Gannets, Teal Encounter and a Shortie - Reculver 11/10/20

I came down to Reculver after work and thought I would try for a short wander along the sea wall. There was a cold north westerly breeze with sunny intervals and the tide was on the way out. As I came to the pumping station I could see a Kingfisher tucked in out of the wind and out to sea Black-headed and Herring Gulls were moving to and fro while a good way out a couple of Curlew flew west. A Stonechat popped up next to the sea wall and its eye glinted in the light.

Stonechat

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and had 4 Gannet east and and another 4 west. From the ages of the first bird I saw they appeared to be different birds rather than the same ones coming back but as I saw more it became difficult to know so I have just recorded as east or west. 

Gannets

Five Common Gulls flew east in a couple of groups and 6 Great Black-backed Gulls. A single Brent Goose flew west coming reasonably close in.

Brent Goose

I could see a small duck coming, close in to shore, that was being pursued by a juvenile Herring Gull. The gull broke off but the duck kept coming and gave some nice views of its wing pattern before coming down on the sea close by. It was a gorgeous Teal and a lot closer than I normally see them at sea.

Teal

Teal

It settled down for a preen and seemed at home amongst the waves.

Teal

It looked so small as the waves came towards it but appeared to take them in its stride using two approaches. It either turned sideways and rode the wave in or faced it head on and took briefly to the air to glide over it.

Teal tackling waves

Teal tackling waves

Teal eying up the next wave

Teal tackling wave with a different approach

After a while more preening it moved off, its speculum changing colour depending on the angle of the light. I had thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Teal

Teal

Teal

It was time to head for home. 55 Mallard flew out to sea and settled on the water near Coldharbour.

Mallards

The largest flock of Gannet I had seen during the visit headed east with nine birds in the flock.

Gannets

On the way back a single Short-eared Owl was up over the oyster farm which was a welcome sight. Though it remained distant it gave some lovely views as the light shone through its wings.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

As I neared Reculver a partial Rainbow glowed faintly in the dark clouds above and another Gannet flew east reasonably close in.

Rainbow

Gannet

Up by the towers another couple of Common Gull were in amongst the Black-headed Gulls with one being almost unconcerned by passers by and remaining fairly close.

Common Gull

Common Gull

Starlings were using the tower ruins as a launch pad down to the grassy areas and the air was full of their constant whistles and chatter.

Starlings

Starlings

Starling

I finished the visit by watching the rain showers moving through out to sea and enjoying the ever changing scene of the clouds as they came over.

Rain showers out to sea

Birds seen this visit included: 1 Kingfisher, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Curlew, 4 Stonechat, 8 Gannet, 32 east, 11 west, 1 Oystercatcher, 7 Common Gull, 6 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Brent Goose, 2 Rock Pipit, 7 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, Starlings 

A Wind Swept Reculver - 13/03/19

Unfortunately my bit of time free today coincided with strong winds as we got the tail end of storm Gareth. Other parts of the country had much higher winds, so we were lucky but there were still between 40-50 mile westerly gusts. I did not have time to go further afield so I thought I would give Reculver a go and just see what I could see. If the wind was too bad at least I could shelter at the towers. The tide was partially out when I arrived but was coming in fast. There were a few gulls dotted around on the shore and I could see some Sanderling, Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover.

I headed towards the towers but had no luck with seeing the Black Redstart again. Hopefully it was sheltering out of the wind somewhere. Small numbers of gulls were passing west. Mainly Herring Gull with a few Great Black-backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. I also had a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Even tucked out of the wind as much as I could be I struggled to get photos of the gulls, as most came out blurry with the camera movement in the wind. Even when I thought I was holding the camera steady I clearly was not.

I got some shots of a passing 3rd year Great Black-backed Gull. It was moulting several of its primary feathers.

3rd year Great Black-backed Gull

3rd Year Great Black-backed Gull

I enjoyed watching the passing Black-headed Gulls, one of which had an adult Herring Gull flying in formation behind it.

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull

I also had a juvenile Herring Gull. It initially gave me pause so I clearly need lots more practice identifying gulls.

juvenile Herring Gull

juvenile Herring Gull

juvenile Herring Gull

As I came down from the towers I could see a small flock of Starling in the old caravan park field. As the birds at the back of the flock repeatedly flew up and flew to the front of the flock they gave some lovely views of their wings with the light coming through them. I tried for some photos and though they are very noisy I am pleased I have got them as it gives some nice memory shots.

Starlings

Starlings

Starlings

Starlings

I had a walk along the back of the oyster farm but all was quiet apart from a few Redshank. A distant Marsh Harrier flew west and gave some nice, if distant views. Definitely a time when it would have paid to have been standing on the sea wall!

Marsh Harrier

It was nice to be out of the wind for a while when I came down off the green bank and I made my way towards the sea wall. The tide was a lot further in when I got there. I could see a few Turnstone busily feeding along the waters edge but other wise it was very quiet.

I walked up to Coldharbour to see if anything was sheltering up there. 15 Mallard were tucked down on the far bank. Unfortunately somebody walking along the shingle bank put them all up. I felt sorry for them but it did give an opportunity to try for a flight shot.

male and female Mallard

A Redshank was blending in well on the near bank, its only the red-orange legs that give it away, and another 3 flew from the far bank when the duck went up.

Redshank

I turned to head back and walking into the wind proved to be highly unpleasant. It was not improved by a couple of very heavy showers, one of which managed to contain snow, hail and rain all at the same time. Hail in strong wind is not a good combination!

I had a flock of 15 Brent Geese east, quite high and a second flock of 35 came through, in the same direction but further out, a little later.

Brent Geese

At one point a very brief partial rainbow appeared. They are always a joy to see and lift the spirits, whatever the weather.

Partial Rainbow

A couple of Ringed Plover were sheltering on the track, to the left of the sea wall. They appeared to be a pair and gave some nice views.

male Ringed Plover

female Ringed Plover

A pair of Mallard also flew up from the track. The male's wings were in an advanced stage of moult of some of his primary and secondary feathers.

male Mallard

male Mallard

male and female Mallard

The sea breaking against the rocks gave some quite impressive spray.

Sea Spray

It was good to reach the car park but I was pleased that I had come.

Birds seen this visit include: Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 75 Starling, 5 House Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 6 Reed Bunting, Skylarks, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 23 Mallard, 58 Brent Geese, 7 Ringed Plover, 7 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, 9 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat