Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat - Shuart to Chambers Wall 09/10/20

On arrival at Shuart several Chiffchaff were active around the car park area and I saw seven by the time I started out along the track. A Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker called from the trees. A Wren scolded as I passed by and overhead a flock of 28 Siskin flew west. It was a beautifully sunny morning and Skylarks were passing by overhead heading west. A male and female Blackcap appeared to be enjoying the sunshine.

male and female Blackcap

Two Lesser Redpoll flew low over calling loudly and were a welcome addition to the mornings birds. A Wood Pigeon eyed me warily as I passed by but otherwise appeared unperturbed.

Wood Pigeon

Two vocal Cetti's Warblers were sounding off against each other. Each time the one behind me called so the one from a little further along the track responded. A flock of 8 Long-tailed Tit were moving fast through the hedgerow as they searched for food. I love watching them and one was obliging enough to pause in a gap before moving on.

Long-tailed Tit

A single Crossbill flew over heading west and calling away and the hedgerow was alive with Chiffchaff busily searching for insects.

Chiffchaff

A Brambling flew over calling and small flocks of Chaffinch were moving west. The air was filled with the calls of Skylarks as they went over and a good number of Blackcap were working their way through various sections of the hedgerow. A Red Admiral Butterfly was sunning itself on the ivy.

Red Admiral

A Cetti's Warbler came tantalisingly close to coming out into the open but at the last minute dropped out of sight again. A scruffy Whitethroat gave pause when I caught sight of it but it never changed its position and was watching warily the approach of a group of loudly chatting dog walkers. As they neared it shot through to the back of the bush and disappeared. I waited to see if it would reappear but with no sign of it I carried on. I haven't seen a Whitethroat for a couple of weeks now.

Cetti's Warbler

Whitethroat

Another Blackcap was by the railway crossing and I had enjoyed seeing the numbers of them that I had today. At the stables a feisty Dunnock was chasing a rival repeatedly before returning to a favourite perch to keep watch on its rival's movements. Otherwise it was overall quieter than my last visit.

Dunnock

As I neared the sea wall one of the Corn Bunting present was tucked into one of the nearer bushes but keeping a wary eye on passers by.

Corn Bunting

The tide was already a fair way out as I came up onto the sea wall. Sanderling and Oystercatchers were along the shore. The westerly wind that had been very light had begun to pick up. The walk to Plumpudding was fairly quiet. Small flocks of both Chaffinch and Skylark were still moving west. Just past Plumpudding a couple of White Wagtail were on the sea wall. 5 Redshank were on Coldharbour but that also was quiet otherwise. Walking was becoming very difficult so I decided to head up to Chambers Wall as it was closer for a pick up point. I did not do much counting on the way through. A Red Admiral butterfly was showing its underwing pattern well making the contrast between that and its upperwing pattern even more striking.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

It was nice to come across some Goldcrests. They are beautiful little birds and it was a treat to be able to take a break and just enjoy watching their acrobatic manoeuvres as they searched for insects.

Goldcrest

Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and I finished the visit with a perched male soaking up the warmth from the sun.

Migrant Hawker

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Green Woodpecker, 46 Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeons, 7 Wren, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 17 Robin, 8 Dunnock, 208 Chaffinch, 31 Siskin, Skylarks, 25 Blackbird, 15 Pied Wagtail including 2 alba, 2 Jay, 1 Pheasant, 4 Mallard, 9 Magpie, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 19 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Crossbill, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Brambling, 2 House Martin, 2 Common Buzzard, 6 Reed Bunting, House Sparrows, Starlings, 9 Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting, 24 Goldfinch, 43 Sanderling, 84 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 4 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Swallow,  

Whinchats, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits - Shuart to Reculver 02/09/20

I paid a visit to Shuart this morning and on the walk down the road had a small group of 7 Swallows on the wires, a mix of adults and juveniles. A Chiffchaff flicked up from the hedgerow and another 2 were calling further down with a single Willow Warbler working its way along the hedgerow.

Swallow

Swallows

As I had a wander down the track I saw a couple of beautifully fresh and bright immature Willow Warblers and enjoyed watching them as they made their way through the hedgerow. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and one was returning to persistently hover over one of the dykes giving the chance to try for some flight photos..

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

It appeared fairly quiet as I came past the stables. 3 male Blackcap were in one of the Blackberry bushes and 2 Stonechat were on the fence at the back of one of the paddocks. A charm of 35 Goldfinches swirled round as they moved from Teasels to Thistles. Another Stonechat was by the sea wall as I came up onto it. A flock of c150 Starling appeared to be flycatching as they swooped and turned above me. The tide was mostly in and as I started along the wall I could see 17 Turnstone on the rocks.

Turnstones

I was pleased to see 2 Whinchat  with a third seen a little further along. They seemed very wary of the people passing on the sea wall and tended to keep their distance.

Whinchat

Whinchat

A couple of juvenile Stonechats were begging from their parents. They are beautifully marked little birds. 

juvenile Stonechat

adult and juvenile Stonechat

As I headed along the sea wall it became increasingly overcast and noticeably cooler. I saw a good mix and numbers of waders roosting at various points as I made my way towards Coldharbour. 3 Teal flew east and a little further along 4 were a fair distance out on the sea but gradually drifted a little closer in. A short while later 4 Teal flew east and I thought the ones on the sea had taken off but they were still present.

Teal

Teal

Small flocks of Ringed Plover flew past now and then giving the opportunity to try for some flight photos. An adult Dunlin showed its black belly patch well as it came into land. 

Ringed Plover

Dunlin and Ringed Plover

A Knot flying east in the company of 3 Oystercatcher was a welcome sight.

Knot and Oystercatchers

Pied Wagtails were busily feeding along the shore with 3 Yellow Wagtails working their way along the tide line. 3 Bar-tailed Godwit flying east were a good addition to the waders seen today.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Coldharbour had the usual few Black-headed Gulls in attendance and 7 Redshank roosting on one of the banks. 4 Goldfinch were amongst the thistle heads. As I carried on to Reculver I saw another 77 Ringed Plover roosting on the beach on the high tide line roost with 40 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone and 5 Dunlin. A Hobby was over the far edge of the fields and another 3 Stonechat were busy insect catching. The last part of the walk to Reculver was fairly quiet and I finished the visit with a good view of a Carrion Crow as it banked.

Carrion Crow

Birds seen this visit included: 7 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Wren, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, 2 Magpie, 43 Linnet, 8 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 39 Goldfinch, 6 Stonechat, 150 Starling, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 15 Turnstone, 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 98 Oystercatcher, 189 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 49 Turnstone, 46 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 11 Teal, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Sandwich Tern, 7 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, Carrion Crows

Hawkers, Bees and a Juvenile Shelduck - Shuart to Reculver 22/08/20

I had a fairly quiet walk through Shuart and managed to miss most of the rain showers apart from one and that soon went over. The sky looked quite spectacular at one point with a diagonal split between the rain clouds and the clear blue sky revealed as they moved off.

Rain showers moving through

A female Tufted Duck (135) was on one of the far dykes as I neared the end of the track and as a Mute Swan came into land it threw a perfect shadow of its head and neck onto its back lit wings.

Mute Swan

As the sea wall already looked very busy I decided to have a wander along the embankment instead and see what birds and insects were about there. A pair of mating Migrant Hawkers were resting up and allowed a photo before moving on.

Mating Migrant Hawkers

It had clouded over again and in the breezy and cool conditions all was fairly quiet along the embankment. I came across a couple of bees that gave me pause. The first I think is a sun-bleached Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius with a very bleached tail and the thorax hairs almost bleached to brown. When I first saw it I did wonder about a Red-shanked Carder Bee as I have not seen such a pale tailed Red-tailed before but there are no orange hairs on hind tibiae.

The second I did wonder about Brown-banded Carder Bee or Moss Carder Bee when I first saw it but I cannot be completely sure from the photos and it may just be a Common Carder Bee. I enjoy trying to work it out but I am continuing to find bees's very challenging and I am sure I will make lots of mistakes in the meantime but that is how you learn most. Both were interesting bee's to watch, photograph and then try and learn from. Hopefully as I learn more I will be able to correctly identify with more certainty this bee.

A late instar nymph of the Dock Bug Coreus marginatus was trying to soak up any warmth that it could get as was a Sphaeraphoria scripta.

late instar nymph Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Sphaeraphoria scripta

I had a wander down to Coldharbour which was very quiet apart from some Black-headed Gulls and a Common Sandpiper. The walk to Reculver remained pretty quiet as well but it was nice to see a juvenile Shelduck on the beach. They are attractive birds. and it made a nice end to the visit.

juvenile Shelduck

Birds seen this visit included: Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Wren, 3 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Jay, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Wood Pigeons, 2 Stock Dove, 5 Whitethroat, 5 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrel, 2 Magpie, Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, 37 Linnet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Swift, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Goldfinch, 22 Swallow, 2 Common Sandpiper, 12 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 3 Stonechat, 28 Oystercatcher, 

Bathing Swans, Whinchat and Clouded Yellows - Shuart to Chambers Wall 20/08/20

I headed to Shuart on a sunny but increasingly breezy morning. Overall it appeared quite quiet but I enjoyed just seeing what I could see. A Stock Dove peeped out at me while above a Common Buzzard called and a Ring-necked Parakeet called from the trees. 

Stock Dove

A Jay alarm called as I headed down the track and a Sparrowhawk streaking through caused the local residents and visitors to disappear into cover before venturing out again. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and when they came to rest it gave the opportunity to admire their markings as I made my way along.

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

A pair of Mute Swan were having an enthusiastic wash and brush up in one of the dykes.

Mute Swans

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

As I neared the end of the track a Clouded Yellow butterfly motored past without stopping. A Kestrel hunting near the stables was harassed by a flock of Swallows before moving a little further along. Making my way along the sea wall I was pleased when a Whinchat (134) appeared briefly. Unfortunately with so many people about on the sea wall I only saw it briefly before it was disturbed and I did not manage to pick it up again.

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

A couple of Swift flew west, hawking for insects as they went. I enjoyed watching the various Yellow Wagtails that I saw as I made my way along.

Yellow Wagtail

A Sanderling searching for food along the tide line gave some good views as it did so. They are beautifully marked birds.

Sanderling

As I made my way towards Chambers Wall the wind had increased and it had become increasingly cloudy. Another Clouded Yellow butterfly flew along the path and luckily for me it stopped to feed from some Clover alongside the path giving the opportunity to try for some photos. They are beautiful butterflies.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

A Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were searching for insects in the hedgerow while the cooler conditions meant there were several resting Damselflies, Hawkers and Darters. A single Blue-tailed Damselfy was tucked down low and a smart male Migrant Hawker was hanging motionless from a branch.

Blue-tailed Damselfly

male Migrant Hawker

A Common Darter was making the most of the welcome warmth from the sunshine during the brief breaks in the clouds as was a Ruddy Darter.

Common Darter

Ruddy Darter

I saw a couple of Willow Emeralds one of which had the seed head from a Dandelion flower stuck in its wings.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

I finished off my visit with a Small Red-eyed Damselfly.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Birds seen this visit included:  5 Stock Dove, 4 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Wood Pigeons, 2 Blackbird, 5 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Wren, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 30 Swallow, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Curlew, 15 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Stonechat, 3 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swift, 1 Whinchat, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Sanderling, 2 Coot, 5 Goldfinch, 15 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler