Long-eared Owl Encounter, Common Scoter and a Red Admiral Butterfly - Reculver to Shuart 09/11/20

I started out from Reculver on another beautifully fine morning. 70 Brent Geese were off the point and the usual Robin was on the rocks by the car park with another up by the towers as I made my way down to the sea wall. I was scanning the old camp site and fields at the back when I heard a couple of Herring Gulls calling loudly behind me and turned to see them mobbing a bird just out to sea. I couldn't believe it when I realised it was an Owl and even better, it looked good for a Long-eared Owl. Seconds later it shot towards the Towers and gave some brief views as it sped up the concrete apron, resting momentarily at the top and out of sight for me, before flying up and heading inland. The photos are pretty fuzzy but they do give me some great memory shots of a thrilling encounter. I have seen Short-eared Owls come in off the sea before but I have never seen a Long-eared Owl do so. What an incredible sight and to say it made my day would be putting it mildly. I love seeing Owls and felt incredibly lucky to see this one.

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

I carried on along the sea wall and out to sea a single Shelduck flew west and a Great Crested Grebe was on the sea. I could not see any Divers offshore. By the time I reached the oyster farm I had seen 388 Cormorant coming in off the sea and flying inland in multiple groups ranging in size from large to small. 

Cormorants flying inland

A few Redshank were dotted along the shore but apart from a Turnstone it was surprisingly quiet for waders. A few Great Black-backed Gulls flew east and 5 Mute Swan were at the waters edge. 

Mute Swans

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while but out to sea remained quiet. 70 Brent Geese flew east and it seemed likely that they were the same ones I saw off the point. I always enjoy hearing their calls and watching them in flight.

part of Brent Geese flock

As I neared the green bank I could see 45 Corn Bunting atop the bushes on the oyster farm and a male Reed Bunting showed its white outer tail feathers well as it flicked its tail open and shut.

Reed Bunting

Three Shelduck were just off shore from the exposed mussel bed and a Little Egret and a Grey Heron were both seeing what they could catch in a small pool of water.

Shelduck

Little Egret and Grey Heron

A Pheasant called from the oyster farm and a Cetti's Warbler was vocal. Scanning across the fields I could see 11 Pheasant in one of the fields. The tide was a long way out and the sea was incredibly calm. 7 Ringed Plover, with a few Turnstone and Redshank amongst them, were on the mussel bed. 26 Mallard were having a wash and brush up at the edge of the exposed mussel bed and in amongst them was a single Shoveler. 

Shoveler

I carried on towards Coldharbour and could see 47 Golden Plover tucked down in one of the fields. It was nice to catch up with Derek Smith, who was out on the sea wall, and as we were talking he heard Bearded Tits calling from the reedbed. I couldn't tell how many there were but they are always a welcome sound. I had another sit on the sea wall near Coldharbour and caught up with some more waders with a single Curlew and Grey Plover and more Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and Redshank. Oystercatchers, as always, were vocal. 250 Brent Geese were off shore though Coldharbour was quiet it was nice to see a Little Grebe tucked into one of the banks.

Little Grebe

As I headed towards Plumpudding I had another Shoveler flying west. I came across some Brent Geese that were on the shore and throwing perfect reflections into the various pools of water on the wet sand, the reflection only being broken as they moved or fed.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

A Cetti's Warbler called as I came up to Plumpudding Island and I heard a single Bearded Tit give a couple of calls. I couldn't see any sign of the Snipe I saw the other day and all appeared quiet although a pair of Mute Swan looked gorgeous in the light.

Mute Swans

A couple of Goldcrest were in the bushes on the other side of the sea wall and I enjoyed watching them as they made their way along, searching painstakingly through the bush before a short flight to the next one and starting again.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Another Goldcrest was a little further along and a Water Rail called from one of the dykes. 11 Great Black-backed Gulls were off shore as I carried on along the sea wall. I had another sit on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea. A Great Crested Grebe was off shore and 6 Common Scoter flew east coming in fairly close as they did so.

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

A mix of Gulls were moving around and a Common Gull showed its underwing pattern well as it came through with a couple of Black-headed Gulls.

Common Gull

A second winter Mediterranean Gull gave some nice, even if a little distant, views as it came past and could possibly be the same bird I saw the other day.

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

A Rock Pipit called and settled on the shore as I neared the turnoff for the stables. It was quiet in the paddocks as I came past the stables but it was nice to see a couple of Greenfinches in one of the bushes.

Greenfinches

Greenfinches

7 Corn Bunting were atop the bushes and a single Chiffchaff was making its way through the bushes at the side of the track and gave some nice views as it did so.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

The walk through to Shuart was very quiet for birds along the track but very busy for humans with walkers, dog walkers, joggers and cyclists all making the most of the sunshine. A flock of 220 Starling were in the harvested sweetcorn field with 40 Stock Dove. Both a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal and a Siskin flew west calling away. A Red Admiral Butterfly flew over and settled in one of the trees to soak up some welcome warmth from the sun. I will miss seeing butterflies.

Red Admiral Butterfly

I finished an enjoyable visit with some great views of an immature Common Buzzard circling above and a couple of Ring-necked Parakeet calling away in alarm.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Birds seen this visit included: 320 Brent Geese, 15 Robin, 10 Meadow Pipit, 1 Long-eared Owl, 7 Magpie, 10 Pied Wagtail, 4 Shelduck, 26 Redshank, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Mute Swan, 388 Cormorant, 9 Turnstone, 18 Great Black-backed Gull, 52 Corn Bunting, 7 Reed Bunting, 12 Pheasant, 3 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 49 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Kestrel, 2 Dunnock, 4 Wren, Skylarks, 10 Stonechat, 29 Ringed Plover, Bearded Tits, 82 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Water Rail, 1 Common Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Rock Pipit, 11 Chaffinch, House Sparrows, 330 Starling, 1 Chiffchaff, 18 Blackbird, 3 Common Buzzard, 5 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Jay, Great Tits, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Long-eared Wonder - South to Reculver 16/02/19

I had an unexpected full day to play with today so I decided to walk from the south to Reculver via the sea wall. Walking was a little problematic today so I took it slowly and had lots of stops to just enjoy the view. It started fine but clouded over as the day went on with a cool southerly wind.

The visit started well when a Red-legged Partridge (96) flew up from the path. I had not seen it until it flew and it must have been well tucked in. I felt sorry to have disturbed it but I was pleased to see it. There were lots of the usual little jobs around and the sunshine seemed to have encouraged an increase in song. Skylarks were singing away like mad. I disturbed a Peacock butterfly, that I had not seen, from the path and it flew off strongly before settling out of sight.

The biggest surprise of the morning was coming across a Long-eared Owl (97) roosting in a bush. I just looked across and there it was. What a stunningly beautiful bird. I have wanted to see one for a very long time and never thought I would get a view like that. I suddenly realised there was also a second owl further back. I felt so incredibly lucky to have seen them. To say they made my morning would be an understatement.

Long-eared Owl

2nd Long-eared Owl

As I approached the sea wall I had 28 Corn Bunting in various bushes. They were quite mobile, with small groups moving through at a time. Some House Sparrows were resting up as well. I had a Greylag Goose flying south east which came as a nice surprise.

Corn Bunting

House Sparrows

The tide was out a fair way out. A smattering of Oystercatchers were feeding along the shore. 10 Sanderling and a few Redshank were also present. I got a nice surprise when I saw a goose on the shore and it turned out to be a White-fronted Goose (98). I was a little puzzled as it seemed small in comparison to the Herring Gulls but it appeared to be an adult White-fronted. A little while later it joined the Brent Geese who were on one of the fields.

White-fronted Goose with Herring Gulls

White-fronted Goose

White-fronted Goose

White-fronted Goose amongst Brent Geese

I sat and had a look out to sea and was pleased to see a raft of Common Scoter (99) with at least 27 present. There were also a couple of Great Crested Grebe out to sea. A group of 3 Brent Geese were repeatedly flying around. Each time they settled, they would be off again. I wondered if it was 2 males having a disagreement over a female.

Brent Geese

There were good numbers of Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull on the shore. In amongst them was a single Common Gull and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull (100).

Lesser Black-backed Gull

I headed back along the sea wall. The weather was going off rapidly with building heavy cloud and a freshening cool wind. There were only a couple of Redshank on Plumpudding Island so I carried on.

I had a couple of Meadow Pipit pose nicely. There was a Little Egret and 3 Redshank on Coldharbour. 2 Mute Swan, an adult and an immature were out to sea. I really hoped that I might catch up with the Hooded Crow but no luck.

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

I got brief views of a Short-eared Owl and even though the light was very bad I attempted a photo of a Magpie in flight as they are so beautiful with wings and tail spread. They really are stunning birds.

Magpie in flight

I was pleased to reach Reculver but it had been a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Robin, 3 Wren, Dunnock, 15 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Red-legged Partridge,15  Goldfinch, Fieldfare, 2 Long-eared Owl, Reed Bunting, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 2 Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 3 Mistle Thrush, 32 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, 28 Corn Bunting, 1 Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, 2 Kestrel, Redshank, 10 Sanderling, 2 Grey Plover, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 White-fronted Goose, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Curlew, 27 Common Scoter, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 2 Snow Bunting flew past calling, Short-eared Owl, Magpie, 3 Pheasant, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Little Owl.