Redwing and Fieldfare - Broomfield Track 28/03/20

My daily walk today began well when I came across a small flock of 6 Redwing feeding in the paddock. One of the birds was particularly obliging and gave me the opportunity for some of the best views of this beautiful bird I have had this year.

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

3 Song Thrush were also feeding in the same area and I could not resist a photo as one came near on its way past. I could hear a Little Owl calling but could not see it and several Blackbirds were also busily searching for food in the same paddock.

Song Thrush

The rest of the walk remained quite quiet with no sign of anything new in. Skylarks were singing away and a single Meadow Pipit called as it moved from the field. I finished the walk with some distant views of 5 Fieldfare in the lower paddock. One individual was particularly beautifully marked.

Fieldfare

Fieldfare

Birds seen this visit included: 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, Wood Pigeons, 2 Dunnock, 3 Wren, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Rooks, 2 Common Buzzard, 5 Fieldfare, 8 Linnet, Skylarks, 1 Meadow Pipit

More Drive By Birding - Local Areas 12th, 19th and 21st February 2020

On the 12th we paid a short visit to Marshside. It was very quiet for birds overall but I enjoyed watching a Mute Swan drifting slowly down the dyke that runs alongside the road and watching the reflection change as it was broken up by the ripples in the water.

Mute Swan

A pair of Song Thrush were busy feeding in a partially flooded grassy area and both were proving to be very adept at catching small worms and packed away a surprising number of them while I was watching.

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

We finished with a smart male Marsh Harrier flying parallel to the road. They are beautiful birds and always a joy to watch.

male Marsh Harrier

On the 19th at Chambers Wall I enjoyed watching a Chaffinch and a couple of Dunnocks that were feeding by a small puddle. Though at one point one of the Dunnocks appeared to size the Chaffinch up it did not chase it, as I have seen them do in the past, but instead went back to feeding. Again, it was nice to be able to just spend some time enjoying good views of some very obliging birds. One of the Dunnocks was ringed.

Chaffinch and Dunnock

Chaffinch and Dunnock

Dunnock

Dunnocks

We paid another short visit to Marshside on the 21st and at the first pull in point a Rat was feeding amongst the grass by the dyke. It appeared to be pretty unconcerned by the traffic passing by. A couple of Moorhen were feeding at the field edge and as a Common Buzzard passed overhead all dived for cover.

Brown Rat

125 Fieldfare were in the bushes bordering the apple orchard but I could not see any Redwing amongst them. A couple of Greenfinch were a little further along and a Green Woodpecker was calling away noisily. 7 Moorhen were in one area of the dyke with another 5 further along. At one point a disagreement broke out and in a flurry of wings the chase was on.

Moorhens

The visits were all pretty quiet for birds but each had allowed time to just enjoy whatever I could see.

Floating Goldfinch - Reculver 21/11/18

I paid a visit to Reculver this afternoon. Unfortunately the wind over the last few days has been perfect for seeing passing seabirds and I have been unable to get down as I have been working. Today, when I could finally get here, the wind has swung round to south easterly and everything was pretty quiet. Each time there has been a good seawatch I have been working. Ah well. Such is life. It was nice to have some sunshine for the first part of my visit but it was very cold. I had a look for the Black Redstart but could not see any birds on the rocks by the car park today. A couple of Redshank flew in to the rocks at the foot of the towers and I managed to get a couple of shots.

Redshank in flight

Redshanks landing

I headed on and could see a distant winter plumaged Great Crested Grebe out to sea and there were a couple of Lapwing on the old caravan site. Out to sea I saw an unusual combination of 2 Brent Geese and a Cormorant flying in formation. They were very distant but I tried for a photo and though it is cropped a lot, it does make a nice memory shot. I also had a Little Egret fly past and then come into the oyster farm. They certainly have an impressive wing span. A Great Crested Grebe flew east and a Red-throated Diver flew west.

Brent Geese and Cormorant in formation

I carried on along the sea wall, moving over regularly for cars and vans as the workmen headed up to the works that are taking place on the outflow near Coldharbour. I kept my eyes open for an owl or harrier but all was quiet. There were however good numbers of Stonechat, I saw at least 7 during the visit. They are lovely little birds. There were also good numbers of Meadow Pipit and I saw 22 during the afternoon.

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

I continued heading towards Coldharbour and saw 3 Teal going east followed by 6 Eider going in the same direction. 

Eider in flight

Eider in flight

There was a very sweet Blue Tit busily feeding on the other side of the sea wall.

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

During the afternoon I saw a total of 34 Brent Geese with 3 giving nice reflections in the water as they flew low over the sea. I also saw a couple of Curlew but could not get a decent photo. The tide was slowly going out giving the chance to catch up with a few waders. I had really hoped for an Avocet but did not have any luck so I had to make do with the usual suspects.

Brent Geese and reflections

There did not appear to be anything on Coldharbour which was well named today, as I was frozen by the time I reached it. I had a quick rest and then headed for home. A family group of Goldfinches were feeding on some Teasels. Where one of them was perched on top of a Teasel it looked like it was floating above it. 

Goldfinch on Teasel

A Song Thrush was enjoying a wash and brush up in a puddle of water.

Song Thrush wash and brush up

I could hear a couple of Grey Plovers calling and one flew in and started feeding along the shore, calling regularly and was soon joined by another one. 

Grey Plover

I was pleased to see a group of 6 Sanderling while Turnstone and Ringed Plover were also busy feeding.

Sanderling

I caught sight of a Short-eared Owl very briefly but unfortunately it did not come up again. With the light starting to fail I headed for home. A group of Brent Geese were feeding near the pumping station outflow. 

Brent Geese

One of the Lapwing was nearer on the old caravan park. I tried for  photo but had to use a high ISO but at least it enabled me to get a shot.

Lapwing

I had a check for Little Owl but could not see one today. A Common Gull was feeding once again on the grass by the towers and was a nice finish to the visit.

Birds I saw this visit included: 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 25 Redshank, 15 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plover, 9 Sanderling, 2 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 34 Brent Geese, 5 Blackbird, 6 House Sparrows, 64 Linnet, 2 Lapwing, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Pheasant, Cormorants, 7 Stonechat, 22 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 1 Short-eared Owl, 6 Eider, 3 Teal, 8 Mallard, 5 Mute Swan, 1 Coot