curlew.

As I made my way towards Coldharbour it was lovely to hear the sound of my first Sedge Warbler of the Spring singing away. It is incredible to think of the journey that it has made to get here and that amazing burst of song was beautiful to hear.

Sedge Warbler

A Little Egret at Coldharbour was throwing an almost perfect reflection into the barely ruffled surface of the water that was reflecting the blue of the sky beautifully. A noisy group of cyclists passing caused it to fly and, again, it threw a near perfect reflection as it did so.

Little Egret

Little Egret

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea. Herring, Black-headed and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls were passing by and a single Great Crested Grebe was offshore. A Shelduck flew west and a small flock of 10 Common Scoter on the sea were gently moving eastwards.

Common Scoter

Carrying on towards Reculver I was very pleased to see a Snow Bunting on the shore. It was a fair way away to begin with but gradually moved closer and closer and ended up giving some simply stunning views. To say it lifted my spirits would be putting it mildly.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

It then moved up onto the sea wall and, again, I really couldn't have asked for nicer views. What an absolute beauty.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Well chuffed I carried on towards Reculver. I could hear another singing Sedge Warbler but this one stayed more in cover. A flock of 44 Corn Bunting were atop the bushes before flying up and heading towards the oyster farm. At the back a male Marsh Harrier was hunting along the field edge.

Corn Buntings

Corn Buntings

A male Reed Bunting was hassling a pair of Stonechats as I neared the green wall. A couple of Pied Wagtail were active along the shingle and Meadow Pipits flitted from the sea wall to the lower track. A Dunnock was singing away and I couldn't tell if it was blind in one eye or whether perhaps the eye was just in deep shadow. A Wren was also belting out its song a little further along.

Dunnock

Over on the oyster farm a Kestrel was hovering and sent up a small flock of 10 Linnet. While on the shore side a pair of Oystercatchers eyes glowed in the light and their bills and legs shone against the blue reflecting sea. As I neared the towers a single Swallow flew west. It brought a very enjoyable mornings birdwatching to a close.

Oystercatchers

In the afternoon, on the way back from an appointment, we had a short drive through Marshside and finished the day being treated to some nice views of a pair of Little Owls. 

Little Owl

Little Owls

Masked Shrike, Ring Ouzel, Pallas's Warbler and a White-tailed Eagle - Shuart to Chambers Wall 17/10/20

Today turned out to be an incredible day full of the unexpected. It started with a message from Chris Hindle to say that Derek Smith had found a juvenile Masked Shrike at Shuart, a bird I never thought that I would get the chance to see in a million years. What an incredible find from a superb bird watcher. As I arrived I saw Chris and he said it was still showing well so full of anticipation I made my way down. It was tucked a way away in the hedgerow and I was really chuffed to see it even if a little distantly for binoculars. A very kind gentleman was offering views through his scope and it was great to be able to see it closer. I had needed to look up Masked Shrike before I came, as I did not know what the particular identifying features were and it was good to be able to see them on this bird. I did not manage to see its rump but it was great to be able to have the time and views to enable me to understand how to identify it as Masked Shrike. I tried for some photos but it really was outside the range for my camera but they do at least give a couple of memory shots of an incredible bird.

juvenile Masked Shrike

juvenile Masked Shrike

After a chat with Derek and congratulations and thanks to him for a brilliant find I made a move to find somewhere to sit for a while. As I neared the railway line a Common Buzzard was at the back of one of the fields. 2 Cetti's Warblers appeared to be in competition as to who could be the loudest and 3 Chiffchaff and a couple of Stonechat were active. Small flocks of Chaffinch were heading west and Redwing and Fieldfare were in the paddocks as I passed the stables. A Fieldfare flew up and perched in the bushes for a short while.

Fieldfare

After a sit on the sea wall for a while I decided to try a walk along the embankment aiming for Chambers Wall as a pick up point. Small numbers of Corn Bunting were at the stables as I made my way past, occasionally perching right at the top of the highest branches.

Corn Bunting

A Brambling flew west as I made my way along the embankment followed a short while later by a couple of Siskin west. Small flocks of Chaffinch continued to fly west. A Small White Butterfly was busy drinking nectar and a couple of Migrant Hawkers were on the wing. I will really miss the insect life as the season progresses.

Small White Butterfly

I could hear a Ring Ouzel calling and stopped to see if I could manage to see it. After a little while I was lucky enough for it to appear in the open before flying towards me and after passing me it settled briefly on the grass embankment before flying on to a berry bush and disappearing inside. Overhead another Brambling flew west.

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Nearing Chamber's Wall I met another birdwatcher and while letting him know about the Ring Ouzel he said that there was a Pallas's Warbler at Chambers Wall. I found myself wondering could I have made a mistake yesterday with identifying the Yellow-browed, confidence in my ability never having been a strong point. Whichever way I looked at it, however, though the views yesterday had been brief and I didn't hear the bird call, they were good and I was as sure as I could be that I had identified it correctly. But the presence of a Pallas's there today couldn't but help make me wonder. At Chambers Wall there were quite a few birdwatchers strung along the track but it had not been seen for a little while. I found an empty spot and had a scan and after a while I couldn't believe it when a small bird flew across and landed in amongst some ivy and there was a stunning Pallas's Warbler working its way through. What an absolute beauty. I waved at the next birder along to alert him and he passed the message on and joined me. We were treated to some super, if brief, views as it made its way rapidly through the bush. It really was an absolute jewel of a wingbarred warbler sporting a very strong and bright crown stripe and supercilium and very dark eye stripe. And it certainly put my mind at rest as this was a completely different bird to yesterdays. Everything I saw was perfect for Pallas's just as the bird yesterday had been perfect for Yellow-browed. We were lucky enough for it to give brief views several times as it reappeared at various intervals along the hedgerow. I did not manage to see its rump but other birders there had seen the pale yellow and I could not manage a photo at any point but just enjoyed watching an absolute jewel of a bird. 

Heading for the pick up point I really did not think it was possible for the day to get any better but it still held one more surprise. Further along the road I could see a couple of birdwatchers pointing up and sideways but being on the short side I could not see over the hedgerow to see what they had seen. Another birder jogged past me saying that a White-tailed Eagle had been seen at Reculver and was going past. A hedgerow has never seemed so long and by the time I finally managed to clear it the eagle had moved rapidly through but I could still see it spiralling in the distance. I tried for some photos and they are really bad but they give me some memory shots of a bird that I never thought I would be lucky enough to see. The birders there reckoned that the eagle was presumably one of the Isle of Wight's re-introduced birds but I must admit that for me it was still a stunning sight and one I will never forget. I have never seen a bird in real life with a wing span that big, never having seen any type of eagle before. I would love to have seen it closer but I felt so lucky to have seen it at all. Update: Apparently the White-tailed Eagle is now thought not to be one of the Isle of Wight's re-introduced birds and is thought to be a continental bird. Not a bird I thought I would ever get the chance to see. 

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

And that brought a day filled with some superb birds to a close.

Birds seen this visit included:  1 juvenile Masked Shrike, 3 Common Buzzard, Skylarks, 9 Blue Tit, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Wren, 6 Stonechat, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Grey Heron, 6 Meadow Pipit, 15 Goldcrest, 16 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 11 Swallow, 8 Corn Bunting, 5 Fieldfare, 86 Chaffinch west, 4 Magpie, 6 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, House Sparrows, 10 Robin, 6 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 1 Blackcap, 12 Turnstone, 8 Sanderling, Carrion Crows, 2 Brambling west, 2 Siskin west, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Moorhen, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Great Tit, 115 Golden Plover, 2 Mallard, 1 Pallas's Warbler, 1 White-tailed Eagle 

Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat - Shuart to Chambers Wall 09/10/20

On arrival at Shuart several Chiffchaff were active around the car park area and I saw seven by the time I started out along the track. A Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker called from the trees. A Wren scolded as I passed by and overhead a flock of 28 Siskin flew west. It was a beautifully sunny morning and Skylarks were passing by overhead heading west. A male and female Blackcap appeared to be enjoying the sunshine.

male and female Blackcap

Two Lesser Redpoll flew low over calling loudly and were a welcome addition to the mornings birds. A Wood Pigeon eyed me warily as I passed by but otherwise appeared unperturbed.

Wood Pigeon

Two vocal Cetti's Warblers were sounding off against each other. Each time the one behind me called so the one from a little further along the track responded. A flock of 8 Long-tailed Tit were moving fast through the hedgerow as they searched for food. I love watching them and one was obliging enough to pause in a gap before moving on.

Long-tailed Tit

A single Crossbill flew over heading west and calling away and the hedgerow was alive with Chiffchaff busily searching for insects.

Chiffchaff

A Brambling flew over calling and small flocks of Chaffinch were moving west. The air was filled with the calls of Skylarks as they went over and a good number of Blackcap were working their way through various sections of the hedgerow. A Red Admiral Butterfly was sunning itself on the ivy.

Red Admiral

A Cetti's Warbler came tantalisingly close to coming out into the open but at the last minute dropped out of sight again. A scruffy Whitethroat gave pause when I caught sight of it but it never changed its position and was watching warily the approach of a group of loudly chatting dog walkers. As they neared it shot through to the back of the bush and disappeared. I waited to see if it would reappear but with no sign of it I carried on. I haven't seen a Whitethroat for a couple of weeks now.

Cetti's Warbler

Whitethroat

Another Blackcap was by the railway crossing and I had enjoyed seeing the numbers of them that I had today. At the stables a feisty Dunnock was chasing a rival repeatedly before returning to a favourite perch to keep watch on its rival's movements. Otherwise it was overall quieter than my last visit.

Dunnock

As I neared the sea wall one of the Corn Bunting present was tucked into one of the nearer bushes but keeping a wary eye on passers by.

Corn Bunting

The tide was already a fair way out as I came up onto the sea wall. Sanderling and Oystercatchers were along the shore. The westerly wind that had been very light had begun to pick up. The walk to Plumpudding was fairly quiet. Small flocks of both Chaffinch and Skylark were still moving west. Just past Plumpudding a couple of White Wagtail were on the sea wall. 5 Redshank were on Coldharbour but that also was quiet otherwise. Walking was becoming very difficult so I decided to head up to Chambers Wall as it was closer for a pick up point. I did not do much counting on the way through. A Red Admiral butterfly was showing its underwing pattern well making the contrast between that and its upperwing pattern even more striking.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

It was nice to come across some Goldcrests. They are beautiful little birds and it was a treat to be able to take a break and just enjoy watching their acrobatic manoeuvres as they searched for insects.

Goldcrest

Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and I finished the visit with a perched male soaking up the warmth from the sun.

Migrant Hawker

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Green Woodpecker, 46 Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeons, 7 Wren, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 17 Robin, 8 Dunnock, 208 Chaffinch, 31 Siskin, Skylarks, 25 Blackbird, 15 Pied Wagtail including 2 alba, 2 Jay, 1 Pheasant, 4 Mallard, 9 Magpie, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 19 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Crossbill, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Brambling, 2 House Martin, 2 Common Buzzard, 6 Reed Bunting, House Sparrows, Starlings, 9 Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting, 24 Goldfinch, 43 Sanderling, 84 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 4 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Swallow,  

Knot, Wheatear, and Southern Migrant Hawker - Shuart to Marshside 17/08/20

It has been a long time since I have been able to visit the Reculver area properly but with the start of a weeks holiday it gave the opportunity to have a slow wander today. I started out from Shuart and heading down the track it was nice to catch up with most of the usual jobs even if overall it did appear to be quite quiet. A large bee, what I think is a Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris, was busy amongst the flowers. I find, at the moment many bees hard to identify. Still the only good thing with that is that hopefully in time I can only get better.

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris

3 Yellow Wagtails were in the horse paddocks and a pair of Pied Wagtail were calling away noisily. Goldfinches were busy amongst the seed heads and small flocks of House Sparrow, Starlings and Linnet were all chattering away as I made my way along. On reaching the sea wall a Stonechat was calling away constantly.

Stonechat

The tide was mostly in as I made my way along but still on the rise. It appeared quiet out to sea with just a few passing Black-headed and Herring Gulls. A Sandwich Tern (130) called as it passed. On nearing Plumpudding Island I could see 4 Whimbrel (131) on the shore and another flew in, calling as it did so. I carried on to Coldharbour which apart from a few Black-headed Gulls was very quiet. A moth, which I have not been able to identify yet, was moving rapidly from flower head to flower head.

I sat on the sea wall for a while and enjoyed watching a small group of mixed waders busily feeding on a small patch of exposed shore that was rapidly disappearing as the tide came in. A juvenile Knot (132) was amongst them and was a pleasure to watch as it fed busily.

Knot, Turnstone and Sanderling

Knot and Turnstone

Knot

Knot

Knot

With the last bit of shore being covered by the in-coming tide and the waders departing I carried on along the sea wall got a nice, if brief view of a Wheatear before it was disturbed by a passing dog walker. A couple of Common Sandpiper (133) flew past calling as they headed east. As I neared the green bank I caught up with another Wheatear.

Wheatear

12 Little Egret were in their usual tree and the air was full of the sound of Starlings as they moved from the oyster farm to the bramble bushes alongside the sea wall.

Little Egrets

A passing rain shower reduced the number of people on the sea wall temporarily but as Reculver was very busy I took the track to Brook instead. A family of Reed Warblers were noisily feeding in the hedgerow. A Corn Bunting peeped at me as I passed by but otherwise seemed unconcerned by my presence. It was fairly bedraggled from the rain shower but drying rapidly as the sun came out again.

Corn Bunting

A friend met me at the top of Brook and gave me a lift round to Marshside where I spent a while looking for Dragonflies and Damselflies. Good numbers of Willow Emeralds Damselflies were present and I was treated to some very nice views.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

I also saw several pairs in tandem.

Willow Emerald Damselflies

Willow Emerald Damselflies

  

A couple of Emperor Dragonflies were patrolling various sections of the dyke but I did not manage to catch up with one at rest. A Ruddy Darter was more obliging.

Ruddy Darter

Ruddy Darter

 A Common Buzzard gave some good views as it flew over while a couple of Ring-necked Parakeet called as they flew past behind me.

Common Buzzard

Without a doubt though the highlight was fnding a male Southern Migrant Hawker, which came as a very nice surprise as I have not seen one at this site before. The males are very handsome and he was an absolute pleasure to watch. I haven't seen one since the male I found at Shuart last year so I felt incredibly lucky to see this one.

Southern Migrant Hawker

Southern Migrant Hawker

Southern Migrant Hawker

Southern Migrant Hawker

It made a great end to the day and as I made my way back to the car I finished the visit with a young Moorhen peeping out at me.

juvenile Moorhen

Birds seen this visit included: 8 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Blackcap, 6 Wren, 12 Whitethroat, 5 Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 15 Goldfinch, 3 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Linnet, 7 Stonechat, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipits, 4 Collared Dove, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, 2 Sparrowhawk, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Sandwich Tern, 56 Oystercatcher, 5 Whimbrel, 15 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone, 1 juvenile Knot, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Reed Bunting, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Wheatear, 2 Redshank, 12 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 2 Grey Heron, 12 Little Egret, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet,