Bird and Bug Watching - Marshside 12/05/19

I paid a visit to Marshside after work for a bit of from the road bird and bug watching. It was beautifully sunny but with a cool north easterly wind. The visit turned out to be fairly quiet for birds, apart from the usual jobs and I spent most of the time keeping my eyes open for insects.

In one of the sheltered areas there were good numbers of Hairy Shieldbugs with several mating pairs.They are striking insects.

Hairy Shieldbug

mating Hairy Shieldbug

I saw several of, what looked like miniature crickets, and I think, from having looked it up on the internet that they could be young bush crickets with this one possibly being a young Dark Bush-Cricket. It is something that I will need to look into further.

? young Dark Bush-Cricket

There were a fair number of Damselflies about and I saw mainly Azure with a few Blue-tailed.

female Azure Damselfly

male Blue-tailed Damselfly

I caught sight of an attractive red and black insect and on looking it up it is a Corizus hyoscyami. I took a photo of it both in the sun and in the shade as in the shade its patterning showed a little better.

Corizus hyoscyami

Corizus hyoscyami

I came across a smart Hoverfly that I think is a Scaeva pyrasti or selenitica. I am finding identifying insects pretty tricky at times and I could be wrong. Hopefully, gradually, I will be able to learn more about insects and get better at identifying them.

? Scaeva pyrastri or selenitica

I saw Several Common Wasps during my visit and also several Scorpion Flies.

Common Wasp

female Scorpion Fly

Blackcap and Whitethroat were in good voice and a Cetti's Warbler joined in now and then. A Wren was busily collecting food and a few Swallows were hawking for insects above. I came across a Common Lizard that was basking in the sunshine and a little further on saw a Sphaerophoria Hoverfly ? scripta.

Common Lizard

Sphaerophoria Hoverfly ? Scripta

I saw a small beige Ladybird sharing a leaf with a spider I cannot identify at the moment. I think that the Ladybird is a 16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata. I saw another spider that was carrying an egg sac and I think that it is a Pardosa and possibly Pardosa nigriceps as apparently that is the only one found above ground level. I am not finding spider identification easy.

16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata

? Pardosa nigriceps

I saw good numbers of a small beetle with a blue/green metalic sheen.I am not sure at the moment what they are. I thought they were going to be Dock Beetles but they did not have a golden or bronze coloured sheen at any point. I also saw an attractive beetle that, again, I am not sure what it is but wonder if it is a Chrysolina polita. Unfortunately it never moved so I could not get a better picture.

? Chrysolina polita

There were also several of, what I think are, Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus. I also had a  Hoverfly that I am not sure what it is at the moment.

Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

A male Marsh Harrier flew past and I saw both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. I may not have been able to go far today but I saw an interesting range of wildlife. I finished off the visit by just sitting and listening to Reed Warblers singing and Marsh Frogs calling. A female Blackbird perched in a nearby bush and, though it is taken through the windscreen, it was nice to be able to get a photo as she looked beautiful in the light.

female Blackbird

Damselfly and Nightingale - Chambers Wall to Shuart 01/05/19

As I had a day off today I thought I would try a walk from Chambers Wall to Shuart via the embankment. The day was overcast with a light wind and sunny intervals and became increasingly warmer as the visit went on. I was greeted by a Wren singing beautifully and giving the singing Blackcap, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler a run for their money. I tried for a photo and, though it is not great, I can hear the Wren singing when I look at it so it makes a good memory shot.The air was alive with bird song.

Wren

As I headed down the track a pair of Tufted Duck flew down the river and a Pied Shieldbug caught my eye, as did a Picture-winged Fly.

Pied Shieldbug

Picture-winged Fly

I could hear Corn Bunting calling and a small flock of 6 flew in with 2 giving some good views and one singing away out of sight.

Corn Bunting

I was pleased to see my first damselfly of the year. I could only get photo's from the one angle before it flew but I was pleased to get them. I could see from the presence of a Coenagrion spur that it was not a Common Blue so assumed Azure until I got home and looked at the photos. From what I could see in my books and then from looking on the internet it appeared to instead be a blue form female Variable Damselfly, which would be unusual for here but I could not manage to make it into anything else. When I sent Chris Hindle the list of birds I had seen I also attached a photo of the damselfly, marked as Variable but that I could be wrong, and he checked with Marc Heath for me who thinks that it is, instead, probably a maturing Azure, which does indeed make much more sense. I am very grateful to both of them for their help with identifying it correctly. It was time well spent looking at Azure and Variable on the internet, as even though I got it wrong, and feel a bit stupid about that, I now know more about both of them than I did before and hopefully that will help me in the future when trying to settle on an identification, even if I still struggle with this one. I still have a tremendous amount to learn on dragonflies and damselflies but that is all part of the fun.

? maturing Azure or Variable Damselfly

I could hear a Cuckoo calling as I approached the railway crossing but I did not see it today. There were a lot of mating St Mark's Flies and I felt sorry for one pair as they bounced off my head having flown straight into me but they seemed non too perturbed as they rested briefly on the grass before flying off again.

mating St Mark's Flies

A Whitethroat paused from searching for insects on an umbellifer before moving on further and bursting into song. I had a single House Martin west and small numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin in both directions.

Whitethroat

I had a wader flying fairly high directly overhead and I grabbed a few shots as it went over. Against the light I could only see a silhouette and it appeared to be a plover. On lightening and cropping the photo it appears to be a summer plumaged Golden Plover which came as a nice surprise as I was expecting it to be a Grey Plover.

Golden Plover

I could see the male and female Marsh Harrier on one side of the embankment and another female/immature on the other side of the embankment at the same time, all flying away from me and heading towards Reculver direction. As I carried on towards Shuart I came across a group of 3 female/immature Marsh Harriers in the air at the same time and I think these are different birds to the ones I had already seen. As I watched these I also had 2 Red Kites spiralling higher overhead and moving west.

Marsh Harriers

Red Kite

Red Kite

It was nice to see another Mallard with youngsters down one of the dykes and this female had 6 in tow. A little further on I could see 3 Lapwing in one of the fields and a Mute Swan and Ringed Plover on the large patch of water in the next field. It made my day when I then heard the unmistakable sound of a Nightingale singing. I saw it very briefly a couple of times as it moved nearer the edge of the bush and at one point it perched briefly in the open before disappearing into cover again. I stood listening to it for a long time and it was as stunning as I remembered. I felt very privileged to hear it. it definitely made my day. The Nightingale is presumably the same one that Chris Hindle had earlier in the day. I always carry a dictaphone when birdwatching as I use it for verbally recording what I see and also for recording any songs or calls that I hear that are out of the ordinary. I could not manage a photo of the Nightingale so I used the dictaphone to record it singing. As I can not upload an audio file to the blog I have used video on the camera to video the dictaphone as it played back the recording and the camera seems to have done a good job of picking up the sound. Not an ideal solution perhaps but I thought that it was worth giving it a go to see how it worked. The video's are black as I only wanted the sound from the dictaphone so I kept the lens cap on the camera when it was recording from the dictaphone, enabling sound without a picture, and in other words giving the equivalent of an audio file.

I was sorry to have to tear myself away from the Nightingale but time was getting on so I carried on to the sea wall so that I could sit down for a bit. A female Wheatear was on the rocks and a Ringed Plover was very close to the sea wall and calling frequently.

Ringed Plover

The walk back through Shuart was relatively quiet. I could hear another Cuckoo calling and 2 Cetti's Warbler were singing away. A Sparrowhawk completed a good range of raptors that I had seen today. It had turned very warm in the sheltered areas and I thought that I might see a Hairy Dragonfly but I did not manage to come across one. Butterflies were out in force and I got good views of Red Admiral. A couple of Orange Tip males were active and Peacock butterflies abounded, with the one below missing quite a chunk out of its wings. Green-veined White's were dotted around and a couple of Holly Blue were active and decidedly reluctant to settle long enough for a photo. I really hoped to see a Brimstone Butterfly but did not have any luck.

Peacock Butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

I finished the visit with 1 Red-legged Partridge and a yaffling Green Woodpecker while a Speckled Wood Butterfly flew past.

Birds seen this visit include: Blue Tits, 6 Goldfinch, 13 Reed Buntings, 39 Whitethroat, 20 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 7 Wren, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Blackcap, 13 Chaffinch, 5 Blackbird, Woodpiegeons, 5 Chiffchaff, 15 Sand Martin, 17 Swallow, 6 Corn Bunting, 6 Magpie, 2 Cuckoo, 28 Linnet, 2 Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Skylarks, 6 Marsh Harrier, 2 Red Kite, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Golden Plover, 12 Swallow, 5 Mallard + 6 youngsters, 3 Lapwing, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Nightingale, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 House Martin, 3 Pied Wagtail, 25 House Sparrow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Wheatear, Song Thrush, 2 Kestrel, Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Red-legged Partridge

Cuckcoo, Med Gulls and Kites - Shuart to Reculver 20/04/19

I paid a visit to Shuart this morning with the aim of walking through to Reculver via the embankment. The area around the car park was alive with song and a couple of male Blackcap were having difficulty making themselves heard above it all as they tried to out sing each other.

As I walked down the track I came across a female Mallard perched on the wall of one of the farm buildings, her mate was down on the track. I was chuffed when I heard a Cuckcoo (124) calling, my first of the spring. The Marsh Frogs were very vocal.

female Mallard

As I passed one of the gaps I could see 2 Red-legged Partridge down one of the furrows. Continuing down I caught up with a Reed Warbler (125) and a Whitethroat (126), both new birds for the spring for me. It was lovely to hear their song again. I heard a Mediterranean Gull calling and was treated to 7 flying over heading east. It is handy that their call is so distinctive and that they use it a lot as otherwise I reckon I could have missed them. It turned out to be a good day for seeing Mediterranean Gulls and I saw 47 east throughout the visit in groups from 2 to 8.

Mediterranean  Gulls

I could see 2 pairs of Tufted Duck, down one of the dykes and one of the pairs gave a flypast before coming down in a further away dyke. A little while later the second pair followed them and landed in the same dyke. Unfortunately they were into the light as they came past so I could only get a poor photo but I liked how the male's tuft shows in silhouette.

Tufted Duck

I headed along to the sea wall for a seat and had 2 Lesser Whitethroat (127) singing at the stables. There was a big difference today in the number and variety of common migrants since my last visit on the 17th. I am always amazed at just how many birds arrive in such a short time window. It was great to see them. Small groups of Mediterranean Gulls continued to call noisily as they headed east. The tide was a long way out. I could see a Collared Dove on the rocks and 38 Oystercatcher were stretched out along the shore. Herring Gull, a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls and some Black-headed Gulls were also on the shore. I had a Greenshank (128) fly over calling.

I headed back toward the embankment and worked my way slowly along it. Whitethroats were in good voice but proved to be difficult to get a clear photo of. They helpfully would sit near the top of a bush to sing but each time were partially obscured with vegetation. Still, it was lovely to be able to enjoy seeing so many, they really did seem to be everywhere.

Whitethroat

A small flock of 8 Corn Bunting flew in and landed in the bushes, calling away. One sat on top of a bush and started to sing, allowing some good views. After a little while they moved on as a dog walker came through. A Common Tern (129) flew over calling and heading towards the sea.

Corn Bunting

A confiding Chiffchaff allowed some nice views as it worked its way through the vegetation and a smart male Linnet gave nice, if a little distant views.

Chiffchaff

Linnet

There was a good selection of butterflies on the wing. I saw my first Green-veined White and also my first Speckled Wood and Orange Tip of the year. Peacock butterfly were the most numerous, a couple of Tortoiseshell and both Large and Small White were also on the wing.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

A Sphaerophoria sp. and a Syrphus sp. hoverfly gave some nice views as they sunned themselves before returning to the Alexander flowers to feed.

Sphaerophoria sp. hoverfly

Syrphus sp. hoverfly

I had heard a Yellow Wagtail fly over calling earlier but I had not managed to catch up with one on the ground so I was pleased to see one picking insects off the water that had collected in a tractor tyre track. It was quite flighty and kept swapping sides but gave some nice views. They are beautiful birds. 

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

I stopped to listen to another singing Cetti's Warbler. They were certainly out in force today. I had several tantalisingly brief views of them but could not manage to get the camera on them fast enough. I love listening to them. I came across a patch of Alexander flowers that had a lot of St Mark's flies on. I am not sure why that particular patch was attracting them. I could see a female Mallard with 5 small youngsters.

St Mark's Fly

I little further on I saw a Pisaura Mirabilis that was in the process of growing 2 legs back. Apparently as long as they have at least one moult left in their life cycle then they can do this. The growing back leg looks more developed than the growing front leg. It is incredible to think that they have the ability to regenerate in this way.

Pisaura mirabilis

I came across a Common Lizard that was sunning itself. It is the first one that I have seen this year.

Common Lizard

In the same area there were a couple of Drinker Moth caterpillars. One was more colourful than the other. Apparently they darken as they get nearer to pupation so that may be why. They are certainly striking caterpillars.

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Several different spiders were present and I will update once I have identified them.

As the path was becoming increasingly difficult to get through as everything was very overgrown I decided to head for the sea wall and walk along that to Reculver. As I dropped down to the bottom track I had a male Marsh Harrier fly past that looked absolutely stunning in the light and it would have made a lovely photo. Unfortunately, being an idiot, I had forgotten to reset the camera from macro and by the time I realised why it wasn't managing to focus on the harrier the bird had disappeared from view over the green bank.

As I reached the sea wall I heard a Marsh Harrier call and the male and female Marsh Harriers were mobbing a Red Kite and I could see a second Red Kite higher above. Both Kites headed towards the oyster farm and the Marsh Harriers dropped back down. Both Red Kites remained very distant, one was moulting several of its primary feathers. Both carried on west and were lost to sight.

Red Kite

Red Kite

45 minutes later I had another 2 Red Kite going west. The moult in their wings appears to be different and they appear to be 2 new birds, rather than the first two returned.

Red Kites

Red Kite

Red Kite

2 Curlew flew west and Black-headed Gulls called noisily as they had repeated disputes. 2 Grey Partridge, a calling Little Owl and a Pied Shieldbug finished the visit nicely.

Pied Shieldbug

Birds seen this visit include: 18 Blackcap, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 4 Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 11 Chiffchaff, Robins, 16 Dunnock, 17 Wren, 20 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, Chaffinches, Carrion Crow, 1 Cuckcoo, 2 Grey Heron, Goldfinches, 5 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 5 Mallard, 13 Magpie, Jackdaw, 20 Sedge Warbler, 10 Cetti's Warbler, Skylarks, 1 Moorhen, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Reed Warbler, Cormorant, 36 Whitethroat, 47 Mediterranean Gull east, 52 Oystercatchers, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Lapwing, 14 Reed Bunting, 3 Common Tern, 11 Mute Swan, 4 Tufted Duck, 7 Swallow, 13 Starling, 10 Pied Wagtail, 46 Linnet, 8 Lesser Whitethroat, 44 House Sparrows, 7 Pied Wagtail, 1 Collared Dove, 15 Meadow Pipit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 26 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 adult Mallard and 5 youngsters, 1 male and 1 female Marsh Harrier, 4 Red Kite, 4 Shelduck, 6 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Owl,