Sandwich Terns, Gannets and a Red-breasted Merganser - Shuart to Reculver 06/11/20

I headed back to Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning and from the approach road could see a large group of 27 Red-legged Partridge in one of fields. They glowed in the early morning light and the few nearer the road scuttled to the edge of the hedgerow as we came down and peeped out before moving back to the others and continuing feeding.

Red-legged Partridge

It seemed fairly quiet from the car park area with just the usual suspects present. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling and a pair of Magpies were scolding at something I couldn't see. Skylarks were above and a couple of Robin were in the midst of a territory disagreement. As I headed towards the track a single Stock Dove peeped down at me.

Stock Dove

Making my way down the track I saw a flock of 7 Redwing fly over and I enjoyed watching the odd Goldcrest that I came across. It continued to have a fairly quiet feel to it today but was a beautiful morning for a walk through. Another 10 Red-legged Partridge were at the back of one of the fields and a Water Rail was vocal. I could hear alarm calls and through a small gap between the bushes I caught sight of the Hen Harrier but by the time I reached a gap in the hedgerow there was no sign. It is certainly a beautiful bird. The moon was still very visible in the blue sky and looked stunning.

Moon

I had heard four Cetti's Warbler in total by the time I reached the railway line and 28 Stock Doves were over in one of the fields. The two Stonechat were once again in the area of the crossing. From the stables I could see 14 Redwing in one of the paddocks and another 2 Cetti's Warblers were vocal. 15 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. As I reached the sea wall a Great Black-backed Gull flew over with the light really catching its eye.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

The tide was a good way out when I reached the sea wall and I could see 120 Oystercatchers stretched out along the shore. 10 Great Black-backed Gulls were loafing around and a single Dunlin was busily feeding. A Curlew flew east out to sea and 15 Sanderling were at the waters edge. Out to sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe offshore. I came across a group of Oystercatchers that had been attracted to the same small pool of water and they were almost exactly evenly spaced out.

Oystercatchers

As I headed towards Plumpudding I caught up with a small mix of waders and far out to sea I could see 2 Sandwich Tern fishing. I am going to miss watching those. The light caught a Mute Swan's eye as it came past and highlighted its feathers beautifully. 5 Common Gulls were on the shore and out to sea 3 Gannet headed east.

Mute Swan

A flock of 94 Mallard came in to land out to sea and I could see 3 Wigeon in amongst them. 240 Brent Geese also flew in and are always a very welcome sight. They tend to be a bit of a show stopper as well with quite a few people on the sea wall pausing to watch them come in. 

Brent Geese

Plumpudding Island proved to be very quiet and I could not see the Snipe today. A beautiful male Stonechat looked stunning in the light and I enjoyed watching it for a while.

Stonechat

On the way to Coldharbour I could see 12 Gannet flying west in small groups and 4 Brent Geese gave a flypast with the light beautifully highlighting their wings. 

Brent Geese

Coldharbour was deserted but the disturbance from walkers along the shingle bank was high. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the other side of the sea wall but otherwise all was quiet. A Mushroom was growing amongst the vegetation on the shingle by the sea wall. I am not sure at the moment which it is.

Mushroom

I headed on towards the green bank and off shore I could see another couple of Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver but otherwise it stayed quite quiet. 29 Golden Plover flew up from one of the fields.

Golden Plover

Another Cetti's Warbler was calling as I carried on towards Reculver and I could hear the Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea 5 Gannet flew west.

Gannet

A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm but I could not see any Short-eared Owls today. A couple of Redshank alarm called. A single Shelduck was off shore and glowed in the sunlight.

Shelduck

I had a final sit on the sea wall just before I reached Reculver and watched out to sea for a while. It proved to very quiet with just another couple of Gannet west. Having watched for a while with nothing much happening I got my phone out to arrange a pick up from Reculver and a Red-breasted Merganser flew east. It is amazing how often a good bird waits until you have your hands full. By the time I had managed to put the phone down and get the camera on it the Merganser had flown well east. It has been a difficult and painful week and sometimes frustration gets the better of me and I lose my sense of humour briefly and this was definitely one of those moments. Luckily it only ever lasts for a couple of minutes but I can probably fit a years worth of swear words in, in that time, which is not good. Ah well. It was a lovely bird to end the visit with and though the photo does not do it credit it gives me a good memory shot and I was grateful to have seen it.

Red-breasted Merganser

Birds seen this visit included: 37 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Skylarks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 10 Robin, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 21 Chaffinch, 29 Stock Dove, 27 Blackbird, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 4 Wren, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Corn Bunting, 13 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Common Gull, 22 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern, 94 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser

Ruff, Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit - Reculver to Coldharbour 08/09/19

I headed down to Reculver after work. It was a beautiful afternoon with wall to wall sunshine and next to no wind. The tide was almost in. As the sea wall was very busy with people, and the sea appeared to be very quiet, I had a wander along the path at the back of the oyster farm. A Green Woodpecker called from the old caravan site as I started out on the path but otherwise all appeared to be very quiet. I came across a group of 12 Reed Buntings feeding amongst some umbellifer seed heads with one moving from there to a small bush and giving me a very nice view. A few Linnets were amongst them as was a single Sedge Warbler while another Sedge Warbler was calling from behind me.

Reed Bunting

Sedge Warbler

A Greenshank called from the oyster farm and groups of Meadow Pipits were active. As I neared the green bank 3 waders flew past heading west then turning south south west and I was chuffed when I realised that they were Ruff (150). Now that was a nice surprise.

Ruff

Ruff

When I reached green bank I decided to head back towards the sea wall. The air was full of the sound of calling Linnets with at least 140 in the bushes and there was also 12 Goldfinch amongst them and 7 Corn Bunting. A flock of Herring Gulls were resting in the field and a Kestrel was also in the field and preening before taking to the air again. As I reached the sea wall I had another 5 Corn Bunting in a bush by the sea wall together with a couple of Reed Bunting.

Corn Bunting

I sat and watched out to sea for a while. A few Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were bobbing around on the sea with others flying past. A flock of 17 Common Tern flew west, diving to feed as they did so. 8 Ringed Plover were on the shore together with a Turnstone.

Ringed Plover

More Ringed Plover were along the shore as I made my way up towards Coldharbour. 3 Dunlin were with some Ringed Plover. A couple of Common Tern's flew east and I enjoyed watching a couple of Wheatear as they looked out for insects. A Chiffchaff was repeatedly calling as it made its way through the bushes.

Wheatear

I did not quite manage to reach Coldharbour but stopped just short and had a sit and a watch out to sea again. A small number of Sandwich Tern were going both east and west. A large group of c65 Sanderling flew west and appeared to come down further along. I was very pleased when I had a single Knot (151) fly west. I did not manage much in the way of photos but they at least make good memory shots.

Knot

Knot

The moon was already at the waxing gibbous stage, it doesn't seem that long since I took the photo of the crescent moon. I came across the flock of Sanderling again, on the way back to Reculver, and there were 68 together in a small area along the shore. In the failing light a Hobby headed towards Chambers Wall.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

part of the Sanderling flock

Hobby

Out to sea a large flock of c160 Oystercatcher flew west low over the sea and a single Bar-tailed Godwit also flew west. Over on the oyster farm I had a second Greenshank and as dusk fell Common Sandpipers were calling away.

part of the Oystercatcher flock

It was a beautiful sunset as I made my way back. I reached Reculver in the dark to the sound of a Green Sandpiper calling from the oyster farm and another Common Sandpiper calling from below the rocks. I tried for another photo of the moon and then headed for home. I was pleased that I had been able to come, even if walking had been a bit problematic, and it had been an enjoyable and productive visit.

Sunset

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Birds seen this visit include: 1 Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Starlings, House Sparrows, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Magpie, 4 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 17 Reed Bunting, 1 Wren, 197 Linnet, 29 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redshank, 7 Cormorant, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Ruff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Goldfinch, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Greenshank. 1 Pheasant, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Coot, 17 west, 2 east Common Tern, 23 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 9 Dunlin, 4 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Knot, 160 Oystercatcher, 38 Mallard, 10 Sandwich Tern, Carrion Crows, 68 Sanderling, 1 Hobby, 6 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper

Wheatear, Mallards, Tufted Duck and Shoveler - Reculver to Coldharbour 03/09/19

I came down to Reculver after work and had a wander along to Coldharbour and back. It was a beautifully fine late afternoon with some cloud but lots of warm sunshine. The tide was on the turn and starting to go out. It appeared to be very quiet out to sea with only a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls. As I headed along the sea wall I could hear a Greenshank calling from the oyster farm and Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtail were moving from the sea wall to the shore and back again. A couple of Wheatear were busy looking for insects on the shore side of the sea wall. A Whinchat was flycatching from a small bush until it was ambushed by a Reed Bunting whereupon it flew further along and I did not pick it up again.

Wheatear

A couple of Stonechat were a little further on and I stopped to watch them for a while. They were a little too far away for photos today but I enjoyed just sitting and watching as they moved frequently from perch to perch while fly catching. I ended up doing well for Wheatears on my walk up to Coldharbour with 6 being seen with one particularly obliging individual posing nicely for me on the sea wall.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A Little Egret flew in and landed on the rocks and as it turned the sun catching in its eye caused it to glow and it was just beautiful. They are lovely birds and I did well for them today seeing 10 during the visit. Small groups of Swallows appeared to be moving west with them passing overhead, and out to sea, as well as inland parallel to the sea wall. There were fairly long spaces, when there was no obvious movement, before the next wave came through in small groups ranging from 3 to 24. I saw 180 west during my visit. A few waders were coming in as the tide fell with a couple of Dunlin associating with a group of Ringed Plover.

Little Egret

Coldharbour itself was very quiet just a few Black-headed Gulls and also a Common Sandpiper tucked into one of the edges. 3 Little Egret flew in and started to feed. I sat on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea.  A group of 14 Mallard flew in with a Tufted Duck bringing up the rear. They were followed by 2 larger groups of Mallard bringing the total to 64. Another 3 Mallard with a couple of Shoveler flew west before turning and flying inland. I also saw 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Mallards and Tufted Duck

Mallards

Mallards and Shoveler

I headed back to Reculver and as the sun set I was treated to the spectacular sight of the clouds gradually becoming aflame with colour. A waxing crescent moon was also a beautiful sight.

As I reached Reculver a Grey Heron was a silhouette as it stood on the rocks and for once it was left in peace by the Black-headed Gulls who, apart from squawking at it as they flew past, kept on their way as they headed past.

Grey Heron

Birds seen this visit include: 180 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, Starlings, House Sparrows, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 6 Wheatear, 1 Greenshank, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, Linnets, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Pheasant, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Cormorants, 67 Mallard, 4 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 10 Little Egret, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatcher, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Mute Swan, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveller, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 3 Great Black-backed Gull,

A Battle With a Worm - Reculver 20/01/19

I paid a visit to Reculver, after work, this afternoon. It was a beautiful day, sunny with some cloud, and though cold the north easterly wind wasn't so strong which made a difference from the strong winds we've had recently.

I had a walk towards the sea wall, via the towers, and saw a Blackbird catch a huge earthworm. I really didn’t think that it would be able to swallow it, particularly as it attempted to swallow it whole. It took it a few minutes, and quite a struggle, to manage to swallow it and it had to pause and just sit with the tip of the worms tail still visible in its open bill once it had almost succeeded, before finally being able to completely swallow it. Amazingly, afterwards, the Blackbird immediately started hunting again. I was somewhat surprised it could even move. I tried for a series of photos but the initial ones were very blurred, as my shutter speed was too slow, so although I have included the one that gives a good idea how big the worm was, they pick up again with much of the poor worm already swallowed. 

Blackbird and worm

Blackbird and worm

Blackbird and worm

Almost gone!

Hungrey again!

When I reached the sea wall there was a female/immature Marsh Harrier hunting at the back of the fields, near the railway line. I hoped that it might come closer for some photos but it went over Brook direction instead. I could also see 12 Mute Swans in the back fields. There were 11 Mallard out to sea. I saw a yacht passing the red buoy out to sea and it looked great as the sun caught its sails.

Yacht

I carried on along the seawall. Every now and then Redshank's would call or fly over . The tide was falling and gradually little patches of shore were being exposed. I was really pleased to see a distant Short-eared Owl (77) over the oyster farm and hoped that I might see it again a little closer, once I was further along the sea wall. A very sweet Robin was feeding amongst the churned up mud. It was a real little fluff ball. Out to sea some Mallards flew past close to shore and I was able to grab a shot of a couple of them.

Mallards in flight

I was very pleased to see the Short-eared Owl again a few times. It was mainly very distant but it did, on occasions, come a little closer so I tried for some shots. They have not come out very well, as I had to use a very high ISO, but they do make good memory shots. I love watching owls.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl on patrol

Short-eared Owl

It was getting very cold by now and I started to make my way back. A Little Egret flew over and landed on the shore. I did try for some photos but there was not really enough light. The sky looked quite spectacular.

Sunset

There is due to be a total eclipse of the moon tonight, it will be a super blood wolf moon. Super because the moon will be near its closest approach to earth, wolf because that is what full moons in January are called, apparently, and red because of the earths shadow. When I looked behind me I could see the rising moon just beginning to be clear of the clouds. I grabbed a shot before it was totally obscured again and then further along, once it was clear of the clouds, I tried for another shot, this time using spot metering.

Rising Moon

Rising Moon

As I came up to the towers I could hear a Little Owl (78) calling. I took a photo of the ruins with the moon in the background and then one of the towers with the moon. I liked the edging to the clouds. Once I got to the car park I tried another photo of the towers with the moon just above. Hopefully I might see the totality of the eclipse before I go to work in the morning. Apparently it will be the last full one visible from here for quite a while. The forecast looks hopeful that the sky will be clear.

Reculver Ruins and moon

Reculver Towers and moon

Reculver Towers and moon

In the early hours of Monday morning I took a photo of the blood moon and have included it here.

Blood Moon

Birds seen this visit included: 3 Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Redshank, 18 Mallard, 5 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher, 5 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit,1  Magpie, Carrion Crow, 12 Mute Swan, 1 Mistle Thrush, Little Owl heard calling.