Wheatears, Rainbows and Fishing Terns - Reculver to Coldharbour 24/09/20

I headed for Reculver early afternoon and had a walk up to Coldharbour. Rain was threatening but I started out in some sunshine with a breezy south westerly wind. A Little Egret was flying over as I came past the towers and a pair of Pied Wagtail were on the rocks by the start of the sea wall.

Pied Wagtail

Out to sea appeared quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls around. A single Sand Martin flew west with 3 House Martin and 5 Swallow. Meadow Pipits were calling here and there and 2 Kestrel were hovering over the oyster farm. A Common Blue Butterfly was being buffeted by the wind, as it tried to make its way along, and landed for a rest on the shingle before carrying on.

Common Blue Butterfly

The shore was quiet apart from a couple of Redshank and 4 Turnstone. A single Sandwich Tern made its way west while on the oyster farm a Sparrowhawk surveyed proceedings from one of the posts.

Sparrowhawk

A Pied Wagtail on the shore was making the most of any Cranefly that it could find tucked down amongst the shingle. No sooner had it dispatched one then it was off looking for its next prey item.

Pied Wagtail eating Cranefly

Pied Wagtail eating Cranefly

Pied Wagtail

Small groups of Meadow Pipits were actively feeding amongst the low vegetation on the shingle while always on the look out for danger.

Meadow Pipit

I did well for Wheatear today. Two were in their normal area but it was nice to see another 3 further along towards Coldharbour. One was particularly confiding and did not seemed at all phased by the people going past along the sea wall. 

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and a Rock Pipit gradually worked its way closer as it searched for food. A Meadow Pipit was equally confiding. 

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Meadow Pipit

The Rock Pipit moved to the other side of a groyne before reappearing with a Cranefly. Overhead another small group of House Martin and Swallow moved west.

Rock Pipit

Out to sea rain clouds were on the move and as the sun broke through I was treated to a changing display of partial rainbows, never forming more than half of the bow but beautiful all the same. The double rainbow did not last long and instead of a pot of gold a ship was at the end of one of the rainbows.

Rainbow

Double Rainbow

Rainbow

It was time to head for home and on the way I saw a good mix of waders with 3 Knot and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit west and Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank and Ringed Plover along the shore. 35 Oyystercatcher also flew west and 30 Mallard were out to sea.

Oystercatchers

I enjoyed watching the Stonechats that were busy at various points on the walk back and I was never walked far before seeing Pied Wagtail or Meadow Pipit on the shore. Small groups of Sandwich Tern were feeding offshore and I sat at various points along the sea wall to watch them. They made a nice end to the visit. As one shook the water off its head after fishing, with its head turned upwards it almost created the illusion of it flying upside down.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Birds seen this visit included: 5 Little Egret, 17 Pied Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Sand Martin, 11 House Martin, 12 Swallow, 3 Kestrel, 45 Oystercatcher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wren, 4 Redshank, 35 Turnstone, 5 Wheatear, 18 Sandwich Tern, 3 Corn Bunting, 11 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Coot, 30 Mallard, 25 Linnet, 5 Stonechat, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 

Red-breasted Mergansers, Eider and Snow Buntings - Shuart to Reculver 30/10/19

I paid a visit to Shuart on a sunny morning with a brisk and cool easterly wind. As I had a wander down the track all the usual suspects were present apart from Goldcrests which I didn't manage to catch up with today. A Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard had an altercation following which the Common Buzzard saw the Harrier off before resuming spiralling upwards. 15 Redwing were in the hedge and although very flighty it was nice to be able to catch brief glimpses through the gaps of these beautifully marked birds. As I neared the railway crossing a Mute Swan flew across with the familiar throbbing hum of its wing beats.

Mute Swan

I didn't see any Brambling at the stables today but paused to enjoy the sound of a Cetti's Warbler as it exploded into song nearby. 18 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing flew into a bush from one of the fields before moving on. As I came up onto the sea wall a couple of Brent Geese were off shore and 8 Redshank and a Turnstone were along the shore. The tide was well on its way to being in.

Brent Geese

Apart from 3 very distant Gannet east the sea remained quiet on the walk along to Plumpudding Island. 10 Redshank were roosting there, tucked in on the far bank, while another couple were busy swimming from island to island. Redshank appear to be very good swimmers and these two covered quite a distance in fairly choppy water. 3 Mallards were tucked in out of the wind and a very smart male Stonechat fly caught from the fence.

Redshank

Redshank

While I was watching the Redshank 68 Oystercatchers flew in landed behind the shingle bank followed a short while later by 13 Grey Plover. 5 Curlew and 60 Sanderling. 42 Brent Geese were off shore and it was lovely to hear the sound of them chattering away to each other once again and nice to see numbers beginning to build.

Grey Plover

Brent Geese

I got a very nice surprise as I carried on along the sea wall when 2 Snow Buntings flew up from the shingle in front of an approaching truck from the sea defence work. They appeared to come down on Plumpudding Island but by the time I had managed to walk back there I could not pick them up. Still they had been a very welcome sight and hopefully at some point I will be able to catch up with them again. As I headed back towards Coldharbour I caught sight of 5 Red-breasted Merganser flying east. I could not manage much in the photo line but I was well chuffed to be able to get a memory shot. It is the most Mergansers  I have seen together.

Red-breasted Mergansers

A short while later a juvenile Gannet flew east and although not very close it gave some nice views as it went past. I was surprised to see that as it reached the flock of Brent Geese its presence spooked them badly with birds flying up in all directions as the Gannet came through. Presumably the Gannet is no threat to them so I was surprised at their reaction.

Gannet

Gannet

A Black-headed Gull with its wing beats slowed by flying into the wind gave the opportunity to try for some photos as did what might have been a racing pigeon. A mixed flock of 67 Ringed Plover and a few Turnstone flew towards the wader roost behind Plumpudding.

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Ringed Plover and Turnstone

 As I neared Coldharbour I had 2 Eider, a male and a female, heading east a long way out to sea. I tried for some photos and though heavily cropped and pretty poor I am pleased I was able to get them as the photo makes a good memory shot. Male Eider are certainly very handsome birds. Hopefully at some point one will fly a bit closer.

male and female Eider

As I neared Coldharbour 16 Curlew and 52 Oystercatchers were disturbed by a photographer walking along the shingle bank and 2 Little Egret flew up from Coldharbour itself. 23 Mallard were bobbing about on the sea as I started towards Reculver and a Kestrel gave a low flypast with its eye catching the light beautifully. 4 Coot were on the dyke with a couple of Mute Swan.

Mallard

Kestrel

I pressed on towards the Green Bank and could see a single Great Crested Grebe out to sea. 12 Corn Bunting were on the oyster farm together with c100 House Sparrows. A Little Egret did a near vertical take off from the edge of the dyke. As I headed towards Reculver I once again had a very obliging Stonechat. They are such gorgeous birds to watch and full of character.

Little Egret

Stonechat

On nearing Reculver a stunning female Sparrowhawk flew past out to sea before turning and coming in and heading over the oyster farm sending Meadow Pipits and and a flock of 58 Linnets flying up in alarm. I tried for some photos as it came past me but it was so fast that I did not do very well with them but what a beautiful bird and a joy to watch.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

I had a single Common Gull fly east and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls throughout the visit. I tried for photos of a couple of the Great Black-backed Gulls and though the photos did not come out very well they do show that both were in the process of moulting some of their flight feathers.

Common Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

As I reached Reculver a single Swallow flew west. It had been good to be out today and I had enjoyed seeing what went past out to sea as I walked along.


Birds seen this visit included: 12 Robin, 7 Wren, 21 Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 26 Mallard, 3 Dunnock, 13 Mute Swan, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Moorhen, 6 Magpie, 4 Chaffinch, 14 Skylark, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 18 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Pied Wagtail, 18 Fieldfare, 18 Redshank, 27 Turnstone, 52 Brent Geese, 74 Sanderling, 4 Gannet east, 132 Oystercatcher, 8 Stonechat, 6 Reed Bunting, 65 Linnet, 12 Redshank, 22 Curlew, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 67 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egret, 2 Eider, 4 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Corn Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Gull, 1 Swallow

Swallows and House Martins On The Move - Reculver to Chambers Wall 27/09/19

I headed to Reculver this morning. There was a breezy south westerly wind with rain forecast. When I arrived Swallows and House Martin were streaming past going west. There were so many that I actually had no idea how to count them. They were passing in front of and behind me and in the end I admitted defeat with the counting and just enjoyed watching them. It is always an incredible sight to see so many birds starting out on their migration journey. Many were following the coast but some were going past way out to sea, others high up, others overland, and many were swooping after insects as they passed by. I was surprised to see some Swallows dipping down to the sea and appearing to take sips of sea water. I had not realised that they could drink sea water. I wondered if they just did not realise it was salty but I saw some birds drink more than once. I wonder therefore if can they tolerate sea water. 3 Pied Wagtail were up by the towers and as I came down onto the sea wall a couple of Stonechat were busy catching insects from the fence.

Stonechat

A couple of Sandwich Tern flew east and a Little Egret was on the exposed mud near the pumping station. I had seen a 3 Robin on the rocks by the car park and had another couple on the rocks here. The tide was on its way in. I could see a few hundred Black-headed and Herring Gulls in the fields behind the oyster farm but it was only when a Peregrine went through and mass panic ensued with a mass of birds taking to the air that I could see that it was easily closer to a mixed flock of a thousand gulls, if not more.

Sandwich Tern

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew east and a couple of Redshank were noisily calling from the oyster farm. A flock of 42 Ringed Plover with 10 Turnstone and 2 Sanderling landed on the shore. It was fun trying for some photos as they came into land. They were followed by a flock of 7 more Sanderling.

Turnstone and Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Sanderling

As I headed along the sea wall the movement of House Martin and Swallows appeared to be slowing. There were two good sized flocks of Ringed Plover giving a total of 98 birds. This included the 42 already seen. They had been sent up by a Sparrowhawk flying low along the shore. The Sparrowhawk in turn was chased by a Carrion Crow who hassled it this way and that until the Sparrowhawk shot away over the oyster farm with the Carrion Crow initially in pursuit until it lost interest. A single juvenile Gannet flew east. A Common Buzzard flew over the oyster farm and was immediately hassled by two Carrion Crows and it finally had to beat a hasty retreat.

juvenile Gannet

Common Buzzard and Carrion Crows

Large numbers of House Martin started to pass though again, all heading west. 25 Linnet were also going west. A Greenshank was on the oyster farm and a small flock of Goldfinch were busily feeding on the teasal heads. A single Shelduck flew west.

Shelduck

5 Stonechat were feeding on the shore as was a Wheatear. 35 Oystercatcher were on the shore and a couple of Grey Heron were chasing each other over the oyster farm. I stopped to watch the Stonechat for a while, something I always enjoy, as they are little birds so full of character.

Stonechat

A young Starling that had partially moulted into its adult plummage was on the shore. I think they are very attractive birds when they are at the stage of still having juvenile plummage on their heads but adult on their bodies. I came across a high tide roost of a few Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Sanderling.

Starling

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover and Turnstone

Sanderling

A Sparrowhawk came low along the shore again scattering waders, Linnets and Meadow Pipits in all directions. I tried for some photos as it came past and, though not great, I was very pleased to get them.

Sparrowhawk

As I approached Coldharbour an immature Cormorant was on one of the posts and looked great in the light. 5 Little Egret were on Coldharbour together with a Redshank and several Black-headed Gulls. The Little Grebe was diving for food at the back and the Greenshank was back in its usual spot until it got spooked by a dog walker. A couple of Stonechat were flycatching from the back fence.

Cormorant

I sat on the sea wall for a while but it remained pretty quiet out to sea. A 1st winter Black-headed Gull gave some very nice views as it came past and I saw another juvenile Gannet going east.

1st winter Black-headed Gull

1st winter Black-headed Gull

juvenile Gannet

Swallow and House Martins were still coming through but much slower now. I tried for a photo of an obliging Swallow but did not do that well with it but it makes a nice memory shot. A few Sandwich Tern were going both east and west.

Swallow

Sandwich Tern

With the weather rapidly deteriorating I walked up to Chambers Wall. By the railway crossing a Pied Shieldbug nymph gave some nice views.

Pied Shieldbug nymph

A Cetti's Warbler called and 2 Chiffchaff were calling away as I walked up the track. A Blue Tit pair and a Great Tit pair were busy feeding away and a Chaffinch pair flew in. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and a couple of Common Darter. It really was a case then of rain stopping play as the light rain which had started and hadn't been too much of a problem promptly turned torrential. Though it had been a fairly quiet visit it had allowed some good views of what I did see and I had enjoyed it.

Birds seen this visit include: Swallows, House Martins, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Pied Wagtail, 5 Robin, 10 Stonechat, 11 Little Egret, 4 Kestrel, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 10 Sandwich Tern, 28 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Peregrine, 1 Dunnock, 32 and 25 west Linnet, 3 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 98 Ringed Plover, 9 Sanderling, Starlings, 3 Skylark west, 16 Goldfinch, 1 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Gannet west, 2 Greenshank, 1 Shelduck west, 2 Magpie, 35 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Wheatear, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch