Common Gulls, Mushrooms and a Quiet Wander - Bishopstone to Reculver 7/11/19

I paid a visit to Bishopstone this afternoon.  There was a breezy south westerly wind with sunny intervals. The Glen appeared to be surprisingly quiet for birds but certainly not for dog walkers with a constant stream of them moving through. I cannot imagine that the birds get a lot of peace here. As I headed through I caught up with a fair number of common birds but surprisingly did not see a Goldcrest. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called and a couple of Jays gave some nice views as they flew from tree to tree. A Grey Squirrel peeped out at me as I passed and a profusion of small mushrooms grew at the base of one of the trees.

Grey Squirrel

I made my way down to the shore and there were 10 Common Gulls mixed in with the Black-headed Gulls that were dotted along the shoreline, with another 5 further along. I enjoyed the opportunity to watch them for a while

Common Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull

4 Redshank were nervously patrolling the shoreline and a Rock Pipit was busy searching for food.

Redshank

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

I came across a good variety of mushrooms. The Parasol Mushroom was huge and was the largest I have seen, easily the size of a dinner plate. There was another large one higher up that gave the chance to see the underside well.

With the tide a fair way out I decided to head along the shore to Reculver. I watched fascinated as a Carrion Crow flew up several times with the same bit of seaweed. The first couple of times it dropped it onto the sand before landing and picking though it. It then tried a different tack of teasing it out mid air before landing and, once again, picking through it.

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

I had hoped for some waders but with the afternoon turning fine and sunny the shore proved to be popular with both dog walkers and walkers and there was a steady stream through and apart from another few Redshank and a Curlew going past out to sea I didn't see any other waders. A couple of Little Egret gave some good views as they came past with their yellow feet showing well in the sunshine.

Little Egret

Little Egret

A small group of Brent Geese dropped in briefly with more flying west while chattering away.

Brent Geese

Brent Goose

Brent Geese

On reaching the car park at Reculver I was greeting by a gorgeous little Wren and a very smart Pied Wagtail making a nice finish to the visit.

Wren

Pied Wagtail

Birds seen this visit included: 15 Blackbird, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 11 Chaffinch, 4 Wren, House Sparrows, 6 Robin, 4 Dunnock, 5 Collared Dove, 3 Jay, Herring Gull, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Goldfinches, Starlings, 3 Great Tit, 2 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Common Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 9 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 2 Little Egret, 48 Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail

A Nuthatch Encounter - East Blean Wood 17/02/19

I went to East Blean Wood, after work, to see if I could catch up with any woodland birds for the year.

I started in an area I have not visited before and was thrilled when the first bird that I saw was a Nuthatch (101). I had hoped to catch up with one. It was very active and mainly obscured but I got some nice views. I tried for a photo but did not have much success but it does make a good memory shot. There was a small group of mixed Tits comprising Blue, Great and Long-tailed.

Nuthatch

I carried on and flushed a Woodcock (102). Even though I was keeping an eye out, I had not seen it at all, they are so well camouflaged. It was, however, a very welcome sight. I caught up with a Coal Tit (103) and saw 3 throughout my visit.

Coal Tit

I thought that I heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling but I cannot be 100% sure. It is a long time since I have heard one. I will need to try again and see if I can have any luck catching up with it again. I would love to be able to see one.

I carried on and heard some Jay's alarm calling. A Common Buzzard flew out of a tree on the edge of the wood and soared above me before moving off. One of the Jay's landed in a tree a little way away and I tried for some photos as it was more or less in a gap through the branches. They are beautiful birds. It sat looking round for a while before moving on.

Jay

Jay

I caught sight of a Goldcrest that was busily looking for food and very active. Their calls are too high for me to hear now and I really miss being able to. They are gorgeous little birds.

Goldcrest

I saw 3 Grey Squirrels during my visit. This one was high in a tree tucking into something.

Grey Squirrel

I came across a Bracket fungus and I think that it is tinder fungus (hoof fungus).

Bracket Fungus - hoof fungus

Bracket Fungus - underside

A lot of the moss was showing new growth and some had fruiting bodies on them. They are so delicate.

Moss with fruiting bodies

I finished off the visit with a Tawney Owl (104) calling which made the perfect end to the afternoon.

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Woodcock, 3 Jay, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 1 Wren, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Tawney Owl calling.