Sedge Warblers and a Snow Bunting Encounter - Shuart to Reculver 30/03/21

It was great to be able to head to Shuart today. It has been a long time since I have been able to visit the Reculver area and with a few days holiday from work it was nice to have the whole morning ahead of me. A couple of Red-legged Partridge flew from the field edge as I made my way down the road and near the beginning of the track a handsome male Pheasant looked stunning as he made his way along.

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

A male Blackcap was singing and was a welcome sound, my first for the spring. The air was alive with the song and calls of Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees calling away before moving off. As I started down the track I could hear a Green Woodpecker calling and a Peacock butterfly flew past. A little further on a Chiffchaff was calling and from the first gap I could see a Common Buzzard hunting over the far fields. A few Blackbirds and a Redwing were moving between the track and the hedgerow and Blue and Great Tits were making their way through the bushes. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song nearby and as I neared the end of the hedgerow a second bird also burst into song.

It was surprisingly quiet as I made my way past the stables apart from another very vocal Cetti's Warbler. On reaching the sea wall it was nice to catch up with Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Redshank as I headed towards Plumpudding. I also saw a couple of distant Curlew.

As I made my way towards Coldharbour it was lovely to hear the sound of my first Sedge Warbler of the Spring singing away. It is incredible to think of the journey that it has made to get here and that amazing burst of song was beautiful to hear.

Sedge Warbler

A Little Egret at Coldharbour was throwing an almost perfect reflection into the barely ruffled surface of the water that was reflecting the blue of the sky beautifully. A noisy group of cyclists passing caused it to fly and, again, it threw a near perfect reflection as it did so.

Little Egret

Little Egret

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea. Herring, Black-headed and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls were passing by and a single Great Crested Grebe was offshore. A Shelduck flew west and a small flock of 10 Common Scoter on the sea were gently moving eastwards.

Common Scoter

Carrying on towards Reculver I was very pleased to see a Snow Bunting on the shore. It was a fair way away to begin with but gradually moved closer and closer and ended up giving some simply stunning views. To say it lifted my spirits would be putting it mildly.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

It then moved up onto the sea wall and, again, I really couldn't have asked for nicer views. What an absolute beauty.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Well chuffed I carried on towards Reculver. I could hear another singing Sedge Warbler but this one stayed more in cover. A flock of 44 Corn Bunting were atop the bushes before flying up and heading towards the oyster farm. At the back a male Marsh Harrier was hunting along the field edge.

Corn Buntings

Corn Buntings

A male Reed Bunting was hassling a pair of Stonechats as I neared the green wall. A couple of Pied Wagtail were active along the shingle and Meadow Pipits flitted from the sea wall to the lower track. A Dunnock was singing away and I couldn't tell if it was blind in one eye or whether perhaps the eye was just in deep shadow. A Wren was also belting out its song a little further along.

Dunnock

Over on the oyster farm a Kestrel was hovering and sent up a small flock of 10 Linnet. While on the shore side a pair of Oystercatchers eyes glowed in the light and their bills and legs shone against the blue reflecting sea. As I neared the towers a single Swallow flew west. It brought a very enjoyable mornings birdwatching to a close.

Oystercatchers

In the afternoon, on the way back from an appointment, we had a short drive through Marshside and finished the day being treated to some nice views of a pair of Little Owls. 

Little Owl

Little Owls

Russian White-fronted and Barnacle Geese, Snow Buntings and Black Redstarts - Shuart to Reculver 05/12/20

A pair of Ring-necked Parakeet were calling loudly as I arrived at Shuart and my progress down the first part of the track was greeted by groups of Wood Pigeons flying off noisily through the trees causing a nearby Great Spotted Woodpecker to fly, from the top of one of the trees, alarm calling like mad. I enjoyed watching a Goldcrest that was in with a mixed flock of Tits and Finches. Overhead a Little Egret flew over followed a short while later by a single Russian White-fronted Goose. As I approached a gap I could see another 26 Russian White-fronted Geese in the distance with a couple of Barnacle Geese tucked in at the end.

Russian White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese

A flock of 25 Lapwing and another flock of 35 had flown up from the fields as I carried on down the track and a couple of GreenWoodpecker called.

Lapwing

With each gap I came to in the hedgerow there were flocks of White-fronted Geese moving between the various harvested Sweetcorn fields. In total there appeared to be 114 with the 2 Barnacle Geese tagged on. They make an impressive sight as they fly round and the air was alive with their calls. It was lovely to be able to see so many geese.

Russian White-fronted Geese

As I came to the end of the hedgerow a flock of 12 Pied Wagtail were catching insects around one of the puddles of water in  the field and I could see the pair of Barnacle Geese tucked in by some more water at the back of the harvested Sweetcorn field with the White-fronted Geese spread around in that and the neighbouring field. These fields have proved to really attractive to a good range of birds since they have been harvested.

Barnacle and Russian White-fronted Geese

Russian White-fronted Geese

I had a wander along the railway embankment for a little ways and it was nice to be able to see the pair of Barnacle Geese a little better. I enjoyed watching some White-fronts that were close to the other side of the railway line and they appeared to be totally unconcerned by the passing trains.

Barnacle Geese

Russian White-fronted Geese

A single Redshank was also in the field and I paused to watch the antics of a pair of Little Grebe on the river. They may be little but they are full of character. A low flying and noisy helicopter spooked the geese and all of them took off wheeling round towards the sea wall before gaining height and coming back over the railway line and landing in the back fields and out of sight.

Russian White-fronted and Barnacle Geese

Russian White-fronted Geese

As I came past the stables there was a single Redshank and a Little Egret on the standing water in one of the paddock and a few Blackbirds dotted around. 11 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. A Common Buzzard was making the most of a man-made perch before moving over to the trees and showing the markings on its upperwings and tail beautifully as it alighted.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

On reaching the sea wall the tide was still a fair way out but coming in quite fast and the sea was very calm. As I made my way towards Plumpudding I caught up with a good range of waders either on the shore or as they made their way to a wader roost.

Plumpudding Island was quiet apart from a couple of Pied Wagtail and a Redshank. Good numbers of Sanderling and Ringed Plover were settling down to roost as I made my way towards Coldharbour.

Sanderling and Ringed Plover

Sanderling and Ringed Plover

Coldharbour was quiet with just a couple of Redshank and a Little Grebe and off shore there was a single Shelduck and a few Mallard. I sat and watched out to sea for a while but it remained quiet with just 1 Gannet east and a few Brent Geese on the move. As I carried on towards Reculver I was pleased to catch sight of the four Snow Buntings on the beach. Unfortunately so did a dog walkers dog who proceeded to chase them before turning its attention to chasing waders instead. The owners genuinely did not appear to understand when I spoke with them but they did at least call the dog back up onto the sea wall. A little further along I came across the Snow Buntings again and at least they got a little while to feed in peace this time.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

A Marsh Harrier was up at the back as I carried on towards Reculver and a Merlin moved out to sea. I had another sit on the sea wall but apart from a couple more Gannet east and a Great Crested Grebe off shore it remained quiet out to sea. A Grey Seal popped its head up briefly before disappearing under water again.

Grey Seal

On nearing Reculver a couple of Mute Swan gave a close fly past. They are always an impressive sight and I love the sound of their wings, their impressive wing span, and the curl of their flight feathers at their wing tips. They are quite a show stopper with many people on the sea wall pausing to watch them as they come past.

Mute Swans

Mute Swans

I finished my visit with a Black Redstart on one of the groynes, probably the same bird as yesterday, and another on the rocks by the car park. The one on the rocks did not get much respite from the resident Robin chasing it each time it settled on the rocks. It was great to see the Black Redstarts though, as they are always a pleasure to watch, and they made a good end to an enjoyable visit.

Black Redstart

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 4 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, 10 Robin, 7 Wren, 36 Blackbird, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Little Egret, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Great Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Pied Wagtail, 114 White-fronted Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Goldcrest, 60 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Redshank, 3 Kestrel, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Meadow Pipit, House Sparrows, Starlings, 91 Corn Bunting, 44 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 6 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Stonechat, 7 Brent Geese, 9 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 43 Ringed Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Turnstone, 3 Gannet east, 96 Sanderling, 2 Golden Plover, Skylarks, 1 Merlin, 8 Dunlin, 1 Shelduck, 4 Snow Bunting, 2 Black Redstart

Eider, Snow Buntings and Short-eared Owls - Reculver 02/12/20

With bird watching time in short supply for the next few weeks I was pleased to be able to pay a quick visit to Reculver this afternoon. The usual Robin was on the rocks by the car park and quickly pursued both a Wren and a Meadow Pipit they dared to appear on the rocks.

Robin

As I came past the towers I had a scan out to sea but apart from a Great Crested Grebe all appeared quiet. It came as a nice surprise, therefore, to have an Eider fly west a couple of minutes later.

Eider

It was fairly quiet generally as I made my way along the sea wall. Out to sea I could see a Merlin and a Kestrel was hunting over the oyster farm. I was chuffed when I caught sight of Snow Buntings on the shore and had the chance of some good views of four as they searched for seeds amongst the shingle and scrub. Any day that I can watch Snow Buntings has to be a good one.

Snow Bunting

Snow Buntings

Snow Bunting

Snow Buntings

Snow Bunting

It was hard to tear myself away but it was time to move on. Waders were moving to roost with 64 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 5 Turnstone in a mixed flock coming into land. 

Over the back fields an immature male Marsh Harrier was following the line of the field edge. Further along I came across another Snow Bunting on the shore which was on its own. I don't know if it was one of the four I saw earlier or a different bird. Whichever it was, it was a little beauty.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

It was time to be heading back. Colour was building in the lower part of the sky and contrasting well with the grey clouds. 

I caught a glimpse of a pale shape over the oyster farm and saw a Short-eared Owl making for one of the posts. What better way could there be to end the visit than by watching an owl! 

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

It only rested on the post for a few minutes before starting to hunt. No sooner had it started than another Short-eared flew up and pursued it. For a few minutes neither would give way and the chase rose higher and higher before finally the challenger won and the first owl moved to the other side of the oyster farm. There really wasn't enough light for photos but I gave it a go anyway and though they have not come out well they do give me some good memory shots of the privilege of being able to watch these two birds interacting.

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owls

Short-eared Owls

As I carried on a Dunnock popped up onto the sea wall right in front of me giving some great views. As it turned, though, I could see what appeared to be a tick semi covering one eye. It didn't appear to affect it eyesight as it moved to the shore and picked for food, perhaps because the pupil was mainly clear.

Dunnock

Dunnock

Dunnock

Dunnock

On nearing Reculver I could hear a Carrion Crow alarm calling and it started to mob something on the other side of the bank at the back of oyster farm. Its calls attracted back up and another two joined it in mobbing whatever it was they could see. The mystery was solved when I caught sight of a Common Buzzard flying so low on the other side of the bank, that it was barely visible, with a single Crow in hot pursuit until it became clear the Buzzard was going to keep going and the Crow broke off. The colour in the sky was deepening and made an atmospheric end to the visit as I reached Reculver.