Brent Geese, Curlew and a Confiding Wren - Reculver to Chambers Wall 20/11/20

I arrived at Reculver on a cold but sunny morning. The tide was still going out with good amounts of shore already covered with birds and I could see 125 Brent Geese off the point with lots of Herring and Black-headed Gulls strung along the exposed shore. As I came down onto the sea wall I glanced back at the towers and every stone was highlighted in the early morning light as a few Starling launched themselves from the ruins.

Reculver Towers

Making my way along the sea wall a couple of Stonechat were active and 3 Pied Wagtails were busy along the shore. 4 Mute Swan moved out to sea and a Common Buzzard was hunting along the back field edge. A Wren, Blue Tit and a couple of Reed Bunting were working their way through the reeds and a Kestrel hovering above caused them to move deeper into cover. A few Brent Geese had started to move round to the newly exposed shore and looked lovely in the golden light, with more of them arriving in small groups.

Brent Geese

Some started to make their way along the shore and initially they were almost exactly the same distance apart which made it look as if even the geese were socially distancing in these strange times as they ate some of the vegetation left by the retreating tide.

Brent Geese

I didn't see them eat any of the red/orange seaweeds, they only appeared to be looking for the freshest green vegetation of which there seemed to be much less of than the rest.

Brent Geese

A single Curlew was also working its way along the shore and gave some good views as it did so. It was nice to see one a little closer than I am used to. Initially it was wading a little way into the sea and probing the sand but then moved closer to me and probed along the edge of the exposed shingle band.

Curlew

Curlew

As I continued up towards the Green Wall 5 Pheasant flew across to the oyster farm from the fields and 7 Corn Bunting were vegetation hopping as they moved from seed head to seed head. A Great Black-backed Gull flew low along the shore with the size of its bill highlighted as it gleamed palely in the bright sunshine.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

While walking on towards Coldharbour good numbers of Ringed Plover were on the exposed mussel beds and shore with some Turnstone and plenty of Redshank. A flock of 27 Golden Plover lifted off from the fields before settling down again with their calls carrying well as they swirled round. I had a sit on the sea wall again just before Coldharbour and enjoyed watching a Grey Plover, a few Oystercatchers and a Curlew out on the mussel bed. 16 Mallard were off-shore and I heard a Lapwing call with a single bird coming in off the sea and flying overhead as it headed inland.

Lapwing

Lapwing

Lapwing

I had hoped to get as far as Shuart but with walking proving to be decidedly problematic today I decided to head to Chambers Wall for a nearer pick up point. I had a quick look at Coldharbour but could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a couple of Black-headed Gulls. A couple of Stonechat greeted me as I made my way towards Chambers Wall and a Wren was alarm calling from one of the bushes.

Wren

Nearing the railway line I came across a single Mushroom and a Cetti's Warbler was alarm calling on the other side of the railway. I caught a glimpse of it flicking its tail up as it called before it disappeared into cover. I couldn't see what it had been alarm calling at.

The walk through Chambers Wall was fairly quiet but it was nice to catch up with some Redwing and Fieldfare together with Blackbird in the hedgerow. I couldn't find any Goldcrest or a Firecrest today but enjoyed looking. 7 Magpie were in one of the fields and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. I was checking a bush covered in ivy to see if any late insects were out when a Wren popped out and gave some great views of its undertail coverts before turning and peeking at me briefly before it dived back into cover. It was a little beauty.

Wren

Wren

Wren

I finished with a Robin giving a classic Christmas card pose before it worked its way towards me, stopping to check me out, before carrying on. Another little beauty to finish the visit with.

Robin

Robin

Robin

Birds seen this visit included: 125 Brent Geese, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 10 Blackbird, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Common Buzzard, 9 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 27 Golden Plover, 54 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 7 Corn Bunting, 10 Magpie, 5 Pheasant, Skylarks, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Moorhen, 16 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 4 Linnet, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Robin, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare,

Greylag Geese, Little Grebes and a Purple Sandpiper - Shuart to Reculver 12/11/20

I headed to Shuart, on what promised to be a fine morning, and on the approach road had 4 Red-legged Partridge close to the road giving some very nice views indeed. They are beautiful birds and though there wasn't really enough light I was lucky to be able to get some photos as I do not often see them this close. They made a very nice start to the visit.

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

It was turning out to be a fairly quiet wander through as I made my way down the track with just the usual suspects present. I enjoyed watching 10 Long-tailed Tits making their way rapidly through the hedgerow with a mixed flock of Tits. They may only be little birds but they are bursting full of character. It all changed in the next minute when I heard some geese calling and a flock of 22 Greylag Geese flew past before wheeling round and returning the way they had come. I don't know if they are birds that have wandered over from Stodmarsh or new in.

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese

I hoped with a bit of luck that they might come down further along in the harvested Sweetcorn field and if so I might have a chance of catching up with them again. I carried on down the track and heard a Water Rail from its usual spot. A couple of Goldcrest were busy looking for insects and a Marsh Harrier was up at the back. A couple of Redwing had joined the Blackbirds on the track and I could hear a Fieldfare call from the back of the hedgerow. As I came to the end of the hedgerow I could see the Greylag Geese near the back of the field as I had hoped. Unfortunately a Common Buzzard spooked them and 15 birds took off and flew south and this time kept going.

Greylag Geese

That left seven Geese which luckily for me were closer to the track. They were very alert and moments later they too took to the air and flew in the same direction as the others. From the direction they took presumably they are Stodmarsh birds. I am hoping that the field doesn't get ploughed in too soon as at the moment it is proving to be quite attractive to birds.

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese

With the excitment of seeing the geese over I enjoyed watching 3 Stonechat as I approached the railway crossing. A Chiffchaff was still calling from the same bushes as my previous visit as I headed past the stables. I couldn't see anything different in but the birds I saw shone in the early morning sunshine and the Greenfinch looked particularly handsome today. The tide was mostly in as I came up onto the sea wall and a single Sanderling with Turnstone and Redshank were roosting out of the wind on the other side of the rocks.

Sanderling, Turnstone and Redshank

There was a brisk and cold South Westerly wind as I made my way towards Plumpudding. 36 Brent Geese were off shore with a Great Crested Grebe at the back. More Turnstone were busy feeding along the tide line. Black-headed, Herring and a few Common Gull were on the sea near to the shore but I couldn't see a Mediterranean amongst the Black-headed today. A few Carrion Crow were proving to be very adept at prising out the occupants of shells on the beach and flying up and dropping those they couldn't to be able to smash the shells.

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

As I neared Plumpudding 17 Sanderling flew in to the roost on the beach and looking along from the sea wall I could see 21 Grey Plover, 86 Oystercatchers and 3 Curlew also tucked in. A Merlin was resting at the edge of the field on the other side of sea wall until it was spotted by a Carrion Crow and mobbed. Plumpudding itself was quiet with just the pair of Mute Swan and a few Meadow Pipits. Just past there a Great Black-backed Gull was offshore amongst some Brent Geese. I am always amazed at how small Brent Geese actually are when I see them against the larger Gulls.

Great Black-backed Gull and Brent Geese

86 Mallard were off shore as I made my way towards Coldharbour but I could not see any different duck amongst them today. Brent Geese were flying past as they made their way over to the fields and looked stunning in the light as they came past.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Four Corn Bunting were atop one of the bushes as I neared Coldharbour and a Kestrel was hanging in the wind as it hunted. A few more Gannet were heading mainly east and a Common Seal popped its head up while a Great Crested Grebe was fishing fairly close inshore.

Common Seal

Great Crested Grebe

I heard a Bearded Tit calling from the reedbed as I came up to Coldharbour and a Redshank was standing in state on its own little island.

Redshank

19 Redshank were roosting, as was a Little Egret. The Little Grebe numbers had inceased and I could see 4 Little Grebe tucked in under one of the banks. They really are lovely little birds.

3 of 4 Little Grebe tucked in

I had a sit on the sea wall just past Coldharbour for a while and was treated to some lovely views of a Purple Sandpiper in amongst the Turnstone on the Breakwater Groyne. It was really nice to see one in some sunshine as the light showed up its markings beautifully.

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Every now and then the Turnstone would become spooked by passers by on the sea wall and wheel round out to sea before coming back in with the Purple Sandpiper tending to trail behind at the back of the flock.

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

The Purple Sandpiper was pushed off the groyne several times by various Turnstone but persistently returned. I moved to a seat on the sea wall on the other side of the groyne and as the groyne became more crowded with Turnstone the Purple Sandpiper had a harder time staying on it, being pushed into flight several times but trying again each time.

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

It ended up right at the end and continued looking for food items in amongst the cracks in the wood in relative peace.

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

I had thoroughly enjoyed watching the Purple Sandpiper but it was time to make a move. As I started towards Reculver a Rock Pipit flew up onto the groyne and showed beautifully in the sunshine.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

A Great Crested Grebe flew west as I made my way to Reculver and a single Guillemot also flew west. More Gannets were flying west than east now and coming through in small groups as I made my way back but were adding up to reasonable numbers seen today. A flock of 150 Ringed Plover were wheeling round out to sea and a couple more Great Crested Grebe offshore but otherwise it remained fairly quiet. As I neared Reculver I enjoyed watching a Cormorant coming into land on one of the marker poles.

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

I finished off an enjoyable wander with a look from the towers and some nice views of a passing immature Herring Gull and 1st winter Black-headed Gull.

juvenile Herring Gull

juvenile Herring Gull

Black-headed Gull

Birds seen this visit included: 4 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 5 Chaffinch, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Wren, 7 Robin, 20 Blackbird, 1 Water Rail, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 22 Greylag Geese, 2 Goldcrest, 89 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechat, 15 Corn Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Reed Bunting, 16 Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Starlings, 6 Pied Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Greenfinch, 390 Brent Geese, 18 Sanderling, 42 Redshank, 83 Turnstone, 10 Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Common Gull, 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 41 Gannet 16 east 25 west, 21 Grey Plover, 108 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 1 Merlin, 86 Mallard, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Guillemot, 2 Mute Swan, 156 Ringed Plover,