Red Kites On The Move and Assorted Cast - Highstead 06/06/21

I headed out after work this morning unsure as to which direction to go. I caught sight of two Red Kite coming over high up and heading west and these were followed by 8 more in a fairly short space of time. I reckoned from the direction they were coming from that there was a good chance that they were passing over Highstead so we headed in that direction. On reaching the drop off point I had no sooner got out of the car when I glanced sideways to find a Red Kite coming over low over the high hedge behind me. What a stunningly beautiful bird.

Red Kite

Red Kite

To be honest if that had been it I would have gone home happy as it was a beautiful view but it was only the start of a truely incredible experience. Over the next hour and a half I had at least 64 Red Kite flying west, the largest number I have ever seen during the course of a morning. As they were heading west I thought that they would pass over Reculver and as soon as it was clear that a large number were on the move I texted Chris but as it turned out apparently they didn't go that way so I wonder if they followed the line of the Thanet Way instead of the coast. Most of the birds were passing overhead very high up and occasionally the odd Common Buzzard was amongst them. Though I checked through all the birds I could I did not manage to find either a Honey Buzzard or a Black Kite amongst them.

Red Kites

Red Kites and Common Buzzard

Red Kites

A tractor was cutting the long grass in the field next to where I was standing and amazingly it was attracting small numbers of the Red Kite down.

They would swoop low over the field and grab some of the cut grass with their feet and head back into the air with it. The gentleman in the tractor got stunning views as they came right past him with a fair bit of the grasses clutched firmly in their feet and seemingly totally unconcerned by the tractor. The heat haze near the ground was horrendous but even so the photos give some nice memory shots for me.

Red Kite with grass

Red Kite with grass

Red Kite with grass

The Red Kites would pick through the grasses in the air before dropping them and then sometimes come down again to get some more, once again picking through what they had picked up before dropping it and continuing on west.

Red Kite picking through the grasses

Red Kite picking through the grasses

Sometimes as they circled round to pick up some more I was lucky enough for one to come my way and each time was a magical experience as the light caught the eye of these magnificent birds. 

Red Kite

Red Kite

They were beginning to draw a fair number of admirers as almost everyone who passed by, whether motorist, cyclist or walker, stopped to watch them for a few minutes before continuing on there way. For many of them the experience had appeared to have made their day as much as the morning was making mine. Every now and then a Red Kite would take me by surprise as it suddenly appeared over my head having come in low over the high hedge behind me. Its an incredible experience to look up and find a Red Kite directly overhead. What beautiful birds. 

Red Kite

Red Kite

Pulses of birds would come through high again, with fairly long gaps in between pulses. Each time, though, this for me was an incredible sight as I have never seen so many Red Kite in the air at once. The largest group had 18 birds in it. Because they did not pass by Reculver I suppose it is possible that groups of birds could have been doing a large circuit and come back round over me but from what I could see the movement was steadily west so I think they were different birds but I have no way of knowing for sure.    

Red Kites

A fair few times, out of those passing overhead, some would appear to see the tractor working, and as others had, come down to have a look, gradually spiralling down as they did so. Each time I would end up not knowing which direction to look as the air would be full of between 3 to 8 Red Kites spiralling and swooping over the field.

As one of the Red Kites spiralled down I thought that it had some loose wing feathers fluttering up as the wind caught them. But as it came closer it was clear that it had colour wing tags. I tried for some photos as it came through and luckily from those I could read the number on the tags and was able to report the sighting. It was great to receive back details on the bird. It turns out that he hatched and was ringed in 2020 near Shaftesbury, North Dorset, and he was last sighted in Dorset in April with the next sighting being over Tilmanstone near Deal yesterday. So far he has come 235 km ENE.

Z3 Yellow wing tagged Red Kite

Z3 Yellow wing tagged Red Kite

The number of Red Kite coming through was definitely slowing and there was a good amount of threatening looking cloud building on the horizon. I enjoyed seeing the light shining through the wings of one of the Red Kites above me. 

Red Kite

It was hard to tell with some of the Common Buzzards if they were passing through or local birds. It seemed likely that some of the lower birds were local. A smart juvenile was amongst one of the lower birds.

juvenile Common Buzzard

The number of Red Kites coming through slowed to a trickle and in the last hour that I watched for only the odd one or two came through. At the same time the black clouds that had been building appeared to be heading my way and looked decidedly rain laden. I thought I was going to get soaked but luckily for me the rain remained well to the south and as the belt of dark cloud moved off the weather showed signs of clearing again.

I decided to risk a wander and as I walked up the road to the bridleway a Common Buzzard was on one of the fence posts in the field.

Common Buzzard

Two Common Lizards were waiting for the sun to come back out as they rested up on a plank of wood tucked in amongst the grasses. Strangely enough both had lost a large amount of their tails, the smaller of the lizards had literally lost most of its tail. The larger of the two was already showing signs of growing some of its tail back and though it hadn't lost as much as the smaller one had, it had still lost a significant proportion of its tail.

Common Lizard

Common Lizard

I was hoping for some damselflies but it proved to be very quiet for them with only one Azure to be seen. A couple of Chiffchaff were calling from various points in the hedgerow and Whitethroat, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat song filled the air. I came across an Angle Shades Moth Phlogophora meticulosa resting up. They are beautiful moths.

Angle Shades Moth Phlogophora meticulosa

I could hear a Little Grebe calling and as I wandered along I hoped that the sun coming out again might bring out some more Damselflies and hopefully some Dragonflies. A pair of 24-spot Ladybirds Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata were mating, with the male not appearing to have any spots at all. They might be tiny Ladybirds but have the largest of Latin names.

24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata

24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata

Though it was proving to be quiet on the bird and damselfly front there were a few other insects around to admire. A Green Tortoise Beetle Cassida viridis was making its way along a grass stem.

Green Tortoise Beetle Cassida viridis

Green Tortoise Beetle Cassida viridis

Green Tortoise Beetle Cassida viridis

I started to head back and came across a Sphaerophoria interrupta resting up amongst the grass stems.

Sphaerophoria interrupta

A flash of red caught my eye and I could see a Black-striped Longhorn Beetle feeding amongst the umbellifer flowers.

Black-striped Longhorn Beetle Stenurella melanura

Black-striped Longhorn Beetle Stenurella melanura

My only second Azure Damselfly of the visit was resting up and gave a nice view as I passed by.

Azure Damselfly

A Small Heath Butterfly was tucked down in one of the paddocks and another Common Lizard, this time with its tail fully intact, was sunning itself on a mud bank.

Common Lizard

I started back down the road and another flash of colour drew my attention to a Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea amongst the paddock edge vegetation. 

Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea

Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea

Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea

A friend kindly picked me up and we had a look from a couple of the bridges at Marshside. This time the piece of polystyrene, which had broken up with a larger piece having drifted up against the bridge wall, had the largest frog I have ever seen sitting on it. It was enormous and I thought that it must be a Bullfrog but, on looking it up, the markings and lateral ridge suggest that it is actually a Marsh Frog and if so is the largest I have ever seen. Talk about a goliath. It is impossible from the photos to get a sense of the size but boy was it big.

At our other stopping point there was no sign of a Broad-bodied Chaser today but a smart male Hairy Dragonfly was resting up amongst the grasses as was a Blue-tailed Damselfly. They made a nice end to what had proved to be the most unexpected and truly memorable visit.

male Hairy Dragonfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Birds seen this visit included: 64 Red Kite west, 7 Swift, 1 House Martin, 9 Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 6 Linnet, 5 Blackbird, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 3 Wren, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler

Spoonbill, Little Terns, Spotted Flycatchers and a Hairy Dragonfly - Reculver 09/05/21

When I arrived at Reculver this morning the local Robin was in its usual spot on the rocks by the car park and just as intolerant, as always, towards other birds, seeing off a White Wagtail that landed briefly nearby. As I came past the towers I was idly scanning round when I suddenly picked up a Spoonbill coming in high over the sea and heading south south west. Now that really was a welcome sight. In the second photo the Spoonbill has twisted its head to look up at a Little Egret which then dropped down and tucked itself in behind the Spoonbill. The photos are heavily cropped as the Spoonbill was quite a distance away so they have not come out well but they do at least make some nice memory shots. It appeared to be a juvenile as it had some black in its wingtips and seeing it certainly made my day. A very welcome surprise indeed.

Spoonbill

Spoonbill

Spoonbill

Spoonbill

Spoonbill and Little Egret

A Common Sandpiper was working its way along a muddy edge of a lagoon on the oyster farm and above small numbers of Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin and a few House Martins were heading west. The weather was very changeable with good patches of blue sky quickly replaced by threatening rain clouds and then blue patches again.

Out to sea remained quiet and the tide was steadily coming in. The air was alive with a good mix of song and Sedge Warblers together with Whitethroats were were definitely giving it everything they had. I could hear a distant Cuckoo and above me a female/immature Marsh Harrier flew out to sea. A flock of 28 Turnstone flew in with a Dunlin and a couple of Sanderling tucked in with them.

Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling

Both Sanderling were attractively plumaged but one was particularly striking with its strong rufous tones. A real little beauty. There is a lovely mix of plumages amongst the Sanderling at present and I really enjoy seeing them.

Sanderling

Sanderling and Turnstone

Sanderling and Turnstone

While watching the Sanderling I looked up to see a Common Tern coming in off the sea. It flew directly overhead as it moved inland and its inner primaries were translucent as the light shone through them. 

Common Tern

Out to sea a flock of 115 Sanderling and a couple of Dunlin had been flushed from the beach by dog walkers and flashed light and then dark as they banked and turned while bunched together. Once the coast was clear they came back into land again, their wing bars gleaming as they flew in.

Sanderling and a Dunlin

When I had first arrived this morning a couple of Mute Swan had been quite a long way out to sea and now they gave a masterclass on landing on water as they came closer in. I love watching them come into land on water and for such large and heavy birds they have superb control as they land with feet out and water ski on the surface momentarily before settling down into the water.

Mute Swans

Mute Swans

Mute Swans

A couple of Sandwich Tern were off shore heading east and as I carried on along the sea wall there was a noticeable drop in temperature with a lot of cloud and a strengthening wind. I was really surprised, therefore, when a dragonfly lifted off the sea wall, a little way ahead of me, and flew across before going straight down on the other side of the concrete slope. I had a scan for it when I reached the slope and couldn't believe my luck when I was able to pick it up tucked down at the base of the reed stems at the bottom of the slope. Initially its wings were partially open but then it folded them closed, presumably to conserve heat. It was a beautiful female Hairy Dragonfly and was a very welcome sight indeed, being my first dragonfly of the year, something which is always just that bit extra special.

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

Well chuffed, I carried on towards Coldharbour. Another Common Tern came in off the sea while on the shingle a smart White Wagtail was searching for insects. 

White Wagtail

White Wagtail

I had a sit on the sea wall before heading round Coldharbour and it turned out to be a good decision as a couple of minutes later I heard Little Tern call and two flew east, pausing to fish and then moving on to fish behind Coldharbour. They are gorgeous terns and always a joy to watch.

Little Tern

Little Tern

Little Terns

Little Tern

Little Tern

They came into land behind Coldharbour before continuing east. What little beauties. A couple of Shelduck flew up from Coldharbour, as a dog walker came along the shingle bank, and gave a close flypast before flying in a large loop, passing an increasingly busy Reculver, and eventually coming to settle back onto Coldharbour once the coast was clear.

Shelduck

Shelduck

I headed round Coldharbour and saw a Wheatear briefly by one of the fields. Carrying on towards Plumpudding 6 Grey Plover flew in to roost. A little further along a couple of Oystercatchers were fairly close to the sea wall and as one turned to watch me its eye glowed in the light.

Oystercatcher

A Cetti's Warbler was making its presence known on the other side of the sea wall at Plumpudding while the only inhabitants of Plumpudding appeared to be 3 Mallard and a couple of Linnet and 4 Pied Wagtail. A pair of Tufted Duck were in one of the dykes as I carried on.

Tufted Duck

While having another sit on the sea wall a couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew over and headed out to sea. I thought they were both adults but the one I photographed has some black in its primaries and appears to be a second summer.

second summer Mediterranean Gull

second summer Mediterranean Gull

second summer Mediterranean Gull

Another Cetti's Warbler was singing at the stables as were 2 Lesser Whitethroat. Goldfinch and Linnet were flitting around and 4 Pied Wagtail were in the paddocks. There were a couple of very distant Wheatear in a far paddock.

Wheatear

I had a wander along the embankment and once again I could hear lots of Sedge Warblers. I have heard good numbers of them today. A Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier were up at various points along and another Cuckcoo was calling from the direction of Shuart. Another distant Wheatear was making the most of the lookout provided by a manmade raised area.

Wheatear

As I got nearer to Chambers Wall a skulky Cuckoo was tucked in a tree. A Painted Lady Butterfly flew up from the path while a Peacock Butterfly was making the most of some blossom flowers. A patch of Sainfoin in flower caught my eye with its colourful and pretty flowers. A couple more Lesser Whitethroat were calling and another Cetti's Warbler burst into song.

Cuckoo

Peacock Butterfly

Sainfoin

Another Cetti's Warbler greeted me as I made my way up the track at Chambers Wall. 2 Spotted Flycatchers were in the hedgerow and were a welcome sight. They are lovely birds and full of character.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

A Willow Warbler was singing sweetly and once again the air was alive with song with Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge, Reed, Blackcap and a couple of very loud Cetti's Warblers all represented. I was pleased to catch up with a Garden Warbler, again, always a welcome sight and it was then kind enough to sing. It made a very nice end to a thoroughly enjoyable and productive visit.

Birds seen this visit included: 3 Robin, 3 White Wagtail, 21 Mute Swan, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Sand Martin west , 97 Swallows west, 1 juvenile Spoonbill, 2 Little Egret, 10 Blackbird, 15 Swift, 7 House Martin, House Sparrows, 4 Wren, 21 Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 Sedge Warbler, 8 Meadow Pipit, 17 Mallard, 18 Linnet, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Stonechat, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Reed Warbler, 12 Reed Bunting, 11 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 3 Sandwich Tern, 10 Pied Wagtail, 18 Ringed Plover, 7 Lapwing, 7 Magpie, 1 Song Thrush, 35 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 137 Sanderling, 4 Cuckoo, 2 Common Tern, 4 Wheatear, 4 Shelduck, 6 Kestrel, 21 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 15 Chaffinch, 11 Goldfinch, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits,