Brent Geese, Curlew and a Confiding Wren - Reculver to Chambers Wall 20/11/20

I arrived at Reculver on a cold but sunny morning. The tide was still going out with good amounts of shore already covered with birds and I could see 125 Brent Geese off the point with lots of Herring and Black-headed Gulls strung along the exposed shore. As I came down onto the sea wall I glanced back at the towers and every stone was highlighted in the early morning light as a few Starling launched themselves from the ruins.

Reculver Towers

Making my way along the sea wall a couple of Stonechat were active and 3 Pied Wagtails were busy along the shore. 4 Mute Swan moved out to sea and a Common Buzzard was hunting along the back field edge. A Wren, Blue Tit and a couple of Reed Bunting were working their way through the reeds and a Kestrel hovering above caused them to move deeper into cover. A few Brent Geese had started to move round to the newly exposed shore and looked lovely in the golden light, with more of them arriving in small groups.

Brent Geese

Some started to make their way along the shore and initially they were almost exactly the same distance apart which made it look as if even the geese were socially distancing in these strange times as they ate some of the vegetation left by the retreating tide.

Brent Geese

I didn't see them eat any of the red/orange seaweeds, they only appeared to be looking for the freshest green vegetation of which there seemed to be much less of than the rest.

Brent Geese

A single Curlew was also working its way along the shore and gave some good views as it did so. It was nice to see one a little closer than I am used to. Initially it was wading a little way into the sea and probing the sand but then moved closer to me and probed along the edge of the exposed shingle band.

Curlew

Curlew

As I continued up towards the Green Wall 5 Pheasant flew across to the oyster farm from the fields and 7 Corn Bunting were vegetation hopping as they moved from seed head to seed head. A Great Black-backed Gull flew low along the shore with the size of its bill highlighted as it gleamed palely in the bright sunshine.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

While walking on towards Coldharbour good numbers of Ringed Plover were on the exposed mussel beds and shore with some Turnstone and plenty of Redshank. A flock of 27 Golden Plover lifted off from the fields before settling down again with their calls carrying well as they swirled round. I had a sit on the sea wall again just before Coldharbour and enjoyed watching a Grey Plover, a few Oystercatchers and a Curlew out on the mussel bed. 16 Mallard were off-shore and I heard a Lapwing call with a single bird coming in off the sea and flying overhead as it headed inland.

Lapwing

Lapwing

Lapwing

I had hoped to get as far as Shuart but with walking proving to be decidedly problematic today I decided to head to Chambers Wall for a nearer pick up point. I had a quick look at Coldharbour but could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a couple of Black-headed Gulls. A couple of Stonechat greeted me as I made my way towards Chambers Wall and a Wren was alarm calling from one of the bushes.

Wren

Nearing the railway line I came across a single Mushroom and a Cetti's Warbler was alarm calling on the other side of the railway. I caught a glimpse of it flicking its tail up as it called before it disappeared into cover. I couldn't see what it had been alarm calling at.

The walk through Chambers Wall was fairly quiet but it was nice to catch up with some Redwing and Fieldfare together with Blackbird in the hedgerow. I couldn't find any Goldcrest or a Firecrest today but enjoyed looking. 7 Magpie were in one of the fields and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. I was checking a bush covered in ivy to see if any late insects were out when a Wren popped out and gave some great views of its undertail coverts before turning and peeking at me briefly before it dived back into cover. It was a little beauty.

Wren

Wren

Wren

I finished with a Robin giving a classic Christmas card pose before it worked its way towards me, stopping to check me out, before carrying on. Another little beauty to finish the visit with.

Robin

Robin

Robin

Birds seen this visit included: 125 Brent Geese, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 10 Blackbird, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Common Buzzard, 9 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 27 Golden Plover, 54 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 7 Corn Bunting, 10 Magpie, 5 Pheasant, Skylarks, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Moorhen, 16 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 4 Linnet, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Robin, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare,

Increasing Bar-tails and a Harrier Out To Sea - Reculver to Coldharbour 04/09/20

There was a very light south westerly wind and sunny intervals when I arrived at Reculver today and the tide was partially out. A Robin was on the rocks, with two more by the towers and another 2 as I came down onto the sea wall. Looking out to sea I could see 2 Bar-tailed Godwit flying in from the north and as they got closer to the shore they turned west and flew past. It made a nice start to the visit.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Overall it appeared to be quite quiet as I headed along the sea wall and the tide appeared to be on the turn. Another couple of Robin were in the bushes and as I looked behind me, the sun broke through and highlighted the towers with a backdrop of dark clouds and it looked beautiful.

Reculver

Out to sea a Marsh Harrier flew west but unfortunately never came in any closer. Pied and Yellow Wagtail called from the shore and 6 Redshank were busy feeding in a group by the rocks.

Marsh Harrier

A Rock Pipit called as it flew along the beach and 2 Wheatears were a welcome addition to the morning. One flicked up onto the sea wall before rejoining the other and continuing their search for food amongst the shingle. A Stonechat was busy insect catching on the other side of the sea wall. It does not matter how often I see Wheatear and Stonechat, I always enjoy watching them.

Wheatear

Wheatear

12 Swallows flew in from the north and 3 Goldfinch were feeding on the teasel heads. As I made my way up towards Coldharbour I came across 4 Bar-tailed Godwit feeding in shallow water just offshore. It was great to be able to watch a group together and relatively close in. 

Bar-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwits

They became very alert as a loudly chatting group of cyclists approached and within moments had lifted off, veered sharply to the east and then carried on east. I would loved to have been able to watch them for a little longer but felt very lucky to have been able to enjoy the views that I did.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwits

As I neared Codharbour a Whimbrel flew west and Meadow Pipits were busy amongst the scrub on the shingle. Small flocks of Turnstone and Ringed Plover were on the move.

Whimbrel

Meadow Pipit

I sat on the sea wall for a while and 38 Mallard were out on the sea and a single Sandwich Tern flew west.

Mallards

Coldharbour was very quiet when I arrived with just the usual Black-headed Gulls and 2 Redshank. As I made my way to Reculver the number of waders roosting on the shore had increased. 4 Dunlin were amongst the Turntone, Ringed Plover and Sanderling, 3 of which had their bills firmly tucked under there wings and did not appear to stir however much noise came from the sea wall as people passed.

Dunlin

I finished the visit, as I neared Reculver with some nice views of Stonechat utilising both natural and man made perches.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Birds seen this visit included: Starlings, 6 Robin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Yellow Wagatil, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Linnet, 10 Reed Bunting, 6 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, Cormorants, 6 Stonechat, 15 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Goldfinch, 7 Meadow Pipit, 76 Ringed Plover, 38 Mallard, 3 Sandwich Tern, 35 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 1 Wren, 

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.