Pied Flycatcher and a Fire Bug - Reculver to Chambers Wall 30/09/20

I headed to Reculver on an almost windless but overcast morning and out to sea there was barely a ruffle on the waters surface in the calm conditions. I passed a couple of Chiffchaff in the bushes up by the towers and as I came down onto the sea wall there were another 6 in the bushes and scrub area suggesting some new birds in. A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm showing clear signs of moult in its flight feathers.

Little Egret

Overall, it appeared very quiet as I headed along the sea wall. 10 Siskin flew west followed a short while later by 10 Skylark and 5 Meadow Pipit in the same direction. Small numbers of Swallow were moving through and a few House Martin. Ringed Plover and Turnstone were restless as several dog walkers were along various parts of the shore.

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

The odd Chiffchaff were in various bushes on the other side of sea wall and a male Blackcap popped up briefly and scolded a Stonechat. A Sparrowhawk overhead caused panic amongst the Golden Plover and they wheeled up in alarm. Flocks of Turnstone and Ringed Plover were still back and fore out to sea, appearing dark and light as they banked from showing upper to lower wings. Sadly they did not get much peace as disturbance from people along the shore was quite high today.

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

House Martins started to stream through both on the land side and out to sea. They would come through in pulses and were quite a sight and there were many more than I managed to count. 4 Dunlin dropped in with some Sanderling and a little further along Ringed Plover and Sanderling were joining some Turnstone on a rapidly diminishing tideline.

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone

Ringed Plover

Coldharbour was quiet with just a few Redshank and Black-headed Gulls. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea remained quiet although I did see three small flocks of 3, 3 and 4 Little Egrets flying west far out to sea.

Little Egrets

I had a wander along to Chambers Wall which turned out to be surprisingly quiet. A few Chiffchaff were calling but there did not appear to be any new birds in but they might just have been in super skulky mode. The hedgerow alongside the road was, however alive with birds with several Chiffchaff and a lovely Pied Flycatcher.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

As I neared the pick up point the visit held one last surprise for me. I caught sight of a flash of red on the road and could see an insect scurrying across. I could hear a tractor coming up the road behind me and I wonder if the insect could feel the vibration because it was certainly in a hurry. It did not look right for a Corizus hyoscyami, a bug I have seen before, so I grabbed a few photos before it disappeared into cover and looked it up when I got home. I was really surprised to see that it was a Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus. Not something I would have expected to see here at all as it is nationally very localised and not, as far as I could see, usually in this part of the country. Having checked as much information as I could in books and online I think that I have identified it correctly and wonder how it came to be here and whether it could have been blown in with any of the strong winds we've had recently. It certainly made a very interesting end to the visit and was a little beauty.

Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus

Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus

Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus

Birds seen this visit included: 28 Chiffchaff, 63 Swallow, 6 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Dunnock, 4 Wren, 10 Mallard, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatcher, 9 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 18 Linnet, 10 Siskin west, 12 Meadow Pipit, 13 Skylark, 1 Pheasant, 7 Stonechat, House, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, House Sparrows, 13 Reed Bunting, 11 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 5 Magpie, 35 Golden Plover, 138 Ringed Plover, 87 Turnstone, 835 House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 1 Sparrowhawk, 78 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 3 Robin, 1 Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher and a Feisty Black Redstart - Shuart to Reculver 18/09/20

On the way to Shuart this morning I was treated to some nice views of 15 Red-legged Partridge that were feeding in a field adjacent to the road. They gradually worked their way along and didn't seem too concerned by the little traffic that was passing by. 

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

A Green Woodpecker was calling loudly and a Jay alarm called at the beginning of the track. Robins were busy and a Wren scolded as I passed by. There was a fair bit of disturbance along the track with tractors coming back and fore to where the Sweetcorn was being harvested from further down. I caught sight of a skulky Pied Flycatcher up in one of the trees. It paused briefly in a gap between the leaves giving a tantalising view before a tractor and trailer thundered past and it was gone. I couldn't manage to pick it up again but it had been great to see, even if only briefly.

Pied Flycatcher

Robins were tick-ing away and numbers continue to increase. Once again good numbers of Chiffchaff were in the Hedgerow. 3 Greenfinch were vocal from the back of the hedge. As I came to the end of the hedgerow I could see a mixed flock of duck flying south west high in the distance with 23 Mallard, 20 Teal and 19 Wigeon amongst them.

Mallard, Teal and Wigeon

Mallard, Teal and Wigeon

There was a very welcome sight awaiting me at the stables with a Black Redstart on one of the fences. It took grave exception to any Yellow Wagtail that it saw, immediately chasing it off before either returning to the fence or to the ground in the paddock. Strangely enough it seemed to tolerate the Pied Wagtail's presence but time and again chased any of the 3 Yellow Wagtail present that it spotted. It remained fairly distant but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I tried to get some photos as it flew but did not do very well. With one its head disappeared behind the only bit of vegetation sticking up, either side of clear fence wire, ah well, and in the other I only just managed to get it in shot and not particularly in focus but I love the light through its wings and seeing the colour in its tail so, for me, both make great memory shots of a time spent watching a beautiful and feisty bird full of character.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I back-tracked from the stables and had a wander along the embankment towards Chambers Wall. There appeared to be fewer Chiffchaff than at Shuart but throughout the length of the embankment I still saw good numbers. 2 Yellowhammer flew west and a Hobby was eating prey in one of the fields before taking to the air again.

Hobby

Hobby

A few Common Blue butterflies were on the wing, several Whites and a Peacock and a couple of Red Admiral. Both Migrant Hawkers and Ruddy Darter were also on the wing. 2 Sand Martin came through amongst a small flock of 5 Swallows. 4 more Cetti's Warbler were vocal as I made my way along. I came off at Chambers Wall hoping for a Flycatcher or Redstart but I could not manage to find any. Chiffchaff were calling away here and there but overall it was surprisingly quiet. I headed along to Coldharbour and a single Wigeon was on the water near to 12 Mallard.

Wigeon

I sat and watched out to sea for a while but it was very quiet today. A Cormorant flying in was clearly going to make a take over bid for the top of the marker pole and, despite defensive posturing from the sitting bird, it successfully ousted the defender.

Cormorants

Cormorants

Cormorants

A passing 1st winter Black-headed Gull gave good views of its wing pattern and small numbers of Sandwich Tern were flying east.

1st winter Black-headed Gull

Sandwich Tern

I carried on towards Reculver and enjoyed watching the roosting waders sheltering from the north easterly wind along a shingle ridge. There were less Dunlin today, I saw 9 altogether and I did not see any Knot. 53 Sanderling, 52 Ringed Plover and 22 Turnstone were all tucked down behind the ridge. High above me 5 Common Tern flew east.

Common Tern

Common Tern

A little further along a very smart adult Sandwich Tern was resting on a shingle ridge close to the sea wall and gave some great views in the sunshine.

Sandwich Tern

A juvenile Common Gull moulting into first winter plumage did not get long to rest before it was disturbed by walkers on the beach but was a beautifully plumaged bird. It did not move far and came down just off shore.

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

I had another Common Gull fly east that I think is a first winter. I still find aging gulls difficult but enjoy trying to work it out and, in time, will be able to tell which this is. It had a much cleaner underwing than the juvenile.

1st winter Common Gull

1st winter Common Gull

A couple of Wheatear were mobile but one paused obligingly as it moved along the beach and made a nice end to the visit.

Wheatear

Birds seen this visit included: 15 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Wren, 13 Robin, 62 Chiffchaff, 3 Jay, Jackdaws, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Moorhen, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 6 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Grey Heron, 33 Mallard, 20 Teal, 19 Wigeon, 2 Linnet, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 14 Goldfinch, 5 Blackbird, 17 Swallow, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Collared Dove, 4 Dunnock, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Hobby, 3 Kestrel, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redshank, 9 Dunlin, 53 Sanderling, 52 Ringed Plover, 22 Turnstone, 14 Oystercatcher, 5 Common Tern, 9 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear, 3 Common Gull, 5 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit,   

Pied Flycatchers Galore and a Common Redstart Chambers Wall to Shuart 26/08/19

With a beautifully fine day, and having finished work earlier because of being a Bank Holiday, I decided to pay another visit to Chambers Wall. It had turned into a very warm afternoon. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing in the car park area and it was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher as it popped into the open momentarily before disappearing back into the hedge. It boded well for the visit.

Pied Flycatcher

As I walked down the track it was clear that many of the birds were keeping very much to the shade inside the hedge. I could see 2 Pied Flycatchers tucked back in the shade, one of which may have been the same bird I had just seen. A Blackcap was tutting away and a Robin and a couple of Wren were resting up in the deep shade of the hedge. As I carried on down I was chuffed when I came across another couple of Pied Flycatchers flycatching away and I could see another further down at the same time. They are lovely birds and I stopped and thoroughly enjoyed just watching them for a while. One of them gradually worked its way closer to me and I ended up with some lovely views.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

While watching the flycatchers I had seen a Common Redstart, a fair way further down, flick out from the hedge and down onto the path before disappearing back in again a moment later but treating me to a lovely view of its fanned tail as it did so. I did not see it reappear again but, once I left the flycatchers I kept my eyes open as I carried on down the track. Unfortunately it had moved to the other side of the hedge and I just got a brief glimpse through a gap in the hedge before it disappeared from sight again. A couple of Whitethroat were a little further down and as I came up onto the embankment a Willow Warbler was calling away. Initially I had planned to walk down to Coldharbour but catching sight of another Pied Flycatcher drew me along the embankment and I decided to have a wander along there instead. Once again everything was keeping very much to the shade. As it was such a beautiful afternoon I decided to make the most of it and try and get as far as Shuart. A family of 6 Long-tailed Tits were working their way along. A Marsh Harrier was soaring above and I saw several Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers as well as a few Silver-Y moth as I headed along.

Common Darter

I was treated to some super views of a Sparrowhawk as it soared above me and I also saw a male flying fast over the hedgerow sending up some Goldfinches but unable to catch any of them.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

It turned out to be a pretty quiet walk along the embankment as keeping to the shade seemed to be the order of the day and most birds were therefore decidedly skulky. I did, however, do very well for Pied Flycatchers and saw at least 5 over the length of the embankment. I saw good numbers of Latticed Heath moths and several faded Painted Lady Butterflies were active. As I neared the crossing for Shuart a Small Heath butterfly looked lovely with the light shining though its wings.

Small Heath Butterfly

The walk through Shuart proved to be very quiet indeed but time was getting on. Very few Migrant Hawkers were still on the wing but I saw several tucked away in the hedge. A Common Darter appeared to have damaged its abdomen with a severe kink near the end but was still hawking for insects well in the last of the sunshine. A Marsh Harrier flew across carrying prey.

Common Darter

Marsh Harrier with prey

When I reached the end of the track I had a wander up to the bridleway to see if anything was making the most of the last of the sunshine and finished my visit as I started with a Pied Flycatcher. This brought my visit's total to 11 Pied Flycatchers which is the most I have ever seen in one day. 3 Ringed-necked Parakeets were noisily calling away as I made my way back to the car park after an enjoyable afternoon.

Pied Flycatcher

Birds seen this visit include: House Sparrows, 2 Robin, 3 Wren, Wood Pigeons, 11 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, 5 Magpie, Linnets, Goldfinches, 7 Swallow, 3 Collared Dove, 4 Mute Swan including 3 youngsters, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Sparrowhawk, Blackbird 3, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet,