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.

Peregrine, Rock Pipit, Pied Flycatcher and the Memphis Belle - Reculver to Shuart 06/09/19

It was very nice to have my first free day for birdwatching, that I have been able to have for the last couple of weeks, allowing me to aim for a slow wander from Reculver to Shuart. It was overcast with a light south westerly wind when I arrived but with the wind increasing to blustery as the visit went on. The tide was on the turn and had already started to go out. As I passed the towers a couple of Willow Warbler were working their way through one of the bushes and they made a good start to the visit. 6 Yellow Wagtail flew west overhead and 160 Starling around the towers area.

Willow Warbler

As I walked round to the sea wall I saw a Little Owl in its usual spot which is always a welcome sight. A Robin was ticking away and a couple of Little Egret flew overhead. On reaching the sea wall I had a look out to sea but it appeared to be very quiet with just a few passing Herring and Black-headed Gulls. 3 Turnstone flew east and another couple of Little Egret flew towards Coldharbour. A Greenshank flew up briefly, calling away, from the dyke running parallel to the oyster farm before settling back down again. A juvenile Herring Gull was ousted from one of the marker poles as a Cormorant flew in and laid claim to it.

Cormorant and juvenile Herring Gull

 A mixed flock of 24 Ringed Plover, 9 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 1 Sanderling flew past before settling on the newly exposed shore. The Greenshank from the oyster farm flew up from where I had seen it settle and then was joined by another and both flew away calling before coming down again further into the oyster farm.

Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling

Dunlin

Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone

A Mediterranean Gull flew west as I carried on along the sea wall. Small numbers of Oystercatcher were flying east calling nosily. I came across a couple of Wheatear.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A juvenile Peregrine flew past me, coming from behind, and unfortunately I only saw it as it was flying away which was a shame as it came past me pretty close. Luckily for me it settled on the shore further along, for a little while, which enabled me to try for some photos. They are not very good, and cropped, but I felt really lucky to be able to get them and they make good memory shots.

Peregrine

Peregrine

There appeared to be a small movement of Meadow Pipits with small groups heading west. Goldfinches were feeding amongst the Teasels. I saw another Wheatear on the rocks together with a Whinchat. The Whinchat was chased off the rocks by a Meadow Pipit and flew across to the bushes before dropping to the other side. Whinchat's seem poorly tolerated by both Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. A Teal flew east out to sea and Sandwich Terns were mainly heading west with the largest group being 20. As the morning went on it became more difficult to count the Sandwich Terns as they appeared to be moving both east and west and it was hard to know which were the same ones I was seeing. A first winter Sandwich Tern gave a good view as it went past.

1st winter Sandwich Tern

Coldharbour was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls on it. I carried on up to Plumpudding and caught up with the juvenile Peregrine again as it shot through putting up a flock of 35 Linnet but otherwise Plumpudding was also very quiet. 19 House Martin came in off the sea in a group and then continued west.

Peregrine

I added Curlew and Common Sandpiper to the waders seen today as I carried on towards the turn off the wall I would take for Shuart. A large number of House Sparrows were flying down to feed amongst the stubble with c300 moving from the stubble to bushes and back again.

House Sparrows

House Sparrows

I got a nice surprise as I neared the turn off when I saw a pipit land on the shore and could see it was a Rock Pipit, my first of the autumn. It only stayed very briefly before flying low over the shore west and possibly coming down beyond the rocks. I couldn't manage much of a photo but was pleased to be able to get anything before it moved on. A few Wood Pigeon were feeding in one of the fields and a hovering Kestrel suddenly dived at the pigeons and made contact with one, plucking a few feathers as it did so but it did not appear to be able to do more than that as it immediately carried on flying off after making contact. Apart from having lost a few feathers the Wood Pigeon appeared to have survived the encounter.

Rock Pipit

I came off the sea wall and made my way past the stables. A Kestrel was hovering and causing consternation amongst the House Sparrows and Linnets. It was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher and a Blackcap appeared to be tutting away at its presence. 6 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks. House Sparrow numbers seem higher each time I come and a large group were in the stables area, with some of them giving a chance for a closer photo.

Kestrel

male House Sparrow

After crossing over the railway line I had a couple of Swift at Shuart. While taking photos of one of them I heard a plane and looked up to see the Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress going over.

Swift

Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress

Common Darters were plentiful as I made my way though Shuart and a few Migrant Hawkers were on the wing, despite the coolness of the wind. At least they were sheltered from the worst of the wind by the hedge.

Common Darter

Several Holly Blue Butterflies were resting up on the ivy. A Green-veined White gave the chance for a photo as did a smart Red Admiral butterfly. A very worn Comma was resting on the ground.

Green-veined White

Red Admiral

Comma

A couple of bushes had attracted a mix of birds, as they moved through, with 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, Blue and Great Tits and 7 Long-tailed Tits. I finished an enjoyable visit with 4 Common Buzzard in the air at the same time and a singing Red-legged Partridge giving some good views.

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Wood Pigeons, 420 House Sparrows, 220 Starling, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl, 23 Turnstone, 4 Robin, 6 Little Egret, 8 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Greenshank, 48 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Redshank, 41 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mallard, 4 Wheatear, 169 Linnet, 26 Swallow, 1 Pheasant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Whitethroat, 33 west, 8 east Sandwich Tern, 1 Whinchat, 4 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Teal east, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Coot, 1 Dunlin, 27 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Moorhen, 2 Swift, 1 Wren, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Red-legged Partridge

Wasp Spider, Grasshoppers and Bush Crickets - Highstead 14/07/19

I  paid a visit to Highstead this afternoon to see what I could see. It was sunny when I left home but with rapidly building cloud and a breezy north easterly wind. A sunbathing Blackbird outside the house was enjoying the sunbath, so much so that he did not even move as I came past.

sunbathing Blackbird

As I arrived at Highstead the sun promptly went in and apart from some inceasingly brief intervals  stayed in until late in the visit when the cloud suddenly cleared. Overall it was very quiet for birds. A pair of Collared Doves were flying back and fore and House Sparrows and Goldfinches were in the bushes. Carrion Crows called as they flew past and Jackdaws were in the horse paddock. A small flock of 5 Linnet were moving through and Swallows hawked for insects above. A good mix of butterflies were on the wing with a single Painted Lady, good numbers of Gatekeepers, also Meadow Browns, Large and Small Whites, both Small and Essex Skippers, Peacocks and Red Admirals. The walk down was very quiet with no sign of any damselflies but the wind was proving to be pretty cool and with the cloud turning ever greyer it did not look hopeful. A Labyrinth Spider was outside a funnel web, giving good views, with another one inside the funnel. I could see the long spinnerets, a feature of these spiders.

Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica

Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica

As I came out from the small wooded area a Common Buzzard flew up from the tree and circled away. a couple of Wren scolded away. I came across my first Ruddy Darter of the year which was resting up out of the wind and a little further on another also gave good views. A fresh male Gatekeeper butterfly was also resting up nearby.

female Ruddy Darter

female Ruddy Darter

Gatekeeper Butterfly

A female Yellowhammer came down briefly onto the path and a male was over atop a bush. A Common Blue Damselfly was tucked out of the wind and was the only Common Blue I saw during the visit. A small  moth flew up from the vegetation and landed on the path briefly allowing a quick photo. I looked up from taking the photo to find a fox just a few feet from me but the movement of me looking up startled it and it shot away into the cover of the field. I would have loved a photo of it as it was so close and in tip top condition. I was so intent on the moth that I had not realised the fox had come down the path. Still, I felt lucky to have had such a close encounter, even if only brief.

Common Blue Damselfly

Agapeta hamana

 I saw several Roesel's Bush Crickets and Grasshoppers seemed to be everywhere. A Flesh Fly looked striking in the sunshine and as the light shone through a male Ruddy Darter's wings the effect was beautiful.

Flesh Fly Sarcophaga carnaria

male Ruddy Darter

I caught sight of a striking spider low down in the vegetation. I have wanted to see a Wasp Spider ever since I saw a photo of it in my book on spiders, as it looked a fascinating spider, and I could not believe my luck when I realised I was actually looking at one. She was beautiful and sitting in a large orb web with the stabilimentum - the zig zag band of silk showing well. Apparently they are widespread in the south east but it was the first time I have ever seen one. I would not normally say a spider made my day but this one definitely did.

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

 I started a slow wander back stopping regularly to look at the various countless Grasshoppers that were around. My Grasshopper identification skills are still very poor so I will need to look into exactly which this and many of the others that I saw are at a later date and update when I find out. Good numbers of Cinnibar Moth Caterpillars gave some very nice views.

Cinnibar Caterpillers

The cloud finally started to clear giving some welcome sunshine. Both a Green-veined White and a male Ruddy Darter sat enjoying the warmth.

Green-veined White

male Ruddy Darter

I did well for Bush Crickets seeing Roesel's, Dark and Speckled during the afternoon.

Roesel's Bush Cricket

Dark Bush Cricket

Speckled Bush Cricket

Various Grasshoppers were frequent throughout the walk back. The middle one has green combined with purple which makes a striking combination.

I saw a single Black-tailed Skimmer that landed on the path briefly before disappearing down between the wheat stems in the field. A single Blue-tailed and a single Azure Damselfly were a little further along. It will be worth trying again without the cool north easterly wind and a bit more sunshine.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

I finished off with a couple of Thistle Ermine Moths. They are pretty moths.

Thistle Ermine Moth Myelosis circumvoluta

It had been good to be able to have a little time out after work and though the weather could have been better and it was very quiet for birds it had still been an interesting afternoon and I was well chuffed with having seen the Wasp Spider.


Birds seen this visit include: 4 Collared Doves, House Sparrows, 8 Goldfinches, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 6 Chaffinch, 20 Linnet, 11 Swallows, 6 Blackbird, 3 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Jay, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Yellowhammer, 3 Magpie, Wood Pigeon, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Song Thrush, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 1 Robin, Skylarks, 8 Sand Martin