Walking Reculver to Chambers Wall - 22/03/19

It was an overcast day at Reculver, today, with a cool south westerly wind. I had a walk through to Chambers Wall and overall it seemed very quiet.

I caught sight of a female Wheatear on rocks on the beach, a little way ahead of me who, unfortunately, was then disturbed by dog walkers and disappeared from view. I could not manage to pick her up again but was pleased I had managed to get a photo, even if a little distant.

female Wheatear

Out to sea was quiet but throughout the visit I did see 12 Teal in groups of 2, 2 and 8. The immature male Eider was much further out today and small groups of Mallard were also on the sea. 2 of the above Teal were tucked in the middle of 4 Mallard. A pair of Oystercatchers were resting on the rocks, both on one leg, presumably to help reduce heat loss.

Oystercatchers

A Ringed Plover was displaying by repeatedly flying back and fore over the beach and out to sea. It must expend a large amount of energy doing it.

Ringed Plover

4 Shelduck came into land on the oyster farm and a female Mute Swan was with a couple of immature Mute Swan. A male Shoveler was feeding on his own and I wondered if a female is on a nest, or if he is a lone bird.

Shelduck

A skulky Chiffchaff was in the bushes near the green bank and a male Dunnock was once again singing his heart out. Corn Bunting song also filled the air and at one point a flock of 38 went up before settling back down again.

Chiffchaff

28 Turnstone were roosting together on some rocks.

Turnstones

I could see a small group of 6 Great Crested Grebe out to sea and two of them started to display to each other. They were pretty distant but I tried for some photos, which though they have not come out very well, do show the raised crests on the birds well and make a nice memory shot. The display is beautiful to watch. They did not display for long before returning to feeding.

Great Crested Grebes displaying

Coldharbour itself was very quiet. A couple of Little Egret were roosting and 5 Black-headed Gulls were roosting on the shingle bank. There was a female Wheatear also on the shingle bank but unfortunately, once again, all the birds were flushed by a dog walker.

female Wheatear

The walk to Chambers wall was very quiet. A male Reed Bunting watched me as I passed and then burst into song when I was a little way away.

Reed Bunting

Each Alexander plant I passed had loads of Yellow Dung flies on it. There must have been hundreds between the various plants.

Yellow Dung Fly

As I crossed the railway line a military helicopter flew past. I don't know what type it is. I was trying to cross the stile as it flew past, hence the rather blurry photo.

Military Helicopter

A Cetti's Warbler was singing away and I added several more Chiffchaff on the walk up. Once again one of them appeared to have something black coating the feathers at the base of its bill.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

I had enjoyed my time out and it was good to have caught up with another couple of Wheatear.

Birds seen this visit include: 12 House Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, 8 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 2 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 2 female Wheatear, 18 Mallard, 3 Mute Swan, 4 Gannet east, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Dunnock, 2 Stonechat, Immature male Eider, 1 male Shoveler, 38 Corn Bunting, 3 Pheasant, 8 Oystercatcher, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Robin, Skylarks, 4 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, Cormorants, 7 Goldfinch, 12 Linnet, 2  Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 400 Woodpigeons

Pipit on the Rocks - Reculver 03/03/19

As there was just enough time for a short visit to Reculver, after work, I decided to head up to the towers and see if there was anything moving out to sea. There was a strong south westerly wind so it seemed unlikely but you never know. The sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe on it and apart from a few Herring Gulls there was nothing passing the towers. I am still trying to get to grips with using burst mode for birds in flight so I practiced on anything that flew past but I have a lot to learn and have not done very well with them. The bird in the last couple of photos had a very well defined tail band. I still find ageing and sometimes even telling if it actually is a Herring Gull or something else quite difficult. I certainly need a lot more practice with gulls.

Herring Gull

2nd to 3rd Year Herring Gull

2nd to 3rd year Herring Gull

2nd to 3rd Year Herring Gull

2nd Year Herring Gull

2nd Year Herring Gull

I had a Carrion Crow flying below me so tried for a photo as that is not a view I normally see.

Carrion Crow

I had a look down onto the rocks below and saw a small bird fly over and land. It stayed distant but I was pleased to see that it was a Rock Pipit (107). It was very active and in poor light but I tried for some photos.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit - head on

Rock Pipit

I walked along the sea wall for a little way but it certainly wasn't easy in the wind. I sheltered at the base of the wall for a while and just enjoyed watching whatever came my way. Large numbers of Cormorants were coming in off the sea and presumably heading towards Stodmarsh. I saw close to 1000 in the time I was watching. Once again, I tried for some photos.

Cormorants out at sea

Cormorants overhead

Cormorants

Herring Gulls were still passing every now and then.

Adult Herring Gull - underwings

Adult Herring Gull - upperwing

Adult Herring Gull - underwing

I finished off with a passing Ringed Plover before making my way back. If anything the wind had increased, but it may just have been that I was facing into it now.

Ringed Plover

I was pleased that I had a chance to get out and well chuffed at finally having caught up with a Rock Pipit for the year.

Dancing Magpies and Owls - Reculver 27/02/19

I paid a short visit to Reculver after work this afternoon. It was beautifully sunny with next to no wind. The weather is due to change from tomorrow so I thought I would make the most of it while I could.

On the rocks, from the car park, a female Pied Wagtail was preening. She appeared to be missing the feathers on the back of her neck and on part of her head. I don't know if that would be part of her moult or whether there is another reason for it. Her other feathers all appeared fine.

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail showing missing neck feathers

Pied Wagtail showing missing head and neck feathers

The sea appeared very quiet and I could only see a Great Crested Grebe on the water. The water was almost mirror calm and gave some great reflections as some Brent Geese and then a Cormorant flew low over the sea.

Brent Geese and reflections

Cormorant and reflection

A passing Carrion Crow looked stunning with the light shining through its flight feathers.

Carrion Crow with backlit flight feathers

A single Dunlin was feeding along the shoreline and was joined briefly by a Ringed Plover whereupon they both flew towards the wader roosting point, giving some nice views as they did.

Dunlin

Dunlin and Ringed Plover in flight

Ringed Plover and Dunlin in flight

I did not have enough time to walk very far up the sea wall as I had an appointment that I needed to get back for. It meant I was a bit far away when 2 Short-eared Owls came up over the oyster farm, as they were more towards the green bank end rather than where I was, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. I could not tell if they were fighting or amorous when they were near each other. Certainly each time they became close to each other they appeared to clash. I was a little too distant to see quite what was going on. When hunting it is amazing how quickly they can change direction, suddenly banking and then diving as they see prey. It was just beautiful to be able to watch them in the sunshine. The photos are not great but they make good memory shots and I felt very lucky to be able to get them.

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owl - sudden dive having spotted prey

Short-eared Owl on patrol

Short-eared Owl on patrol

Short-eared Owl - sudden bank having spotted something

Short-eared Owl on patrol

Short-eared Owl hovering

I could have stayed watching them all afternoon but I needed to start heading back so I made my back towards Reculver. There were a couple of Magpies that appeared to be flying in unison at times. I am not sure if they were displaying or showing solidarity in defence of their territory as it started when 3 other Magpies appeared. Whatever the reason, they were a joy to watch. They almost appeared to be doing a choreographed dance at times.

Dancing Magpies

Two Little Grebes were on one of the oyster farm lagoons.They are gorgeous little birds. One of them was quite shy but the other posed nicely.

Little Grebe

I finished off the visit with some good views of an adult Herring Gull. They are handsome birds. The legs appeared very pale with a yellowish tinge in the field and when it flew it appeared to have reduced white in the wing tip.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull underwing

Herring Gull upperwing

It may only have been a short visit but it was great to be out in the sunshine with next to no wind. There was no doubt that to be able to watch the Short-eared Owls was just the icing on the cake.

Birds seen this visit include: 1 Blackbird, 5 House Sparrow, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 3 Pied Wagtail, 15 Brent Geese, Cormorants, 7 Carrion Crow, 1 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 3 Stonechat, 2 Short-eared Owl, 5 Magpie, 2 Pheasant, 1 Grey Partridge calling, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Mute Swan, 12 Linnet, 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Wren, 1 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 10 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler