Sandwich Tern, Bar-tailed Godwits and Sea Watching - Reculver to Shuart 28/11/20

There was a fair amount of low lying mist on my way to Reculver but above that the sky was blue and it promised to be a fine morning once the mist had a chance to burn off. Being higher up the towers were mainly clear and it was only looking towards the sea wall that it was noticeably misty.

Reculver Towers

Looking towards the sea wall

Five Great Black-backed Gulls flew east and a couple of Robin were on the rocks as I made my way up to the towers. On the rocks below a single Brent Goose was searching for the really bright green vegetation that it was uncovering under and amongst the seaweed. It is one of two I regularly see on their own. I am so used to seeing Brent Geese in groups that it seems strange to see two very solitary geese.

Brent Goose

As I came up to the oyster farm I could hear a couple of Grey Partridge calling but couldn't manage to see them today. Every now and then the sun would try and break through and the Teasels looked great as they started to be backlit before the mist would gather once again. The mist might not make it easy for bird watching but it is beautifully atmospheric as it comes and goes.

Teasels

Oyster Farm

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and visibility was surprisingly good out to sea. The colour of the sea was a beautiful lilac blue as the sun broke through. 9 Meadow Pipit were back and fore between the shore and the track while out to sea 2 Gannet flew east. Off shore there were a couple of Red-throated Divers and 7 Great Crested Grebe were strung loosely along in a well spaced out line.

Great Crested Grebe

The sea was very calm today and small numbers of Gannet continued to fly east and a few Red-throated Divers were also heading east. I was pleased to catch sight of a flock of 14 Shoveler flying west. They were really too far away for a photo but the photos make a good couple of memory shots.

Shoveler

Shoveler

I carried on towards the Green Wall and a couple of Lapwing flew up from the oyster farm. Reed Bunting and Wren were calling and out to sea a single Shelduck flew east. I paused to count 56 Ringed Plover roosting on the shore and glancing up I was surprised to see a very late Sandwich Tern flying east. I only managed some very poor shots of it before it was past me but it was great to see and I was lucky that I did not miss it completely, as I so nearly did. I could definitely do with being able to see in two directions at once!

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

I had another sit on the sea wall as there was proving to be more activity off shore than on land. A few more Red-throated Divers flew east and flocks of Brent Geese were moving east and coming down near Coldharbour. A Great Crested Grebe also flew east and it was nice to see a flock of 7 Wigeon tucked in at the back of one of the flocks of Brent Geese. As they came closer they broke off from the Brent Geese and then flew straight overhead before heading south east. 

Wigeon

Wigeon

It was time to move on so I headed on along the sea wall and a Snipe flew up from the oyster farm, calling as it did so. Out to sea a flock of 10 Common Scoter flew east.

Common Scoter

I was really pleased when a Short-eared Owl flew up onto one of the posts on the oyster farm and I waited to see if perhaps it would start to hunt. Luckily for me it did, after a while, and gave some good views as it quartered the oyster farm. They really are beautiful birds and an absolute joy to watch.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Suddenly a second Short-eared Owl flew up and chased the first until it moved to the other side of the oyster farm whereupon the second owl disappeared back into cover again. Each time the first owl returned to the same area the second owl flew up to intercept once again.

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owls

I had thoroughly enjoyed the chance to watch them in sunshine for a change. Once they had both gone down, with no further sign for a while, I carried on towards Coldharbour with the aim for another sit on the sea wall just before it. As I approached Coldharbour the waders roosting on the beach behind it were flushed by a dog walker sending 12 Curlew and 110 Oystercatcher into the air before flying towards Plumpudding. I really do feel sorry for the roosting birds here as they get very little time for resting. Out to sea Red-throated Divers were still moving east in small numbers and 3 Gannet bucked the flying east trend by heading west. A Kingfisher landed on the breakwater groyne and looked stunning in the sunshine before dropping down to fish.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

A Red-breasted Merganser flew east far out to sea and a couple of Great Crested Grebe headed east as well. Great Black-backed Gulls were also continuing to fly east every now and then, with their distinctive way of flying, and I had seen good numbers of them today. I could see a Merlin way out to sea and as it started to head back in it turned and came past me giving me some good, if brief, views as it did so.

Merlin

Coldharbour was quite quiet with 4 Redshank and a couple of Little Grebe and a Little Egret. The Kingfisher had moved onto the fence at the back of Coldharbour and a Mute Swan came into land as I made my way round. One of the Little Grebe was tucked into the bank and its eye just caught the light as the bird was highlighted in the sunshine. They are lovely little birds and full of character.

Little Grebe

I had another sit on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour and a Great Crested Grebe flew east, as did 3 more Red-throated Divers. Waders were on the move to roost and 2 Dunlin and a Purple Sandpiper flew west past me. Out to sea 2 Guillemot flew east followed by another 3 a little while later. A flock of 18 Grey Plover showed their black auxiliaries well and 4 Dunlin were tucked in with them.

Grey Plover and Dunlin

As it would be my last chance for a longer visit for a while I decided to carry on along the sea wall and see if I could get as far as Shuart. Nearing Plumpudding I came across a roost of Grey Plover and Dunlin which were almost certainly the same birds I had seen fly east earlier. All their feather edges were highlighted in the sharp light and they looked gorgeous.

Grey Plover and Dunlin

Grey Plover

While watching the Grey Plover I glanced up to see a Guillemot flying east closer in than I normally see. They move so fast that I only managed a quick shot once it was well past me but it was very nice to see, particularly as once again I nearly missed it.

Guillemot

A Redshank was throwing a perfect reflection, as I reached Plumpudding Island, as it made its way along the shingle edge. A flash of blue heralded the arrival of a Kingfisher as it was chased onto the shingle bank by a male Pied Wagtail. It only got a moment to rest before the Pied Wagtail chased it again, pushing it off the shingle and following in hot pursuit with the Kingfisher alarm calling and speeding away.

Redshank

Kingfisher

The male Pied Wagtail returned, breaking off from looking for insects to chase any bird that came too close and seeing off a couple of Linnet and several Meadow Pipits. In between it would return to the same spot and looked stunning against the blue of the water.

male Pied Wagtail

There were 35 Redshank roosting on Plumpudding and a single Turnstone was tucked in with some of them. I caught sight of slight movement and could see a Snipe tucked well into the vegetation on one of the islands. Along the shingle bank 5 Pied Wagtail were busily looking for insects and calling frequently to each other.

Redshank

It was time for another sit on the sea wall to see what might be passing by out to sea so I settled down once I reached the other side of Plumpudding. I could see 6 Curlew on the roost behind Plumpudding with a Bar-tailed Godwit tucked in with them. After a little while they were flushed off the roost by people walking along the shore and flew past me before wheeling round to head back to the roost but settling down further along this time. It must waste so much energy for them each time they are flushed.

Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew

Out to sea a couple of Great Crested Grebe flew east and also 1 Red-throated Diver. It was nice to see a Guillemot on the sea, fairly close in, and I would imagine it was the same bird I had seen flying fairly close in earlier. It was gradually drifting further out to sea.

Guillemot

It was time to make a move again and as I made my way towards the stables turn off I came across another Bar-tailed Godwit, this time roosting with some Oystercatcher. They didn't fair much better as they were soon flushed off the rocks by a bunch of people scrambling up from the other side. They appeared to come into land further along and I hoped that they might get a little more peace there.

Bar-tailed Godwit and Oystercatchers

A Cormorant was drying its wings on one of the marker post and appeared to have a mix of old worn brown flight feathers and new black ones, as well as showing a large number of pale tipped coverts giving it a striking appearance. 

Cormorant

A single Rock Pipit was on the shore as I carried on and as I thought the Bar-tailed Godwit was on the shore in the company of the Oystercatchers. It gave some good views as it fed before yet again being flushed by dog walkers. They are beautiful birds.

Bar-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

As I headed for the turn off to the stables a Little Egret showed off its yellow feet well. It would follow the line of the wavelets as they broke and pick any food item washed in either from the wave itself or as it retreated.

Little Egret

A Cetti's Warbler was vocal as I passed the stables and a couple of Greenfinch were in the bushes. Over all it was pretty quiet with just the usual jobs present. A Water Rail was calling as I headed through Shuart and good numbers of Blackbird with a few Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush were making the most of the berries. A Common Buzzard had sent a cloud of Lapwing up over the far fields with a flock of 121 birds flashing light and dark as they wheeled round.

Lapwing

I finished an enjoyable visit with a flock of 9 Fieldfare whose colours were glowing in the sunshine. The time spent sea watching at various points along the sea wall had proved to be good fun and though most of the birds out to sea had been distant today I had ended up seeing a good mix of birds. All in all a great day.

Fieldfare

Birds seen this visit included: 23 Great Black-backed Gull, 398 Brent Goose, 3 Robin, 2 Grey Partridge, 48 Redshank, 29 Meadow Pipit, 16 Gannet 3 west, 13 east, 25 Red-throated Diver east, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Wren, 3 Reed Bunting, 123 Lapwing, 9 Mute Swan, 30 Blackbird, 1 Shelduck east, 97 Ringed Plover, 1 Sandwich Tern east, 10 Common Scoter east, 9 Mallard, 4 Snipe, 2 Short-eared Owl, 3 Kestrel, 6 Stonechat, 24 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Curlew, 182 Oystercatcher, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Merlin, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 2 Linnet, 10 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 8 Magpie, 6 Guillemot east, 18 Grey Plover, 1 Blue Tit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch, House Sparrows, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Buzzard, 13 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Moorhen, 1 Water Rail, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Goldfinch

Snipe, Merlin and Gadwall - Chambers Wall to Reculver 21/11/20

I started out from Chambers Wall on an overcast morning with a breezy south westerly wind and wandering up the approach road I could hear a single Golden Plover calling in alarm as a Kestrel flew low over one of the fields. A very smart male Marsh Harrier was on the hunt over the far fields but unfortunately remained distant. The hedgerow and car park area were quiet and I could only see a single Robin working its way through one of the bushes and the odd Blackbird. As the Robin moved into the open a gust of wind caught its feathers turning it into an instant fluff ball.

Robin

Two Siskin flew south overhead calling away as they did so. A few more Blackbird and a scolding Wren greeted me as I stopped to check out tiny patches of orange on the ground and found small groups of Orange Peel Fungus. They might be tiny but the colour really catches the eye.

Orange Peel Fungus

Orange Peel Fungus

Plenty of Blackbird were in the hedgerow as I made my way towards the embankment together with 7 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and a couple of Song Thrush. Some Blue and Great Tits were busily looking for insects and as I came to the end of the hedgerow I could see a Peregrine on a small mound of earth in the field by the railway line. No sooner had I spotted it then so did a Carrion Crow and calling for reinforcements it, and then another joining it, mobbed the Peregrine causing it to move on. A couple of Linnet flew over as I started along the embankment towards Shuart end and a pair of Stonechat were swaying atop the reed edge. A single Mushroom was growing at the side of the track.

A few more Blackbird and a couple of Song Thrush were in the bushes as I made my way along and a small flock of Blue and Great Tits were working there way through. A pair of Stonechat were keeping out of the wind at the edge of one of the fields and perching very low to the ground.

Stonechats

A pair of Little Grebe and a pair of Mallard were on the river as I came up to it together with a pair of Coot. Every now and then one of the Coot would seem to feel that a Little Grebe was just that bit too close and move to chase it whereupon the Little Grebe would instantly dive and surface a safe distance away before gradually working its way back towards the Coot and the whole thing would be repeated. Finally the Little Grebes moved a little further away and peace ruled.

Little Grebes

Eighty-seven Lapwing were on the flooded portion of the field with all of them facing into the wind.

Lapwing

I couldn't see any Snipe tucked in with the Lapwing today but moving along a little I could get a better view of the rest of the flooded area, through a gap in the hedgerow, and as I scanned along I saw more and more Snipe ending up seeing 14 in total. I had hoped I might be able to pick up a Jack Snipe but couldn't manage to find one but it will certainly be worth keeping an eye on.

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

A single Redshank was also working its way from flooded area to flooded area.

Redshank

A single Siskin called as it flew west as I carried on and on the next flooded field the only occupant appeared to be a Black-headed Gull. A flock of c320 Brent Geese formed an almost perfect ellipse in one of the fields near the sea wall.

Brent Geese

The 9 Red-legged Partridge were in the same area I saw them on the last visit and were tucked in keeping out of the wind with just one adventurous one off for a wander.

Red-legged Partridge

There wasn't anything unexpected as I headed past the stables. The tide was coming in quite fast when I reached the sea wall but there wasn't a wader to be seen on the remaining exposed shore as it was crowded instead with people. A Common Gull was off-shore but otherwise the walk to Plumpudding remained quiet. Out to sea the windy conditions had attracted Kite Surfers and Sail Boarders.

The pair of Mute Swan on Plumpudding Island were busily tucking into vegetation they were bringing up from just below the surface of the water.

Mute Swans

As I carried on towards Coldharbour a Merlin came in off the sea and shot past giving a brief view as it did so. Out to sea 7 Common Scoter were bobbing around a good ways out.

Merlin

Common Scoter

I could see 31 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew were on the beach at the back of Coldharbour as I headed round along the sea wall. There was a single Redshank and a Little Egret on Coldharbour and I could see 2 Mallard and a couple of Gadwall out to sea while sitting on the sea wall. A Grey Plover was on the shore and behind me the sun breaking through the clouds into beams looked spectacular.

Grey Plover

I had a wander along for a little way and then had another sit on the sea wall for a while. Waders were moving to roost with Turnstone and Ringed Plover heading past. A single Dunlin was tucked in with both flocks. Off-shore a pair of Shelduck were gradually moving further out to sea.

Shelduck

From the next sit on the sea wall waders were still on the move with some Oystercatchers giving a close fly past and a flock of c100 Sanderling with a single Dunlin amongst them heading for roost.

Oystercatcher

Sanderling and Dunlin

I could see a couple of distant Gannet heading east as I made my way towards Reculver and a male Marsh Harrier was quartering over the fields. I wonder if it is the same one that I saw earlier.

male Marsh Harrier

The Mallard and Gadwall lifted off from the sea and after a quick circular flight headed off  east towards Coldharbour.

Mallard and Gadwall

Mallard and Gadwall

Oystercatchers were on the move during my final sit on the sea wall before reaching Reculver and were an impressive sight, as always, and brought the visit to an end nicely.

Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers

Birds seen this visit included: 8 Robin, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit, Skylarks, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Pheasant, Wood Pigeons, 37 Blackbird, 3 Siskin 2 south 1 west, 3 Dunnock, 3 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 7 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 11 Magpie, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Peregrine, 6 Stonechat, 2 Linnet, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 4 Mallard, 87 Lapwing, 14 Snipe, 9 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Common Gull, 239 Oystercatcher, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Merlin, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 1 Grey Plover, 35 Turnstone, 88 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gannet east,