Sandwich Tern, Gannets and Common Scoter - Reculver to Coldharbour 14/11/20

It was very overcast with some light drizzling rain when I arrived at Reculver this morning and the threat of heavier rain was on the horizon. The wind was south south westerly but swung round to southerly as the visit went on. The sea was very calm but also quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants off shore. 108 Brent Geese were on the point and as I came past the towers a Gannet flew west out to sea while a Chiffchaff was calling from the bushes. 6 Meadow Pipits were around the rocks at the base of the towers and a little further along a Rock Pipit was investigating the rocks while out to sea a single Shelduck flew west.

Rock Pipit

Shelduck

As I made my way along towards the green wall a Bearded Tit called from the reeds in front of the oyster farm and out to sea a Little Egret flew west. A pair of Stonechat were busy and a couple of Pied Wagtail called from the shore. A single Curlew flew east and far out to sea streams of Cormorants were once again flying east. Overall it remained quiet as I passed the green wall and headed on towards Coldharbour. I could hear Golden Plover calling and a sizeable flock of 120 birds were swirling around high above.

Golden Plover

Three Grey Plover flew east and Brent Geese were also heading east as I carried on along the sea wall. Another Great Crested Grebe was off shore and 50 Ringed Plover flew in to roost while a little later 27 Sanderling and another 2 Grey Plover joined them. As I made my way along Turnstone were busily turning stones at various points along the shore. The juvenile Sandwich Tern flew past and was a welcome sight. I had kept my eyes open for the Wheatear which has been seen recently but did not have any success. It was good to catch up with Julian Perry, who was passing by on his run, and he had seen it on his way up so it was good to know it was still around and I hoped I might pick it up on the way back. 

Sandwich Tern

I had a seat on the sea wall for a while and a single Red-throated Diver was off shore and small numbers of Gannet were flying east. After a little while the Red-throated Diver lifted off from the water and headed east allowing a very poor photo but a nice memory shot.

Red-throated Diver

I had another seat on the sea wall on reaching Coldharbour and 60 Mallard flew east and settled down on the sea a little further along. A Robin popped up onto the breakwater groyne and a flock of 46 Sanderling flew west heading for the roost on the beach.

Robin

Sanderling

Coldharbour itself was very quiet and I could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a few Redshank. A pair of Stonechat were busy catching insects as I was sitting on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour I could see a couple of Common Scoter off shore.

Common Scoter

Gannets were continuing to fly both east and west out to sea and it is hard to know if I was counting the same ones as they went back and fore or if they were different birds going in different directions. The largest group size I saw was five, otherwise it tended to be singles or groups up to three in both directions.

Gannet

The juvenile Sandwich Tern gave another fly past. It is a beautifully marked bird and appeared to fish successfully further along before coming back past.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

I had another sit on the sea wall after coming back round Coldharbour as I made my way back towards Reculver. A Gannet came in closer and gave some good views as it flew west.

Gannet

Gannet

Skylarks were calling from above and a couple of Reed Bunting shone in a welcome patch of sunlight as the clouds broke. Out to sea a juvenile Gannet moving east sent the Mallards, who had been sitting out on the water, up in a panic. I had not realised that a Gannet would cause such a reaction.

Gannet and Mallards

A Kestrel was hunting over the oyster farm and a Stonechat posed nicely as it settled its balance in the wind. Out to sea a couple of Mute Swan made their way east at a leisurely pace before moving into shore further along.

Stonechat

Mute Swans

A Great Crested Grebe was close in-shore as I made my way towards Reculver and on its frequent dives was rewarded several times with small fish.

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

I did not manage to see the Wheatear on the way back but disturbance along the shore was high from dog walkers etc. Perhaps it might stay around and I will get another chance. The Sandwich Tern came back past and as it may be the last time I see one of them this year I took the opportunity to just sit and enjoy watching it. What a little beauty and it gave some super views.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Paste

I finished an enjoyable visit with a Grey Seal popping its head up briefly before sinking below the waves again.

Grey Seal

192 Brent Geese, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, 56 Gannet 19 west 37 east, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Shelduck west, 1 Pheasant, 2 Little Egret, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bearded Tit, 5 Redshank, 2 Kestrel, 2 Magpie, 1 Curlew east, 16 Turnstone, 73 Sanderling, 64 Mallard, 11 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Golden Plover, 50 Ringed Plover, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Reed Bunting, Skylarks, 2 Mute Swan, 

Sandwich Terns, Gannets and a Red-breasted Merganser - Shuart to Reculver 06/11/20

I headed back to Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning and from the approach road could see a large group of 27 Red-legged Partridge in one of fields. They glowed in the early morning light and the few nearer the road scuttled to the edge of the hedgerow as we came down and peeped out before moving back to the others and continuing feeding.

Red-legged Partridge

It seemed fairly quiet from the car park area with just the usual suspects present. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling and a pair of Magpies were scolding at something I couldn't see. Skylarks were above and a couple of Robin were in the midst of a territory disagreement. As I headed towards the track a single Stock Dove peeped down at me.

Stock Dove

Making my way down the track I saw a flock of 7 Redwing fly over and I enjoyed watching the odd Goldcrest that I came across. It continued to have a fairly quiet feel to it today but was a beautiful morning for a walk through. Another 10 Red-legged Partridge were at the back of one of the fields and a Water Rail was vocal. I could hear alarm calls and through a small gap between the bushes I caught sight of the Hen Harrier but by the time I reached a gap in the hedgerow there was no sign. It is certainly a beautiful bird. The moon was still very visible in the blue sky and looked stunning.

Moon

I had heard four Cetti's Warbler in total by the time I reached the railway line and 28 Stock Doves were over in one of the fields. The two Stonechat were once again in the area of the crossing. From the stables I could see 14 Redwing in one of the paddocks and another 2 Cetti's Warblers were vocal. 15 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. As I reached the sea wall a Great Black-backed Gull flew over with the light really catching its eye.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

The tide was a good way out when I reached the sea wall and I could see 120 Oystercatchers stretched out along the shore. 10 Great Black-backed Gulls were loafing around and a single Dunlin was busily feeding. A Curlew flew east out to sea and 15 Sanderling were at the waters edge. Out to sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe offshore. I came across a group of Oystercatchers that had been attracted to the same small pool of water and they were almost exactly evenly spaced out.

Oystercatchers

As I headed towards Plumpudding I caught up with a small mix of waders and far out to sea I could see 2 Sandwich Tern fishing. I am going to miss watching those. The light caught a Mute Swan's eye as it came past and highlighted its feathers beautifully. 5 Common Gulls were on the shore and out to sea 3 Gannet headed east.

Mute Swan

A flock of 94 Mallard came in to land out to sea and I could see 3 Wigeon in amongst them. 240 Brent Geese also flew in and are always a very welcome sight. They tend to be a bit of a show stopper as well with quite a few people on the sea wall pausing to watch them come in. 

Brent Geese

Plumpudding Island proved to be very quiet and I could not see the Snipe today. A beautiful male Stonechat looked stunning in the light and I enjoyed watching it for a while.

Stonechat

On the way to Coldharbour I could see 12 Gannet flying west in small groups and 4 Brent Geese gave a flypast with the light beautifully highlighting their wings. 

Brent Geese

Coldharbour was deserted but the disturbance from walkers along the shingle bank was high. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the other side of the sea wall but otherwise all was quiet. A Mushroom was growing amongst the vegetation on the shingle by the sea wall. I am not sure at the moment which it is.

Mushroom

I headed on towards the green bank and off shore I could see another couple of Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver but otherwise it stayed quite quiet. 29 Golden Plover flew up from one of the fields.

Golden Plover

Another Cetti's Warbler was calling as I carried on towards Reculver and I could hear the Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea 5 Gannet flew west.

Gannet

A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm but I could not see any Short-eared Owls today. A couple of Redshank alarm called. A single Shelduck was off shore and glowed in the sunlight.

Shelduck

I had a final sit on the sea wall just before I reached Reculver and watched out to sea for a while. It proved to very quiet with just another couple of Gannet west. Having watched for a while with nothing much happening I got my phone out to arrange a pick up from Reculver and a Red-breasted Merganser flew east. It is amazing how often a good bird waits until you have your hands full. By the time I had managed to put the phone down and get the camera on it the Merganser had flown well east. It has been a difficult and painful week and sometimes frustration gets the better of me and I lose my sense of humour briefly and this was definitely one of those moments. Luckily it only ever lasts for a couple of minutes but I can probably fit a years worth of swear words in, in that time, which is not good. Ah well. It was a lovely bird to end the visit with and though the photo does not do it credit it gives me a good memory shot and I was grateful to have seen it.

Red-breasted Merganser

Birds seen this visit included: 37 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Skylarks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 10 Robin, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 21 Chaffinch, 29 Stock Dove, 27 Blackbird, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 4 Wren, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Corn Bunting, 13 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Common Gull, 22 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern, 94 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser

Woodlark, Hen Harrier, Pulled Tails and Pintails - Shuart to Reculver 04/11/20

It was very nice to have a day off today and I started out from Shuart on a beautiful morning with wall to wall sunshine and next to no wind. The air was crisp and cold but beautifully clear and the grass and remaining leaves shone in the early morning light. Nine Red-legged Partridge were disappearing to the other side of the hedge on the approach road and from the car park the alarm calls of Magpie, Blackbird and Blue Tit alerted me to the presence of a Sparrowhawk tucked in at the back. I had a walk up to the start of the bridleway and was having a scan round when I heard the unmistakable sound of a Woodlark calling as it flew south west. I literally couldn't believe it and to say I was chuffed would be putting it mildly as it is a bird that has taken me a very long time to catch up with at Reculver. Picking my pole up that I had dropped trying to get my recorder out of my pocket to try and record the call, which I didn't manage as it was out of range too soon, I nearly missed two Greylag Geese that were flying south east and I could hear them calling as they disappeared off in the distance.

Extremely well chuffed I headed back down to have a wander along the main track to the sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling away noisily and catching up with many of the usual suspects on the way. A Water Rail was calling from the dyke and a Jay's harsh alarm call filled the air as it warned of my passing by. I paused to have a look through the first gap and could see a raptor perched in the top of a bush. My morning got even better when I realised it was a Hen Harrier, as though one has been in the area regularly recently I had not managed to catch up with it yet. Though distant its facial features were highlighted in the light as it turned this way and that, keeping an eye on all that was going on.

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

It started to preen which gave the opportunity to see its white rump well.

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

As is so often the way I took my eyes off it for a moment to watch a passing Grey Heron and when I looked back it had flown and was heading away from me to start hunting. It quartered along at the back before doing such an incredibly fast change in direction as it tried for a Wood Pigeon, the Wood Pigeon literally upside down trying to avoid it before being hotly pursued. The Harrier missed as the Wood Pigeon crashed into cover and flew over the track to try its luck on the other side. The photo is extremely blurred as it went for the Wood Pigeon, as the speed of its turn and drop caught me out, but it gives me a nice memory shot of an amazing bird turning on a sixpence and showcasing its agility beautifully and also just how agile and attuned to danger a Wood Pigeon is.

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier and Wood Pigeon

I had another couple of Water Rail with both heard at the same time in a different area to the first and a couple of Cetti's Warblers were their usual loud selves. A Grey Heron was flying in low and heading over the top of the track when it must have suddenly spotted me and veered off showing its impressive wingspan well as it did so. 

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

I could see a Common Buzzard with a fresh kill in one of the fields and it wasn't long before it was spotted by a Carrion Crow who flew in to try its luck with stealing some of the catch.

Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow

Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow

Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow

I was surprised that the Wood Pigeon in the background stayed throughout the encounter as I thought it would have flown as soon as it saw the Buzzard coming, all it did was wander along a little. The Carrion Crow proceeded to hassle the Buzzard by repeatedly pulling its tail feathers. Each time the Buzzard turned away the Crow would head behind it and start pulling its tail feathers again.

Carrion Crow pulling the Common Buzzards Tail

Carrion Crow pulling the Common Buzzards Tail

As it turned out it appeared to be a strategy that worked as eventually the Crow was able to nip in and steal a sizeable chunk of the Buzzards catch. I wondered if the Buzzard would chase it but it just looked up, stared for a bit, and then carried on eating what was left of its catch. It was fascinating watching the encounter between them and they were so intent on each other that neither seemed bothered by the various dog walkers passing along the footpath.

Carrion Crow having successfully stolen a sizeable chunk of the Buzzards catch

It was time to move on and a little further along another Cetti's Warbler was vocal. Redwing and Blackbirds were on the track and also enjoying the berries in the bushes and I saw a single Fieldfare. and three Stonechats were busy looking for insects. A flock of 94 Lapwing went up in the distance and I enjoyed watching a couple of Mute Swan as they came past. As I came up to the railway crossing I could see in the distance 10 Red-legged Partidge along a field edge.

Lapwing

Mute Swan

Around the stables seemed quite quiet with nothing noticeably different although Corn Bunting numbers had increased and the air was filled with their calls. A Robin posed nicely and though I didn't catch the whole of it when it flew I liked that I could see its eye clearly. 

Robin

Robin

A male House Sparrow looked very handsome in light as I made my way up towards the sea wall.

male House Sparrow

The tide was partially out when I reached the sea wall and on its way in. A Little Egret and a Curlew both flew west out to sea. I came across a small group of Black-headed Gulls on the beach and tucked in with them was a very smart 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull. It was a beautiful bird and at times looked surprisingly darker grey than the Black-headed but presumably that was the effect of the light.

2nd winter Mediterraean Gull

2nd winter Mediterraean Gull

2nd winter Mediterraean Gull

With the sea wall becoming busier and multiple groups of cyclists passing by the gulls became increasingly nervous and flew as the next large group raced past. I felt sorry for the gulls but it did give a chance to try for some flight photos.

2nd winter Mediterranean and Black-headed Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean and Black-headed Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

I headed on towards Plumpudding and a flock of 41 Mallard were on the water a good ways out to sea. From the sea wall I could see 54 Oystercatcher and a single Curlew in the wader roost behind Plumpudding and 4 Redshank came into land on Plumpudding. I was idly scanning the islands on Plumpudding when I caught sight of slight movement in amongst the vegetation and found myself looking at a Snipe, that though well hidden, looked gorgeous in the light. It gradually moved a little more into a more open patch allowing me to try for some photos. I ended up seeing 3 with one flying now and then between islands.

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

Six Redshank were also present and 2 Stonechat and several Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit. As I carried on towards Coldharbour there were 6 Brent Geese offshore and a male Pied Wagtail gave some very nice views as it searched for insects.

Pied Wagtail

I caught up with the Mallard flock again and they were closer in this time and had increased to 54. In amongst them were a couple of, what appeared to be, slightly smaller duck with neat dark grey/black bills. I was really pleased as they appeared to be a couple of Pintail and though they remained a little distant for the camera I tried for some photos before just enjoying watching them as they drifted back west. One is clearly a male and appears to either be an immature or still in eclipse but looks as if it is starting to moult into breeding plumage. I am not sure on the other bird. I assumed it was a female at first but it appears to also have quite a lot of grey feathering and fairly strong head patterning in some views so I am not sure if it may in fact be another male or whether it is indeed a female. Whichever the case they were beautiful duck and a nice surprise.

Pintail

Pintail

An obliging wing flap enabled me to see the males Speculum and also the underwing pattern. 

Pintail

Pintail

Pintail

On the way to Coldharbour I saw small numbers of mixed waders roosting with more flying in as the tide rose. A couple of Sanderling looked lovely in the sunshine in their winter plummage.

Sanderling

12 Grey Plover flew up briefly from behind the shingle bank before dropping out of sight again. A little further along another couple were on the shore in the company of a few Turnstone.

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

As I neared Coldharbour I could hear Redshank frantically calling and could see a large flock of them appearing to have wheeled up from Coldharbour due to a bunch of dog walkers walking along the shingle bank at the back and sending them into panic mode. I managed to grab a  photo of part of the flock before they headed off and was surprised to see just how many of them there were with 58 birds in total in the whole flock. Even though they were distant it was an impressive sight.

Redshank

On Coldharbour 8 Redshank had held their nerve and were hunkered down and a Little Egret flew back in. A single Ringed Plover was on the shingle bank at the back and appeared to be limping badly. A Cetti's Warbler called from the bushes on the other side of the sea wall and 166 Brent Geese were in one of the nearby fields. It is nice to see their numbers building. I had a sit on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour and a Red-throated Diver had caught a large fish off shore and was dive bombed by a Herring Gull as it tried to steal its catch, the diver instantly sinking under the water and resurfacing much further out. Another Red-throated Diver flew east out to sea. A Rock Pipit was investigating the groyne and I heard Golden Plover call behind me with a flock of 36 coming into land near the sea wall. The light on the newly sproutibg crop made it hard to get a photo but I liked how they had settled into the furrows in the field.

Golden Plover

As I made my way towards Reculver I heard multiple Brent Geese calls and the flock had gone up wheeling round before resettling again. I could see the culprit as a Peregrine came down near the back of one of the fields. A little further along a Merlin streaked across and was probably the same bird I had a little later out to sea as it pursued a Chaffinch. Another 27 Mallard were offshore and the leucistic Mallard was in amongst them and a single Dunlin flew west.

Dunlin

Small groups of Brent Geese were offshore and as I passed the green bank I could hear a Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. While heading on towards Reculver with the next sit on the sea wall I could see a distant Gannet heading east and a Red-throated Diver going in the same direction. A Red-throated Diver surfaced briefly before diving again and when it resurfaced it had moved a good ways west.

Red-throated Diver

As I neared the towers I saw a flock of ten Gannet heading west and a couple of Redshank alarm called from the oyster farm.

Gannets

I finished a very enjoyable and productive visit watching a Common Gull paddling for worms on the grass near the towers and successfully drawing a good number to the surface enabling it to catch them.

Common Gull catching worms

Common Gull catching worms

Common Gull

Birds seen this visit included: 19 Red-legged Partridge, 8 Magpie, 26 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Woodlark south west, 2 Greylag Geese south east, 15 Robin, 8 Wren, 4 Pheasant, 1 Jay, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 12 Chaffinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Goldfinch, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Dunnock, 1 Hen Harrier, 4 Water Rail, Stock Doves, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Green Woodpecker, 5 Grey Heron, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Mute Swan, 9 Stonechat, 1 Siskin west, 12 Pied Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipit, 27 Corn Bunting, 3 Little Egret, 2 Curlew, 90 Mallard, 60 Oystercatcher, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 68 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 237 Brent Geese, 23 Turnstone, 2 Pintail, 29 Ringed Plover, 48 Sanderling, 14 Grey Plover, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Dunlin, 13 Gannet, 2 Common Gull