Red-throated Divers, Greylag Geese and a Hungry Little Egret - Shuart to Reculver 26/11/20

It was a very overcast morning when I arrived at Shuart but with next to no wind. A flock of mixed Tits were working their way through the trees, calling noisily and moving rapidly from tree to tree. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet were vocal and provided a welcome flash of colour on a grey and dingy morning.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Wandering down the track I could see 3 Little Egrets busily feeding at the edge of the vegetation cleared from one of the dykes as I came up to a break in the hedgerow. At the back of the same field 7 Greylag Geese were resting up in groups of 4 and 3. They instantly became very alert as a passing dog walker's dogs started barking.

Little Egrets

Greylag Geese

As I carried on down the track both a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal and I could hear Blackbirds alarm calling from the back of the hedgerow but I couldn't see at what. However all became clear when first a Blackbird, and then a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit, exploded out from the hedgerow and disappeared through the opposite side. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees and was promptly mobbed by a flock of 5 Meadow Pipits who flew up from the field edge to intercept it and were soon joined by another 4. The Great Spotted Woodpecker moved down and to the other side of the tree and peace reigned once again as the Meadow Pipits presumably decided that was far enough away. I was surprised at how quickly they responded to its presence, particularly as it is outside the breeding season.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Good numbers of Blackbird were making the most of the berries together with 1 Fieldfare and 6 Redwing. A single Goldcrest peeped out and a pair of Mistle Thrush looked very smart in the flat light. As I came up to the railway line 17 Red-legged Partridge were along a field edge while a Common Buzzard was up at the back following the edge of a distant field. It was fairly quiet as I came past the stables with just the usual jobs present. The manure heaps were proving to be good growing grounds for small groups of mushrooms.

Amongst the flock of House Sparrows there was a smart male with a much darker grey/brown crown than the other males and from some views I almost wondered if it could be a hybrid of sorts. Its cheeks were very white with a strong dusky patch. I can only think that it must be in a different stage of moult than the other males round it who still had very pale grey crowns and much less black on their breasts and not so much contrast on their cheeks.

darker crowned male House Sparrow

darker crowned male House Sparrow

paler crowned male House Sparrow

On reaching the sea wall the tide was mostly in and 30 Redshank were strung along the shore.

Redshank

Turnstone were also roosting and disputes were breaking out regularly between the birds on the groyne as new birds tried to join  and were unceremonially pushed off by the sitting birds. A single Redshank amongst them was no more tolerant of arriving birds dropping in close to it than the Turnstones. The birds on the shore appeared to be much more settled. 

Turnstones

A few Oystercatchers were a little further along and one of them was having a very enthusiastic wash and brush up by ducking down as the waves came in and allowing them to wash right over it. Afterwards it was time for a quick rearranging of its feathers to ensure all was at it should be.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

As I approached Plumpudding I could see good numbers of Oystercatcher and Sanderling on the wader roost together with 20 Curlew and 8 Grey Plover. 320 Brent Geese flew over and landed on the sea. Plumpudding itself was quiet and a Mute Swan flying in to join its mate landed on the water which is an impressive sight and always shows superb control for such a large bird.

Mute Swan

As I made my way along to Coldharbour the cloud formation shapes were interesting and even on such an overcast day the tones and hints of colour in the greys were beautiful.

Four Common Scoter were off shore and a single Bar-tailed Godwit flew west. A flock of 9 Red-throated Divers were my first divers of the day and came as a very nice surprise. 

Red-throated Divers

Coldharbour was quite with just a few Redshank and a Little Egret. The Little Egret gave some great reflections as it hunted, paddling the mud with its foot causing bubbles to rise to the surface.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Another Water Rail was calling just past Coldharbour and as I neared the oyster farm a Short-eared Owl came up briefly at the back before landing in cover again. A single Brent Goose was on the rocks and was the second lone bird that I had seen today as there was also a lone bird in one of the fields.

Brent Goose

A Kestrel hovering over the oyster farm was once again giving a masterclass in remaining stationary and the fully fanned tail was a lovely sight.

Kestrel

Two Red-throated Divers flew east and another was off-shore as I neared the towers. I enjoyed watching a couple of Stonechat and they made a nice end to the visit.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Kestrel, 4 Wren, 9 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 7 Stock Doves, 10 Magpie, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tits, 45 Blackbird, 7 Little Egret, 7 Greylag Geese, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Meadow Pipit, 1 Jay, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Pheasant, 17 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Redwing, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 5 Stonechat, 2 Brent Geese, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, House Sparrows, 40 Redshank, 45 Turnstone, 96 Oystercatcher, 70 Sanderling, 20 Curlew, 8 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Red-throated Diver, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 

Sandwich Tern, Gannets and Common Scoter - Reculver to Coldharbour 14/11/20

It was very overcast with some light drizzling rain when I arrived at Reculver this morning and the threat of heavier rain was on the horizon. The wind was south south westerly but swung round to southerly as the visit went on. The sea was very calm but also quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants off shore. 108 Brent Geese were on the point and as I came past the towers a Gannet flew west out to sea while a Chiffchaff was calling from the bushes. 6 Meadow Pipits were around the rocks at the base of the towers and a little further along a Rock Pipit was investigating the rocks while out to sea a single Shelduck flew west.

Rock Pipit

Shelduck

As I made my way along towards the green wall a Bearded Tit called from the reeds in front of the oyster farm and out to sea a Little Egret flew west. A pair of Stonechat were busy and a couple of Pied Wagtail called from the shore. A single Curlew flew east and far out to sea streams of Cormorants were once again flying east. Overall it remained quiet as I passed the green wall and headed on towards Coldharbour. I could hear Golden Plover calling and a sizeable flock of 120 birds were swirling around high above.

Golden Plover

Three Grey Plover flew east and Brent Geese were also heading east as I carried on along the sea wall. Another Great Crested Grebe was off shore and 50 Ringed Plover flew in to roost while a little later 27 Sanderling and another 2 Grey Plover joined them. As I made my way along Turnstone were busily turning stones at various points along the shore. The juvenile Sandwich Tern flew past and was a welcome sight. I had kept my eyes open for the Wheatear which has been seen recently but did not have any success. It was good to catch up with Julian Perry, who was passing by on his run, and he had seen it on his way up so it was good to know it was still around and I hoped I might pick it up on the way back. 

Sandwich Tern

I had a seat on the sea wall for a while and a single Red-throated Diver was off shore and small numbers of Gannet were flying east. After a little while the Red-throated Diver lifted off from the water and headed east allowing a very poor photo but a nice memory shot.

Red-throated Diver

I had another seat on the sea wall on reaching Coldharbour and 60 Mallard flew east and settled down on the sea a little further along. A Robin popped up onto the breakwater groyne and a flock of 46 Sanderling flew west heading for the roost on the beach.

Robin

Sanderling

Coldharbour itself was very quiet and I could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a few Redshank. A pair of Stonechat were busy catching insects as I was sitting on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour I could see a couple of Common Scoter off shore.

Common Scoter

Gannets were continuing to fly both east and west out to sea and it is hard to know if I was counting the same ones as they went back and fore or if they were different birds going in different directions. The largest group size I saw was five, otherwise it tended to be singles or groups up to three in both directions.

Gannet

The juvenile Sandwich Tern gave another fly past. It is a beautifully marked bird and appeared to fish successfully further along before coming back past.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

I had another sit on the sea wall after coming back round Coldharbour as I made my way back towards Reculver. A Gannet came in closer and gave some good views as it flew west.

Gannet

Gannet

Skylarks were calling from above and a couple of Reed Bunting shone in a welcome patch of sunlight as the clouds broke. Out to sea a juvenile Gannet moving east sent the Mallards, who had been sitting out on the water, up in a panic. I had not realised that a Gannet would cause such a reaction.

Gannet and Mallards

A Kestrel was hunting over the oyster farm and a Stonechat posed nicely as it settled its balance in the wind. Out to sea a couple of Mute Swan made their way east at a leisurely pace before moving into shore further along.

Stonechat

Mute Swans

A Great Crested Grebe was close in-shore as I made my way towards Reculver and on its frequent dives was rewarded several times with small fish.

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

I did not manage to see the Wheatear on the way back but disturbance along the shore was high from dog walkers etc. Perhaps it might stay around and I will get another chance. The Sandwich Tern came back past and as it may be the last time I see one of them this year I took the opportunity to just sit and enjoy watching it. What a little beauty and it gave some super views.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Paste

I finished an enjoyable visit with a Grey Seal popping its head up briefly before sinking below the waves again.

Grey Seal

192 Brent Geese, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, 56 Gannet 19 west 37 east, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Shelduck west, 1 Pheasant, 2 Little Egret, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bearded Tit, 5 Redshank, 2 Kestrel, 2 Magpie, 1 Curlew east, 16 Turnstone, 73 Sanderling, 64 Mallard, 11 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Golden Plover, 50 Ringed Plover, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Reed Bunting, Skylarks, 2 Mute Swan,