A Peregrine Causing Havoc - Chambers Wall to Reculver 02/01/20

I headed to Chambers Wall this afternoon and was greeted by 8 Long-tailed Tits (78) working their way through the hedgerow. It was very nice to catch up with them today as I missed out on them for the New Years Day bird count, for the 2nd year running. I enjoyed watching them as they searched this way and that for insects.

Long-tailed Tit

Mute swans had collected in one of the fields with 20 present. 5 Blackbirds were active and 7 Magpies were together in a field. The rain that had been threatening started but luckily never really amounted to more than drizzle. It was a very quiet walk through up to the railway crossing. A male Sparrowhawk caused consternation amongst some Skylark but they managed to evade it. 15 Corn Buntings were calling as I crossed the railway line.

On the walk down to Coldharbour the 15 Corn Bunting I had seen joined with others and 65 were moving from the bushes to one of the fields together with a Yellowhammer. A Goldcrest was in with a mixed flock of Blue and Great Tits. Coldharbour was quiet with just a single Redshank, 1 Little Egret and a few Black-headed Gulls. A Turnstone, that had been flushed from the shore by a Peregrine (79), had a very lucky escape as, despite being hotly pursued, it managed to evade it at the last moment. The Peregrine headed off to try its luck elsewhere.

Peregrine

It is amazing the difference a day can make. It was much quieter out to sea with very few duck apart from 4 Shelduck and a couple of Mallard. I turned for Reculver and had most of the usual waders on the walk back. The same Peregrine I had just been watching then caused utter havoc amongst the Brent Geese who, having settled in the field, sounded multiple alarm calls before the whole flock vacated the field in a flurry of panicked wing beats and crossing the sea wall landed on the sea. They remained very nervous for several minutes before gradually they appeared to settle more and a little while later flocks began to return to the field. Even then they flew up several times in panic before finally setttling. It is an impressive sight and also sound as c350 geese take to the air. I never managed to get all the birds in the shot at once, as the Peregrine had made them very nervous, and not all of them were in the air a the same time but they were still a spectacular sight.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Out to sea 3 Wigeon and 4 Teal flew east. I could see a Lapwing that was resting up, a good way ahead of me, on the rocks but it was flushed by a dog walker before I got anywhere near it.

Lapwing

Out to sea a couple of Mute Swan came into land, having flown over from the oyster farm, and pattered across the water as they came into land.

Mute Swan

As I neared Reculver a Purple Sandpiper and a Redshank shared a rock that was steadily being inundated by the incoming tide.

Purple Sandpiper and Redshank

The Shag (80) was in its usual spot as I looked out from the towers. Once the rock it was sitting on was inundated by the sea it took to the water and started to fish. It has been a real pleasure to be able to watch a bird I have never seen as close before this one turned up. I will miss it when it moves on as it always makes a great finish to a visit.

Shag

Shag

While watching the Shag a Kestrel came and hovered nearby and, though the light was very poor by this time, I tried for some photos. Hopefully one of these days the same thing will happen in really good light and I might be able to manage better photos. However, for me, these make good memory shots so I feel pretty lucky to have them.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel

It made great end to the visit. It mastery and control in flight was a joy to behold. I might see a Kestrel hunting most times I come out but I never tire of the sheer beauty of seeing one close up and watching its skill as it hunts.


Birds seen this visit included: 8 Long-tailed Tit, 25 Mute Swan, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 9 Blackbird, 17 Magpie, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Skylark, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 1 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 9 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 16 Turnstone, 30 Ringed Plover, 4 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 13 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Pied Wagtail, 30 Stock Dove, c350 Brent Geese, 3 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Lapwing, 2 Kestrel, 1 Purple Sandpiper,

Peregrine, Rock Pipit, Pied Flycatcher and the Memphis Belle - Reculver to Shuart 06/09/19

It was very nice to have my first free day for birdwatching, that I have been able to have for the last couple of weeks, allowing me to aim for a slow wander from Reculver to Shuart. It was overcast with a light south westerly wind when I arrived but with the wind increasing to blustery as the visit went on. The tide was on the turn and had already started to go out. As I passed the towers a couple of Willow Warbler were working their way through one of the bushes and they made a good start to the visit. 6 Yellow Wagtail flew west overhead and 160 Starling around the towers area.

Willow Warbler

As I walked round to the sea wall I saw a Little Owl in its usual spot which is always a welcome sight. A Robin was ticking away and a couple of Little Egret flew overhead. On reaching the sea wall I had a look out to sea but it appeared to be very quiet with just a few passing Herring and Black-headed Gulls. 3 Turnstone flew east and another couple of Little Egret flew towards Coldharbour. A Greenshank flew up briefly, calling away, from the dyke running parallel to the oyster farm before settling back down again. A juvenile Herring Gull was ousted from one of the marker poles as a Cormorant flew in and laid claim to it.

Cormorant and juvenile Herring Gull

 A mixed flock of 24 Ringed Plover, 9 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 1 Sanderling flew past before settling on the newly exposed shore. The Greenshank from the oyster farm flew up from where I had seen it settle and then was joined by another and both flew away calling before coming down again further into the oyster farm.

Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling

Dunlin

Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone

A Mediterranean Gull flew west as I carried on along the sea wall. Small numbers of Oystercatcher were flying east calling nosily. I came across a couple of Wheatear.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A juvenile Peregrine flew past me, coming from behind, and unfortunately I only saw it as it was flying away which was a shame as it came past me pretty close. Luckily for me it settled on the shore further along, for a little while, which enabled me to try for some photos. They are not very good, and cropped, but I felt really lucky to be able to get them and they make good memory shots.

Peregrine

Peregrine

There appeared to be a small movement of Meadow Pipits with small groups heading west. Goldfinches were feeding amongst the Teasels. I saw another Wheatear on the rocks together with a Whinchat. The Whinchat was chased off the rocks by a Meadow Pipit and flew across to the bushes before dropping to the other side. Whinchat's seem poorly tolerated by both Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. A Teal flew east out to sea and Sandwich Terns were mainly heading west with the largest group being 20. As the morning went on it became more difficult to count the Sandwich Terns as they appeared to be moving both east and west and it was hard to know which were the same ones I was seeing. A first winter Sandwich Tern gave a good view as it went past.

1st winter Sandwich Tern

Coldharbour was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls on it. I carried on up to Plumpudding and caught up with the juvenile Peregrine again as it shot through putting up a flock of 35 Linnet but otherwise Plumpudding was also very quiet. 19 House Martin came in off the sea in a group and then continued west.

Peregrine

I added Curlew and Common Sandpiper to the waders seen today as I carried on towards the turn off the wall I would take for Shuart. A large number of House Sparrows were flying down to feed amongst the stubble with c300 moving from the stubble to bushes and back again.

House Sparrows

House Sparrows

I got a nice surprise as I neared the turn off when I saw a pipit land on the shore and could see it was a Rock Pipit, my first of the autumn. It only stayed very briefly before flying low over the shore west and possibly coming down beyond the rocks. I couldn't manage much of a photo but was pleased to be able to get anything before it moved on. A few Wood Pigeon were feeding in one of the fields and a hovering Kestrel suddenly dived at the pigeons and made contact with one, plucking a few feathers as it did so but it did not appear to be able to do more than that as it immediately carried on flying off after making contact. Apart from having lost a few feathers the Wood Pigeon appeared to have survived the encounter.

Rock Pipit

I came off the sea wall and made my way past the stables. A Kestrel was hovering and causing consternation amongst the House Sparrows and Linnets. It was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher and a Blackcap appeared to be tutting away at its presence. 6 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks. House Sparrow numbers seem higher each time I come and a large group were in the stables area, with some of them giving a chance for a closer photo.

Kestrel

male House Sparrow

After crossing over the railway line I had a couple of Swift at Shuart. While taking photos of one of them I heard a plane and looked up to see the Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress going over.

Swift

Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress

Common Darters were plentiful as I made my way though Shuart and a few Migrant Hawkers were on the wing, despite the coolness of the wind. At least they were sheltered from the worst of the wind by the hedge.

Common Darter

Several Holly Blue Butterflies were resting up on the ivy. A Green-veined White gave the chance for a photo as did a smart Red Admiral butterfly. A very worn Comma was resting on the ground.

Green-veined White

Red Admiral

Comma

A couple of bushes had attracted a mix of birds, as they moved through, with 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, Blue and Great Tits and 7 Long-tailed Tits. I finished an enjoyable visit with 4 Common Buzzard in the air at the same time and a singing Red-legged Partridge giving some good views.

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Wood Pigeons, 420 House Sparrows, 220 Starling, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl, 23 Turnstone, 4 Robin, 6 Little Egret, 8 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Greenshank, 48 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Redshank, 41 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mallard, 4 Wheatear, 169 Linnet, 26 Swallow, 1 Pheasant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Whitethroat, 33 west, 8 east Sandwich Tern, 1 Whinchat, 4 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Teal east, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Coot, 1 Dunlin, 27 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Moorhen, 2 Swift, 1 Wren, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Red-legged Partridge

An Obliging Peregrine - Shuart to Chambers Wall 24/04/19

I had a day off today and decided to try for a walk from Shuart to Chambers Wall via the embankment. 3 Blackcap were in good voice when I arrived at Shuart, joined by all the regulars in song. I saw 2 Red-legged Partridge from the top path and another two in the sheep field. They are handsome birds.

Red-legged Partridge

I could hear a Cuckoo calling very nearby as I walked down the track and hoped to be able to catch up with it but a large tractor coming down the track put paid to that as, once the tractor had gone, I could hear the Cuckoo still calling but this time from much further away. Still, it was lovely to hear it. As I had just come up to a gap in the hedge I had a look down and a female Pheasant had popped her head up to check what all the noise was about, as the tractor moved through, before she continued down the furrow in the field.

female Pheasant

The tractor turned off and as it crossed over a dyke into the next field it flushed a Green Sandpiper. 2 Yellow Wagtails called as they flew over. I could hear a Mediterranean Gull calling and had a single bird flying west. Within a short space of time this was followed by another 2, and a group of 4 all moving west.

Mediterranean Gull

There had been rain threatening at times and a light shower passed over as I reached the embankment. Luckily it did not last long and had the advantage of leaving the gift of a partial rainbow as it cleared. However hard things might be at any particular time seeing a rainbow always lifts my spirits.

Rainbow

I took a short detour to the stables, and enjoyed listening to the 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat before retracing my steps and heading along the embankment. Whitethroat were singing away and there was a pair of Shoveller on the large patch of water in the field together with a Mute Swan. A Peregrine came down to the water for a drink which made the Shoveller disappear in double quick time. I hoped when it flew it might come my way but unfortunately it flew towards Shuart. I was still lucky, though, as I was able to get some photos, even if they are quite distant.

Peregrine

Peregrine

Peregrine

I saw a pair of Mute Swan that were busy nest building. The regular male and female Marsh Harrier were busy hunting with the male regularly displaying in between.

male Marsh Harrier

A smart Tortoiseshell butterfly poised very nicely. Unfortunately while I had the camera in macro to take that a Cuckoo chose that moment to fly past and I did not manage to focus properly on it. Still, it makes a good memory shot.

Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Cuckoo

An Orange Tip Butterfly was very active despite the wind having picked up a lot by now. It did pause briefly on some blossom flowers enabling me to grab a shot. The underwings are beautifully marked. There was also a Squash Bug which I think is a Dock Bug. They are striking insects.

Orange Tip Butterfly

Squash Bug - Dock Bug

As I neared the railway crossing for Chambers Wall I had a Common Carpet Moth.

Common Carpet Moth

I could hear a Cuckoo calling as I approached the railway crossing and could see one perched on top of a bush on the other side, presumably the same one that had flown past me. It made a nice end to the visit.

Cuckoo

Birds seen this visit include: 7 Blackcap, 3 Common Buzzard, 7 Wren, 3 Robin, 5 Dunnock, Wood Pigeons, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Sparrowhawk, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, 15 Whitethroat, Stock Dove, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackbird, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Sedge Warbler, 1 Jay, Herring Gulls, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Skylarks, 6 Mute Swan, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Mediterranean Gull west, 7 Reed Bunting, 1 Pheasant, 2 Mallard, 2 Magpie, 11 Goldfinches, 16 Linnet, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Pied Wagtail, 7 Swallow, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Shoveller, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Peregrine