Wall Brown, Juvenile Med Gull and ringed Golden Plover - Reculver 21/07/19

I headed to Reculver after work and thought I would have a round trip via the path along the back of the oyster farm, as the sea wall was so busy, and return via the sea wall once it was quieter. It was sunny and warm with building cloud and a south south westerly breeze. 4 Pied Wagtail were around the tower area and as I came down to the bottom path I could see a Wall Brown butterfly. It had a duel with another Wall Brown before settling long enough to allow a photo. They are beautiful butterflies. I was also lucky enough to see the Hummingbird Hawkmoth again in the same area I had seen it last time. A Blackbird was enjoying some berries, but I am not sure what they are. Lots of Gatekeepers were on the wing.

Wall Brown Butterfly

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Blackbird

I had a look out to sea but it was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls on the water. 24 Swallow and 5 Sand Martin were swooping round. A female House Sparrow on the pumping station fence watched a fly as it flew above it and I thought it was going to try for it but it just watched it and then moved on.

House Sparrow watching fly

Some of the Swallows and Sand Martins were coming down to the water at the pumping station to drink. I did not manage to be quick enough or good enough to get much of a photo but I liked the reflection in this one even if the photo is pretty poor.

Swallow drinking

A Common Carpet Moth was sheltering amongst the grass stems and as I moved forward a Marbled White butterfly that had been doing the same thing flew up and after perching briefly moved on. I saw 3 Marbled White Butterflies as I walked along.

Common Carpet Moth

Marbled White Butterfly

3 Little Egrets were on one of the oyster farm lagoons and 15 Black-headed Gulls were roosting on the the roof of one of the buildings. A Redshank was working its way along a muddy margin. 2 Adult Mute Swan were swimming along the dyke but I could not see any cygnets. A Little Egret flew up from the lagoon and landed in one of the small trees giving good views.

Little Egret

A Mute Swan was at the beginning of the next dyke and had 2 cygnets with it. A Grey Heron  roosting in one of the fields attracted the attention of a couple of Carrion Crows but it managed to just ignore them and after a few desultory passes they moved on. A couple of mating Picture-winged Flies caught my eye.

Mute Swan and cygnet

Picture-winged Fly

The rest of the walk to the sea wall remained fairly quiet. A Kestrel was hunting over one of the fields and the odd Sedge and Reed Warbler were here and there. An Emperor Dragonfly was on the wing. 2 Little Ringed Plover flew over calling. Even though they were quite high and it is not the best of photos, the lack of a wingbar can be seen clearly.

Little Ringed Plovers

The Starling numbers appeared to have increased with c160 over the sea wall and feeding on the shore. Linnet numbers had also increased with 98 coming in to roost.

Starlings

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the shore and gave some good views and was a beautifully marked bird..

juvenile Mediterranean Gull

juvenile Mediterranean Gull

A colour ringed Golden Plover in full summer plumage was on the shore and was a gorgeous bird. Chris Hindle had seen it earlier in the day but I hadn't expected it to still be present so it was a very nice surprise to be able to catch up with it. It actively looked for food for most of the time that I was watching it. What an absolutely gorgeous bird and a definite highlight of the visit.

colour ringed Golden Plover

colour ringed Golden Plover

colour ringed Golden Plover

colour ringed Golden Plover

I couldn't tell if one of the rings was dark blue or black, the others being yellow, red and white with the dark blue/black coming between the red and the white and appearing to be a little smaller.

close up of colour rings

A little further on a Green Sandpiper was on the oyster farm and 2 Kestrel were busily hunting.

Green Sandpiper

I could see 9 Mallard in the air over the fields at the back of the oyster farm. A couple of Redshank flew up and headed over to the sea and a pair of Oystercatchers were calling noisily as they flew over. A Whitethroat popped up and peeped at me giving some nice views and making a good end to the visit..

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Birds seen this visit include: 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, House Sparrows, 32 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, Carrion Crows, 5 Sedge Warbler, 6 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan and 2 cygnets, 2 Redshank, 98 Linnet, Grey Heron, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat, 2 Pheasant, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Oystercatcher, 9 Meadow Pipit, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 9 Mallard, 1 Yellow Wagtail

Clouded Yellows and Little Ringed Plovers in Twos- Reculver to Chambers Wall 15/07/19

I came down to Reculver after work. It was very overcast and though there was no sunshine it was very warm with a north north easterly breeze. I could hear young Starlings calling and a family were working their way over the rocks with the youngsters begging and badgering a parent constantly. When the rest of the family moved off this one stayed to root amongst the seaweed before moving to join them. A little further on a male Pied Wagtail was carrying a bill full of food.

Starling

Pied Wagtail

A Magpie rooting around in the grass had a patch of white behind its eye. It was very quiet out to sea with just a few passing Herring and Black-headed Gulls. 6 Little Egret were roosting in the tree on the oysterfarm while 4 Redshank were feeding along the shore. Good numbers of House Sparrows were bouncing around.

Magpie

It was very quiet for birds walking along the sea wall. A Reed Bunting was working its way through the grasses and a couple of Sedge Warbler were singing. I caught sight of a Clouded Yellow Butterfly patrolling on the path below the sea wall. It paused briefly on some Red Clover and though distant I tried for a photo before it moved off. A second Clouded Yellow flew in and they chased each other before they resumed patrolling in opposite directions.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

A pair of Oystercatchers were calling noisily and 3 Meadow Pipits were feeding amongst the vegetation on the concrete by the sea wall.

Meadow Pipit

A male Stonechat appeared particularly dark with large white wing flashes and a neat orange bib. I know that there had been a male continental race rubicola earlier in the year and wondered if this was it or our race hibernans in a state of moult. Whichever is the case he was a handsome bird and a joy to watch. Unfortunately it remained distant and moved off as a dog walker came through.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Stonechat

The tide had started to go out and 3 Little Egret flew in with one giving nice reflections in the
shallow water.

Little Egret

I was pleased to see a couple of Little Ringed Plover in the same place on the oyster farm that I had seen one earlier in the year. They really were too distant for anything in the photo line, particularly as the light was not great, but I was pleased to be able to get some memory shots and certainly enjoyed watching them.

Little Ringed Plovers

Little Ringed Plover

A Marbled White Butterfly was flying along the bottom path and then obligingly came and sat on a Teasel nearer the sea wall.

Marbled White Butterfly

As I carried on I saw another 3 Stonechat, one of which was a female carrying food.

Stonechat

The tide was well out by now but apart from Oystercatchers, Redshank and Ringed Plover I could not see any other waders. The exposed mussel beds were popular with the Herring Gulls. The family of Shelduck were feeding along the waters edge. A very smart male Linnet was singing away before moving on.

male Linnet

Coldharbour was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and a single Redshank. I could see an adult Coot and 4 youngsters on the river and a Common Tern flew down. 4 Mute Swan flew past, 2 adults and 2 youngsters. I headed for home via Chambers Wall and on the way had a head on encounter with a Roesel's Bush Cricket. It appeared to have lost one of its antenna. They are very striking insects.

Roesel's Bush Cricket

I had come further than I had initially planned this evening and with walking becoming increasingly difficult I concentrated on that rather than looking round much and didn't keep much of a count for the last part back. I did however see a Cuckoo at Chambers Wall and in the river Amphibious Bistort was in flower. I finished off with a male Marsh Harrier giving a flypast and he looked gorgeous in the evening light.

Amphibious Bistort Persicaria amphibia

male Marsh Harrier

Birds seen this visit include: Starlings, House Sparrows, 5 Blackbird, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 4 Magpie, 4 Collared Dove, 6 Little Egret, 3 Goldfinch, Wood Pigeons, 5 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 5 Redshank, 12 Meadow Pipit, 10 Oystercatcher, 4 Stonechat, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 4 Whitethroat, 5 Linnet, 2 Pheasant, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 12 Shelduck, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 5 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Tern, 2 Wren, 1 Cuckoo

Brown Hawkers, Whimbrel and Marbled Whites - Chambers Wall to Coldharbour 12/07/19

I made my way to Chambers Wall today. It was a sunny with building cloud and a north westerly breeze. As I walked up the road a Sparrowhawk shot through causing alarm amongst the Skylarks and Swallows. Lots of Gatekeepers, and good numbers of Meadow Brown, Large and Small White butterflies were on the wing and a couple of worn Painted Ladies soaked up the sunshine as they settled on the road. Overall it seemed very quiet. A Whitethroat gave a brief burst of song as did a Reed Bunting and a couple of Reed Warblers were moving through the reeds carrying food. As I approached the hedge a Chaffinch was singing away and a couple of Linnet and a Yellow Wagtail called as they flew over. The car park area was very quiet for birds. I could see a Brown Hawker and an Emperor Dragonfly hunting over the river. At the waters edge small fish were in the shallows but I do not know which they are. Good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting on the pond weed or chasing each other. A Black-tailed Skimmer zoomed past but did not stop.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

A male Common Darter flew up from the vegetation but then disappeared from view. A little further along I came across another Common Darter who was more obliging and allowed some photos. The yellow line on the black legs showed well. Several more Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting up nearby.

Common Darter

I wandered along for a little way to see if I could catch up with the Brown Hawker. A Willow Emerald flew up from the vegetation and settled briefly before moving off.

Willow Emerald

Bush Crickets were plentiful today and I came across several striking Roesel's Bush Crickets. They tended to be fairly camera shy, disappearing into cover at the first sign of movement but a male was a little more obliging, pausing briefly before it moved off.

male Roesel's Bush Cricket

Gatekeeper Butterfly

The clouds had built a lot by now and with the sun covered for a while I hoped I might be lucky enough to catch up with a Brown Hawker settled but I did not have any luck. The sun soon came out again and I could see 4 Brown Hawkers in flight at the same time, 2 up river and 2 down river. I tried again for some flight shots but though the one I was trying for regularly flew along the far bank of vegetation it was so fast that I found it difficult to keep in the view finder. I didn't end up with any decent photos but enjoyed trying for them and was pleased to get these as at least they make good memory shots even if somewhat blurry.

Brown Hawker

Brown Hawker

I saw a couple of female Emperor Dragonflies ovipositing and a smart male flew down the river.

female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing

It was still very quiet for birds. A Blue and a Great Tit family were busy feeding and Reed Warblers were kept busy carrying food. A Whitethroat was back and fore with food and as it reappeared multiple begging calls could be heard from within the bush. A Grey Heron fishing in the river gave the chance to try for a photo. There seemed to be plenty of fish. In any of the shallows there were large schools of little fish and in the deeper water there were some sizeable fish near the surface.

Grey Heron

There were multiple pairs of mating Blue-tailed Damselflies and good numbers of females ovipositing. Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting up. They are attractive damselflies. In the shaded areas several female Scorpion Flies were feeding well on small insects that they had caught.

mating Blue-tailed Damselflies

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

female Scorpion Fly

As I approached the railway crossing a Peacock butterfly looked stunning as it waited for the sun to come back out and a micro moth also caught my eye, as did another Common Darter. I will need to try and identify the micro moth as I do not know which it is.

Peacock Butterfly

Common Darter

Originally I had planned to carry on to Shuart via the embankment but as walking wasn't playing ball today I decided to have a slow wander to Coldharbour instead. A couple of Skylark were on the path and a small group of Sand Martin were hunting for insects over one of the fields. The odd Reed and Sedge Warbler were carrying bill fulls of food but otherwise it was very quiet. I could see another 3 Emperor Dragonflies along the river. As I came up to Coldharbour a Herring Gull was just escaping having been mugged for the Starfish it was carrying. It had managed to hold on to it despite being chased for several minutes by another Herring Gull.

Herring Gull and Starfish

Coldharbour was very quiet and I could only see a single Black-headed Gull on it. As it was so quiet I had a short walk along the bottom path to see what I could find. I saw an insect that I have not seen before and have not, at the moment, been able to find out what it is. I will update when I do. Both Large and Small White Butterflies as well as Peacock Butterflies were enjoying the Red Clover.

A female Roesel's Bush Cricket gave some good views as it moved about amongst the vegetation. There were certainly plenty of these around today.

female Roesel's Bush Cricket

female Roesel's Bush Cricket

A couple of Oystercatcher flew over calling and a Sedge Warbler popped up nearby allowing some close photos. A Speckled Bush Cricket remained mainly obscured by vegetation but was nice to see. Several Marbled White Butterflies were active and I was pleased to catch up with my first ones of the year.

Sedge Warbler

Marbled White

A Five-spot Burnet Moth caught my eye and though I could not get a clear shot through the grass it was nice to be able to see both upper and inner wing. I saw a Robberfly that I have not seen before, a Slender-striped. A Shaded Broad Bar Moth flew up and a Lattice Heath Moth was also present.

Five-spot Burnet Moth

Slender-striped Robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica

I headed back up to Coldharbour and a Little Egret was giving almost perfect reflections as it looked for food but otherwise Coldharbour remained quiet.

Little Egret

I sat on the sea wall for a while and could see the family of Shelduck off shore and I enjoyed watching them as they drifted by. The parents have done really well to keep all ten youngsters. 4 Whimbrel were on the shore and, unfortunately, were soon disturbed by dog walkers. They flew past me before settling back down on a patch of exposed mussel bed. 3 Mediterranean Gulls flew west as did 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull while 3 Little Egret flew east. Both Common and Sandwich Terns were out to sea and a Great Crested Grebe was on the sea.

Whimbrel

Shelduck family

Whimbrel

I headed for home and as I walked back up to Chambers Wall a Common Tern flew down the river. A Black-tailed Skimmer was resting briefly on the ground. A Yellow Shell Moth flew up but when it settled back it was obscured by vegetation.

Common Tern

Black-tailed Skimmer

I came across a very hairy hoverfly which on looking it up is a Cheilosia illustrata. Mating Common Red Soldier Beetles seemed to be everywhere. I was pleased to hear the purring song of a Turtle Dove. As I walked back up the approach road I could hear a couple of Corn Bunting and a male Marsh Harrier flew over. A Yellow Wagtail was catching insects from the road and I ended the visit with Skylarks, Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler singing away.

Cheilosia illustrata

mating Common Red Soldier Beetles

Yellow Wagtail

Birds seen this visit included: 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 House Sparrow, 11 Whitethroat, Wood Pigeons, 21 Swallow, Skylarks, 12 Reed Warblers, 7 Reed Bunting, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Chaffinch, 33 Linnet, 1 Wren, 2 Blackbird, Carrion Crow, 4 Grey Heron, Cormorant, 4 Magpie, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 9 Sedge Warbler, 8 Sand Martin, 10 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Little Egret, 12 Shelduck, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Greenshank, 1 Curlew, 5 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover, 7 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, 2 Pheasant, Starlings, 1 Moorhen, 3 Wren, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Dunnock