Could this be my first Chiffchaff of Spring? - Reculver 24/02/19

I  headed for Reculver after work this afternoon. It was a beautifully sunny afternoon but with a cool south easterly wind. Once again, as the sea wall was chock a block with people, I headed for the path at the back of the oyster farm. I could hear Lapwing calling from the field and saw a couple. I wonder if they will breed there. I could also hear a Chiffchaff calling and it gave some nice, if distant, views. It is hard to know if it is an early migrant or one of the wintering birds from another area moving through. I certainly haven't seen one here prior to this, although I have seen wintering birds in nearby areas. This was one very active bird.

Chiffchaff 

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff with fanned tail feathers

A Redshank was in its usual spot and, apart from turning and looking, it seemed totally unfazed by a couple of passing walkers and happily went back to preening once they had passed. I am so used to them flying away at the first sign of a human that it always surprises me when one doesn't.

Redshank

Groups of Cormorants, ranging in size from 2 to 35 came over at fairly frequent intervals, presumably heading towards Stodmarsh. The downside to flying below another bird became clear when the lower bird's wing tip was covered in bird droppings from the bird above it. It is perhaps a good job it wasn't directly below, as its whole wing may have been covered then. Another passing bird showed its underwing well.

Cormorants - watch out below

Cormorant underwing

A Little Egret was on one of the lagoons and was doing a lot of foot paddling while feeding. When it lifted its leg it appeared to have caught up possibly some blanket weed. It looked as if it caught a small fish at one point. I had not realised that there were fish were in the lagoons.

Little Egret and reflection

A Magpie flew past giving good views of its wings. They are beautifully marked. On the other side of the path there were 4 Golden Plover in one of the fields blending in very well with the ground indeed. A Short-eared Owl was resting at the back of one of the jetties. Unfortunately it was mostly obscured from where I was.

Magpie

Golden Plovers

The rest of the walk towards the sea wall was quite quiet apart from a flock of 52 Corn Bunting over. From the sea wall I could see 6 Mallard out to sea and I had a Ringed Plover do a fly past.

Mallards

Ringed Plover in flight

A Turnstone also gave a chance to try an in flight photo but I almost lost if out of the frame, hence the heavy cropping. I am still finding it difficult to keep birds in the view finder when using burst mode. Hopefully I will get better at it in time.

Turnstone in flight

A couple of Ringed Plover watched me somewhat warily but apart from the above it was very quiet for waders.

Ringed Plovers

A little further along I came across a Grey Plover. It seemed much less spangled and browner toned than the others I have seen but it was a lovely bird. I think it is in non-breeding adult plummage at present but its breast does appears to show some signs of darker feathers. When I first came across it roosting I wondered what it was for a moment. Perhaps it is because I have mainly seen very spangled birds and perhaps the light made a difference as well.

Grey Plover roosting

Grey Plover

Grey Plover - quick yawn

Grey Plover - wing stretch

Grey Plover showing rump

Grey Plover

I walked up to Coldharbour but it was very quiet. There was just a couple of Redshank and a Little Egret. A Black-headed Gull gave some nice views as it flew around before coming in to land.

Black-headed Gull - upperwing

Black-headed Gull - underwing

Originally I had been going to try and get as far as Shuart, so I could have a look for Barn Owl in the hopes that one would be out hunting, but I was losing the light rapidly and decided to head back towards Reculver. A Curlew flew past calling. I could not get a good shot but it makes a good memory shot all the same.

Curlew calling

The Short-eared Owl was out hunting but the light was very poor by now and the photos taken at high ISO suffered accordingly. Still, once again, it makes a nice memory shot.

Short-eared Owl 

As I approached the Oyster farm buildings I could hear a bird calling. I recorded the call as I did not recognise it but have been unable to find out what it was. It sounded like a wader but if it was I really have no idea which. Perhaps it was just one of the usual ones giving an unusual call.

I had an enjoyable visit in some beautiful weather.

Birds seen this visit include: 3 Blackbird, House Sparrow, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, 8 Mute Swan, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Magpie, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Wren, Carrion Crow, Skylarks, 1 Goldfinch, 52 Corn Bunting, 1 Grey Partridge calling

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.