Turtle Dove, Displaying Common Terns and a Hercules - Shuart to Reculver 20/05/21

I arrived at Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning. A Little Owl flew up from the horse paddock as I arrived and the air was alive with bird song. Everywhere I looked the grass and vegetation were sparkling with dew and were a beautiful sight but one that I couldn't manage to do justice to with the camera.

As I made my way down the track I was pleased to hear a Turtle Dove purring away and it was a very welcome sound. It is always nice to hear my first one for the year. I was having a scan round when a Kestrel suddenly flew into the top of the tree above me giving a great view of its splayed tail as it tried to steady itself in a steadily strengthening wind.

Kestrel

A Common Tern flew south and my 5th Grey Heron of the morning called loudly as it came into land. Bird song continued to follow me as I wandered along and I enjoyed listening to the various songs as they separated and mingled as different birds dominated at any one time. As I neared the railway line 4 Tufted Duck were in one of the dykes, each pair at opposite ends.

pair of Tufted Duck

Both Cetti's Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were singing with gusto at the stables. 10 Linnet were feeding in one of the paddocks and a male House Sparrow was keeping tight hold of a feather he had found.

male House Sparrow

The tide was in when I reached the sea wall with just a few Herring Gulls off shore. 5 Swallows flew west and a single Wheatear was on the shingle.

Wheatear

Five Mallard were on Plumpudding, 4 males and 1 female. 1 male appeared to be paired with the female,  the other 3 males keeping together. There was a nest at the edge of the bank but it appeared to contain a couple of pieces of whelk egg cases rather than eggs. 

male and female Mallard

male Mallards

3 Yellow Wagtail and 5 Goldfinch were feeding at the back. The Yellow Wagtail was a welcome splash of colour on what was becoming an increasingly overcast day with cloud rapidly building. As I neared the end of Plumpudding a Common Sandpiper flew in and landed on the back of one of the islands.

Yellow Wagtail

Both the male and female Marsh Harrier were up towards the embankment as I headed towards Coldharbour and the pair of Tufted Duck were in their usual dyke. 2 Common Tern flew inland allowing a couple of shots as one came past.

Common Tern

Common Tern

Another 2 Common Tern were on the shore and reacted by calling when the second of the above Common Tern flew over. After a while, with a deep sweep forward of its wings, one of the terns took off.

Common Terns

Common Terns

After a little while it came back into land, being met by its mate calling away, and then both began displaying which was a real pleasure to be able to watch. 

Common Tern

Common Terns

Common Terns

Common Terns

Common Terns

A couple of Great Black-backed Gulls flew east and 5 Tufted Duck flew west but otherwise out to sea remained quiet.

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

Coldharbour's only occupants were a Little Egret and a pair of Shelduck. On the other side of the sea wall a Salsify flower was ready to open and a Dunnock was tucked into one of the bushes. I am still failing miserably at being able to see or hear the Grasshopper Warbler, which is proving to be a bit of a bogey bird so far this year for me, but hopefully one of these days I may just be in luck. Here's hoping anyway.

Salsify

Dunnock

Swallows were still continuing to trickle through west and the odd House Martin were also heading west. A Cuckoo was calling away and just beyond Coldharbour a pair of Coot had five young with both parents tenderly feeding them.

pair of Coot with young

pair of Coot with young

The Cuckoo was still calling as I made my way towards the green wall. A Meadow Pipit landed on the sea wall and a loose feather was catching in the ever strengthening south south westerly wind.

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Another Common Tern flew west followed a short while later by a Great Black-backed Gull. A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm and a Lapwing, once again, was doing frequent display flights over the lagoons. A military transported plane came in low over the Roman Galley before putting its wheels up and heading out to sea. Having looked it up on the internet I think that it is a Lockheed Martin C-130J C4 Hercules. It was an impressive sight.

Lockheed Martin C-130J C4 Hercules

Lockheed Martin C-130J C4 Hercules

Lockheed Martin C-130J C4 Hercules

A Shelduck was on its usual lagoon in the oyster farm and took grave exception when a couple of Tufted Duck flew in and landed on the same lagoon. It immediately swam straight at the nearest, which was the female, and chased her until she flew, the male joining her moments later and both continued south. As I came past the towers a flock of 20 Starling were on the grass with one of the youngsters having a fair bit of yellow in its bill. Its feathering was beautifully fresh and though I well messed up the shot of it taking off it makes a nice memory shot for me.

young Starling

young Starling

young Starling

I finished with a Pied Wagtail on the rocks by the car park. It was nice to be able to get out of the wind but it had been an enjoyable visit.

Birds seen this visit included: 3 Pheasant, 17 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Little Owl, 6 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 2 Stock Dove, 5 Blackcap, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Dunnock, 7 Wren, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Whitethroat, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Goldfinch, 5 Grey Heron, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Moorhen, Carrion Crows, 2 Little Egret, 7 Common Tern, 1 Kestrel, 22 Sedge Warbler, 12 Mallard, 3 Reed Warbler, 16 Reed Bunting, 4 Mute Swan, 13 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 33 Linnet, 26 Swallow west, 14 Meadow Pipit, 6 Oystercatcher, 12 Ringed Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Turnstone, 1 Cuckoo, 6 House Martin west, 2 Coot with 5 young, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Magpie, 4 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, Starlings, 

Raven and a Tundra Bean Goose - Reculver to Shuart 07/01/21

I paid an early morning visit to Reculver this morning and aimed for a walk through to Shuart. It will be my last visit for quite a while so I thought I would try and make the most of it this morning. A Robin was in its usual spot on the rocks by the car park when I arrived and the morning was showing the promise of being fine. I had a scan out to sea from the towers but all appeared to be pretty quiet and I could not manage to pick up any divers.

Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtails were flitting between the sea wall and the shore as I made my way past the oyster farm. I heard the unmistakeable sound of a Raven calling and scanning I could see one flying towards me over the oyster farm. They are impressive birds and this one flew strongly straight past and headed past the towers. I lost my balance trying for a photo but thoroughly enjoyed the encounter. It certainly livened up the morning.

Raven

Raven

Raven

Raven

Over on the oyster farm a pair of Collared Doves were on the buildings before moving back towards the old caravan park. A Kingfisher was a welcome sight as it flashed brilliant blue as the sunlight caught its plumage while flying over the lagoons. A Stonechat peeped round at stem at me and its mate was busily flycatching a little further along.

Stonechat

It was remaining quiet out to sea with only a single Shelduck heading west. Sixteen Black-headed Gulls had collected on the water on the lee side of the rocks and appeared to be picking food items from the surface of the sea.

Black-headed Gulls

As I neared the green wall I could see a single Yellowhammer sharing a bush with a couple of Reed Bunting and a few House Sparrows. More House Sparrows were behind and I had a scan through in case I was lucky enough to see a Tree Sparrow but couldn't find one amongst them. On the sea side small flocks of Brent Geese were flying in and settling on the sea near the shore.

Brent Geese

I had a sit on the sea wall at Coldharbour and watched out to sea for a while. It remained quiet but I enjoyed watching a distant group of 27 Common Scoter.

Common Scoter

Coldharbour itself was quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and the odd Redshank. A Marsh Harrier was up at the back near the railway embankment and further along I could see a Common Buzzard lazily gaining height. Carrying on towards Plumpudding Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Sanderling were all present along the shore. A couple of Carrion Crow flew past with one carrying a newly opened shell.

Carrion Crows

Brent Geese were strung along the sea close to shore with small numbers regularly taking off and heading inland to settle on the fields. It gave a good opportunity to try for some flight photos in good light. Their plumage showed up beautifully in the light. The photos do not do them justice but I enjoyed trying for them.

Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Brent Geese

Brent Goose

Plumpudding had a few Redshank present and a couple of Pied Wagtail. 38 Oystercatchers and 5 Curlew were on the wader roost behind Plumpudding. A Snipe disappeared into cover on one of the islands. It remained quiet as I carried on to the stables. At the stables a couple of Pied Wagtail were in one of the Horse Paddocks and 10 Linnet and 8 Corn Bunting were in the bushes. A sleepy House Sparrow was enjoying the sunshine opening its eye regularly to check around.

House Sparrow

As I made my way along to Shuart I came across 4 Red-legged Partridge hunched down in the grass and almost evenly spaced.

Red-legged Partridge

I finished with a nice surprise when I caught sight of the Tundra Bean Goose in the same field that I saw it back on 29th December. I still couldn't manage much of a photo as it was a good way away but at least this time it was in some decent light. 

Tundra Bean Goose

It was unexpected bonus and made a very nice end to the visit. I will miss coming to Reculver but felt very lucky to have been able to come today and to have some very welcome sunshine with some good new birds for the year.

Red-throated Divers, Greylag Geese and a Hungry Little Egret - Shuart to Reculver 26/11/20

It was a very overcast morning when I arrived at Shuart but with next to no wind. A flock of mixed Tits were working their way through the trees, calling noisily and moving rapidly from tree to tree. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet were vocal and provided a welcome flash of colour on a grey and dingy morning.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Wandering down the track I could see 3 Little Egrets busily feeding at the edge of the vegetation cleared from one of the dykes as I came up to a break in the hedgerow. At the back of the same field 7 Greylag Geese were resting up in groups of 4 and 3. They instantly became very alert as a passing dog walker's dogs started barking.

Little Egrets

Greylag Geese

As I carried on down the track both a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal and I could hear Blackbirds alarm calling from the back of the hedgerow but I couldn't see at what. However all became clear when first a Blackbird, and then a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit, exploded out from the hedgerow and disappeared through the opposite side. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees and was promptly mobbed by a flock of 5 Meadow Pipits who flew up from the field edge to intercept it and were soon joined by another 4. The Great Spotted Woodpecker moved down and to the other side of the tree and peace reigned once again as the Meadow Pipits presumably decided that was far enough away. I was surprised at how quickly they responded to its presence, particularly as it is outside the breeding season.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Good numbers of Blackbird were making the most of the berries together with 1 Fieldfare and 6 Redwing. A single Goldcrest peeped out and a pair of Mistle Thrush looked very smart in the flat light. As I came up to the railway line 17 Red-legged Partridge were along a field edge while a Common Buzzard was up at the back following the edge of a distant field. It was fairly quiet as I came past the stables with just the usual jobs present. The manure heaps were proving to be good growing grounds for small groups of mushrooms.

Amongst the flock of House Sparrows there was a smart male with a much darker grey/brown crown than the other males and from some views I almost wondered if it could be a hybrid of sorts. Its cheeks were very white with a strong dusky patch. I can only think that it must be in a different stage of moult than the other males round it who still had very pale grey crowns and much less black on their breasts and not so much contrast on their cheeks.

darker crowned male House Sparrow

darker crowned male House Sparrow

paler crowned male House Sparrow

On reaching the sea wall the tide was mostly in and 30 Redshank were strung along the shore.

Redshank

Turnstone were also roosting and disputes were breaking out regularly between the birds on the groyne as new birds tried to join  and were unceremonially pushed off by the sitting birds. A single Redshank amongst them was no more tolerant of arriving birds dropping in close to it than the Turnstones. The birds on the shore appeared to be much more settled. 

Turnstones

A few Oystercatchers were a little further along and one of them was having a very enthusiastic wash and brush up by ducking down as the waves came in and allowing them to wash right over it. Afterwards it was time for a quick rearranging of its feathers to ensure all was at it should be.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

As I approached Plumpudding I could see good numbers of Oystercatcher and Sanderling on the wader roost together with 20 Curlew and 8 Grey Plover. 320 Brent Geese flew over and landed on the sea. Plumpudding itself was quiet and a Mute Swan flying in to join its mate landed on the water which is an impressive sight and always shows superb control for such a large bird.

Mute Swan

As I made my way along to Coldharbour the cloud formation shapes were interesting and even on such an overcast day the tones and hints of colour in the greys were beautiful.

Four Common Scoter were off shore and a single Bar-tailed Godwit flew west. A flock of 9 Red-throated Divers were my first divers of the day and came as a very nice surprise. 

Red-throated Divers

Coldharbour was quite with just a few Redshank and a Little Egret. The Little Egret gave some great reflections as it hunted, paddling the mud with its foot causing bubbles to rise to the surface.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Another Water Rail was calling just past Coldharbour and as I neared the oyster farm a Short-eared Owl came up briefly at the back before landing in cover again. A single Brent Goose was on the rocks and was the second lone bird that I had seen today as there was also a lone bird in one of the fields.

Brent Goose

A Kestrel hovering over the oyster farm was once again giving a masterclass in remaining stationary and the fully fanned tail was a lovely sight.

Kestrel

Two Red-throated Divers flew east and another was off-shore as I neared the towers. I enjoyed watching a couple of Stonechat and they made a nice end to the visit.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Kestrel, 4 Wren, 9 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 7 Stock Doves, 10 Magpie, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tits, 45 Blackbird, 7 Little Egret, 7 Greylag Geese, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Meadow Pipit, 1 Jay, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Pheasant, 17 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Redwing, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 5 Stonechat, 2 Brent Geese, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, House Sparrows, 40 Redshank, 45 Turnstone, 96 Oystercatcher, 70 Sanderling, 20 Curlew, 8 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Red-throated Diver, 7 Great Black-backed Gull,