First Swallow of Spring - Broomfield Track 11/04/20

There did not appear to be anything particularly new in when I had my usual exercise walk today. Still it was good to be out and to have the opportunity to admire anything that might catch my eye on the way round. A Grey Squirrel searching amongst the grass in the horse paddock looked gorgeous in the afternoon light but made a run for cover with the arrival of a dog walker.

Grey Squirrel

A Great Tit peeped out at me as I made my way along the top path and a Common Buzzard called from over the wood.

Great Tit

As I came along the lower path a Comma was basking in the sunshine. They are very attractive butterflies. Blackcap song came from the wood and a single Willow Warbler was singing away.

Comma

The rest of the walk remained quiet. I was pleased to catch up with my first Swallow (108) of spring when a single bird flew past overhead. Though I have seen several Green-veined White butterflies on the wing over the last few visits it was nice to catch up with one at rest. It initally rested briefly with wings open before moving over to some blossom and giving a good view of its underwings which definitely lived up to its name.

Green-veined White

Green-veined White

It made a nice end to the walk.

New Year's Day Bird Count - Shuart to Reculver 01/01/20

There is something special about a New Year's Day bird count when every bird seen is brand spanking new for the year and every bird, however common, brings a feeling of gratitude, joy and appreciation. So with a sense of anticipation I headed to Shuart, arriving just as light was beginning to show in the sky and paused along the approach road a few times to listen, managing to pick up Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (2), Chaffinch (3) and a calling Little Owl (4), Dunnock (5) and Robin (6). I stopped at the watch point in the hopes of spotting a Barn Owl. Sunrise was stunning as the few clouds gradually became aflame with colour and the clear sky boded well for a fine start to the day. Herring Gulls (7) were coming over in small flocks and a Red-legged Partridge (8) called several times. A Pheasant (9) felt brave enough to be a fair way out in the field. Rooks (10) were silhouetted against the sky as they lifted off from the far trees and a flock of 15 Lapwing (11) also showed well against the lightening sky. The call of a Green Woodpecker (12) carried well in the early morning air. Carrion Crows (13) and a passing Jackdaw (14) called as they went over, as did a passing Pied Wagtail (15). Wood Pigeons (16) were flushed in panic from the trees by the arrival of a Sparrowhawk (17) while in the distance a Common Buzzard (18) lifted lazily into the air. I had a last scan round for a Barn Owl without success and had to content myself with 2 Mute Swan (19).

Sunrise

On arriving in the car park I was greeted by a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling (20) and a Chiffchaff (21) paused briefly, giving a nice view, before moving off. A Wren (22) scolded me as it was disturbed from its perch by my arrival. Several Blue Tits (23) and Great Tits (24) were busily working through the bushes and a Mallard (25) called from beyond the trees. The Great Spotted Woodpecker started drumming as I made my way up to the bridleway and a Magpie (26) called harshly as I reached the top. I caught sight of a little bird in the hedgerow and was chuffed when I saw that it was a beautiful Firecrest (27). Light levels were still poor but I tried for a photo anyway and it makes a nice memory shot if nothing else.

Firecrest

As I made my way back down and then along to the main track it was getting very overcast and a little misty and there was next to no wind. A Goldcrest (28) was a welcome sight and further along 4 Moorhen (29) were down one of the dykes and a Jay (30) called as it moved through the trees. I was happily taking a photo of an obliging Great Tit when alarm calls rang out and I looked up to see a Kestrel (31) perched above.

Great Tit

Kestrel

I suddenly heard a Water Rail (32) call and then a second replied and they appeared to be calling in competition with each other. The walk towards the railway crossing proved to be very quiet on the whole. A Golden Plover (33) called as it flew over as I came up onto the embankment. As I neared the stables 3 Meadow Pipit (34) called and landed in one of the paddocks and I could hear Brent Geese (35) calling from the other side of the sea wall. I was pleased to catch up with 2 Redwing (36) and at least 15 Corn Bunting (37) were calling away from the bushes. 2 Goldfinch (38) flew up and House Sparrows (39) and Starlings (40) were calling noisily away. As I came up to the sea wall a Stonechat (41) checked me out warily before going back to catching insects.

Stonechat

The tide was well out upon reaching the sea wall. 4 Oystercatchers (42) were strung out along the shore line together with large numbers of Herring Gulls and smaller numbers of Black-headed Gulls (43). 5 Redshank (44) and 2 Turnstone (45) were busily feeding away and 3 Grey Heron (46) were standing in shallow water and almost perfectly spaced with close to the same distance between them. A single Curlew (47) was intent on feeding and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls (48) were resting up.

Grey Heron

The air was alive with the calls of the many Brent Geese that were in the shallows as I headed toward Plumpudding. A single Grey Plover (49) was on the tide line with another a little further along. 3 Ringed Plover (50) flew past and I could see a Great Crested Grebe was out to sea (51). There were 2 Common Gulls (52) amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the shore. Plumpudding Island was very quiet and as I carried on towards Coldharbour I had 5 male Pochard (53) fly east which was a very welcome addition. I could not manage to get a decent photo but it is enough for a memory shot. Several Cormorant (54) were off shore.

male Pochard

As I approached Coldharbour I could hear a Cetti's Warbler (55) calling and a Chiffchaff was working its way through the bushes. Coldharbour was quiet with just 1 Redshank and several Black-headed Gulls. The water was so calm that a Black-headed Gull, showing the first signs of its dark hood, threw a perfect reflection. Behind me I caught sight of a male Marsh Harrier (56) as it hunted over the reed bed.

Black-headed Gull

Marsh Harrier

4 Coot (57) were on the river and looking out to sea there were good numbers of duck off shore. 16 Shelduck (58) were drifting past and 44 Mallard were near the exposed mussel bed with a couple of Wigeon (59) tucked in with them. 2 Sanderling (60) flew past and a Little Egret (61) was busily probing in the shallow water. While I had a sit on the sea wall another couple of Shelduck flew east.

Shelduck

Shelduck

I carried on towards Reculver and 38 Stock Doves (62) flew up from one of the fields before settling down again. Out to sea, 2 Gadwall (63) flew west before landing near some Mallard. A Curlew gave a great view as it came into land.

Gadwall

Curlew

14 distant Shoveler (64) were mixed in with some Wigeon and obligingly, at one point, they flew and coming a little closer allowed the opportunity to try for a photo. It really was still too far for the camera but it was worth giving a try. 8 Teal (65) were mixed in with the Wigeon.

Shoveler

I carried on to the green bank and had a Lesser Black-backed Gull (66) in amongst Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. I paused to enjoy the sight and sounds of c450 Brent Geese that were moving from the sea to one of the fields as the tide came in.

Brent Geese

I had a short walk up the green bank and as I started out 12 White-fronted Geese (67) flew over coming in off the sea. They looked as if they might come down with the Brent Geese as they rapidly lost height but then seemed to think better of it and once again gained height before circling and then heading south west in a long line.

White-fronted Geese

White-fronted Geese

White-fronted Geese

White-fronted Geese

I was pleased to catch up with a couple of Tree Sparrows (68) and 3 Yellowhammer (69) were a welcome addition with a male showing beautifully. They are very handsome birds and he made a lovely splash of colour on an increasingly overcast day. 28 Reed Buntings (70) were busy amongst the seed heads with another 15 further along. 3 Skylarks (71) called as they flew up from the field and 8 Linnet (72) flew over. As I headed back to the sea wall I could see a Little Grebe (73) down the dyke giving a great impersonation of a fluff ball.

Yellowhammer

I carried on towards Reculver and was pleased when I saw 3 Red-throated Divers (74) flying east. A Purple Sandpiper (75) flew past with 38 Ringed Plover. The Ringed Plover settled on the shore but the Purple Sandpiper continued to the rocks and had barely settled before it was disturbed by a dog and flew on towards Reculver.

Purple Sandpiper and Ringed Plover

Purple Sandpiper and Ringed Plover

On reaching Reculver I had a look out over the old caravan sight and could see 6 Feral Pigeons (76) and 1 Collared Dove (77). I decided to try my luck along the path at the back of the oyster farm as I hoped I might be able to add Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher and Snipe if I was lucky. As it turned out I did not manage to see any of them but it was worth a try. It did mean though that I missed out on the chance to see if the Shag that I had seen recently on the rocks near the towers was still there as it was dark by the time I finally made it back.

I finished the day with a total of 77 birds seen for the New Year's bird count. It had been an enjoyable day and it made a good start for 2020.

Birds seen this visit included: 33 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush, 24 Chaffinch, 1 Little Owl, 7 Robin, 4 Dunnock, Herring Gulls, 11 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Pheasant, Rooks, 17 Lapwing, 2 Green Woodpecker, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Mute Swan, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Wren, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 4 Mallard, 6 Magpie, 1 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 4 Moorhen, 1 Jay, 2 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail, 1 Golden Plover, 12 Meadow Pipit, Brent Geese, 2 Redwing, 67 Corn Bunting, 5 Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Starlings, 3 Stonechat, 25 Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gulls, 23 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Curlew, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Grey Plover, 52 Ringed Plover, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Gull, 5 Pochard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Coot, 19 Shelduck, 47 Wigeon, 2 Sanderling, 1 Little Egret, 38 Stock Dove, 2 Gadwell, 14 Shoveller, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Teal, 12 White-fronted Geese, 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammer, 43 Reed Bunting, 3 Skylark, 8 Linnet, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Skylark, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 6 Feral Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove

Cuckoo and a Hairy Dragonfly in difficulty - Marshside 27/05/19

I came down to Marshside after work on an overcast but mild afternoon. Lots of Azure Damselflies were on the wing but it seemed pretty quiet for birds. As it was so quiet bird wise it turned out to be an afternoon that I saw a lot more insects than birds. The Marsh Frogs were very vocal.

A small moth settled briefly. I am not sure what it is and will update when I find out. A female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis was feeding away in a Buttercup flower. I tend to see more males than females of this beetle so it was nice to catch up with a female.

Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis

Chaffinch and Wren were singing away and I could hear a Ring-necked Parakeet calling from the trees but could not manage to see it. Three little balls of baby Garden Spiders were suspended in a fine web, all around the same size as this one.

baby Garden Spiders

An old horse paddock was a sea of buttercups and a beautiful sight. Several Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia flowers showed magenta pink amongst the yellow.

Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia

I saw 2 Common Malachite Beetles, a male and a female. I thought, when I saw them, that they were fighting but the website UK Beetles explained that this was part of the mating ritual. It made fascinating reading.

male and female Common Malachite Beetles

A Chiffchaff was singing away and a Whitethroat and Reed Warbler were also in full song. A Common Earwig was resting up and a pair of Hairy Shieldbugs were mating.

Common Earwig

mating Hairy Shieldbugs

Rooks were back and fore between the rookery and a recently planted field and a male Ichneumon deliratorius gave some good, even if partially obscured views.

Rook

Ichneumon deliratorius

A pair of Great Tit were busily collecting food and made several journeys while I was watching. I was sorry to see that the female Mallard is down to 8 youngsters but those seemed to be doing well.

Great Tit

female Mallard with ducklings

female Mallard with ducklings

I came across a Ptychoptera contaminata amongst the vegetation bordering the dyke and also a beetle that I did not recognise. I haven't been able to identify the beetle and I will update when I can.

Ptychoptera contaminata

The Yellow Iris's were out in flower and are really handsome flowers and always a welcome splash of colour. A Blue-tailed Damselfly colour form rufescens gave a chance to admire that colour form close up.

Yellow Iris

Blue-tailed Damselfly colour form rufescens

I saw a Hairy Dragonfly resting low down in the vegetation at the waters edge. It was only when I saw it from the other side that I realised that its wings were only fully expanded on one side. On the other side one wing was only partially expanded with half of it shrivelled and folded back on itself and the other wing seemed to be missing altogether or else completely unexpanded. It was a sad sight.

Hairy Dragonfly

Hairy Dragonfly

I came across a Red-eyed Damselfly which  was a little too far away for a photo but further on I came across a much more obliging one which I was able to try some photos. They are very attractive damselflies.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly

I had heard a Cuckoo calling at times throughout the visit and it flew in and landed on the power cables. It sat preening until a nearby Wood Pigeon took exception to its presence and flew straight at it. The Cuckoo dropped off the wires and flew to a nearby tree whereupon the Wood Pigeon followed it and once again flew at it until it moved on. This happened three times before the Cuckoo gave up and flew further away before it began to call again.

Cucckoo and Wood Pigeon

Cuckoo and Wood Pigeon

It was nice to hear the Turtle Dove purring away. It is a lovely sound. I had a couple of different Ladybirds, both quite small. One I think is a 24-spot but I am not sure, at present, on the other one. Once again, I will update when I can identify it.

24-spot Ladybird

A Bee was busy amongst a Bramble flower and I came across a snail shell that was surprisingly translucent.

translucent Snail shell

I saw a very distant Barn Owl hunting which came as a nice surprise. It was too far for a photo but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. It always makes my day when I see an owl. I haven't seen one here for a while so it was nice to know that they are still around. I finished the visit with a couple of moths, one of which I will have to update when I can identify it.

Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Carrion Crows, 8 Wren, 15 Blackbird, 6 Robin, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Starlings, 4 Chiffchaff, 8 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, 5 Swallow, Great Tit, 5 Sand Martin, 5 Song Thrush, Rooks, Jackdaws, female Mallard with 8 ducklings, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Moorhen, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Collared Doves, 5 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, House Sparrows, 2 Magpie, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Long Tailed Tits, Skylarks, 1 Barn Owl