Sandwich Terns, Gannets and a Red-breasted Merganser - Shuart to Reculver 06/11/20

I headed back to Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning and from the approach road could see a large group of 27 Red-legged Partridge in one of fields. They glowed in the early morning light and the few nearer the road scuttled to the edge of the hedgerow as we came down and peeped out before moving back to the others and continuing feeding.

Red-legged Partridge

It seemed fairly quiet from the car park area with just the usual suspects present. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling and a pair of Magpies were scolding at something I couldn't see. Skylarks were above and a couple of Robin were in the midst of a territory disagreement. As I headed towards the track a single Stock Dove peeped down at me.

Stock Dove

Making my way down the track I saw a flock of 7 Redwing fly over and I enjoyed watching the odd Goldcrest that I came across. It continued to have a fairly quiet feel to it today but was a beautiful morning for a walk through. Another 10 Red-legged Partridge were at the back of one of the fields and a Water Rail was vocal. I could hear alarm calls and through a small gap between the bushes I caught sight of the Hen Harrier but by the time I reached a gap in the hedgerow there was no sign. It is certainly a beautiful bird. The moon was still very visible in the blue sky and looked stunning.

Moon

I had heard four Cetti's Warbler in total by the time I reached the railway line and 28 Stock Doves were over in one of the fields. The two Stonechat were once again in the area of the crossing. From the stables I could see 14 Redwing in one of the paddocks and another 2 Cetti's Warblers were vocal. 15 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. As I reached the sea wall a Great Black-backed Gull flew over with the light really catching its eye.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

The tide was a good way out when I reached the sea wall and I could see 120 Oystercatchers stretched out along the shore. 10 Great Black-backed Gulls were loafing around and a single Dunlin was busily feeding. A Curlew flew east out to sea and 15 Sanderling were at the waters edge. Out to sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe offshore. I came across a group of Oystercatchers that had been attracted to the same small pool of water and they were almost exactly evenly spaced out.

Oystercatchers

As I headed towards Plumpudding I caught up with a small mix of waders and far out to sea I could see 2 Sandwich Tern fishing. I am going to miss watching those. The light caught a Mute Swan's eye as it came past and highlighted its feathers beautifully. 5 Common Gulls were on the shore and out to sea 3 Gannet headed east.

Mute Swan

A flock of 94 Mallard came in to land out to sea and I could see 3 Wigeon in amongst them. 240 Brent Geese also flew in and are always a very welcome sight. They tend to be a bit of a show stopper as well with quite a few people on the sea wall pausing to watch them come in. 

Brent Geese

Plumpudding Island proved to be very quiet and I could not see the Snipe today. A beautiful male Stonechat looked stunning in the light and I enjoyed watching it for a while.

Stonechat

On the way to Coldharbour I could see 12 Gannet flying west in small groups and 4 Brent Geese gave a flypast with the light beautifully highlighting their wings. 

Brent Geese

Coldharbour was deserted but the disturbance from walkers along the shingle bank was high. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the other side of the sea wall but otherwise all was quiet. A Mushroom was growing amongst the vegetation on the shingle by the sea wall. I am not sure at the moment which it is.

Mushroom

I headed on towards the green bank and off shore I could see another couple of Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver but otherwise it stayed quite quiet. 29 Golden Plover flew up from one of the fields.

Golden Plover

Another Cetti's Warbler was calling as I carried on towards Reculver and I could hear the Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea 5 Gannet flew west.

Gannet

A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm but I could not see any Short-eared Owls today. A couple of Redshank alarm called. A single Shelduck was off shore and glowed in the sunlight.

Shelduck

I had a final sit on the sea wall just before I reached Reculver and watched out to sea for a while. It proved to very quiet with just another couple of Gannet west. Having watched for a while with nothing much happening I got my phone out to arrange a pick up from Reculver and a Red-breasted Merganser flew east. It is amazing how often a good bird waits until you have your hands full. By the time I had managed to put the phone down and get the camera on it the Merganser had flown well east. It has been a difficult and painful week and sometimes frustration gets the better of me and I lose my sense of humour briefly and this was definitely one of those moments. Luckily it only ever lasts for a couple of minutes but I can probably fit a years worth of swear words in, in that time, which is not good. Ah well. It was a lovely bird to end the visit with and though the photo does not do it credit it gives me a good memory shot and I was grateful to have seen it.

Red-breasted Merganser

Birds seen this visit included: 37 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Skylarks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 10 Robin, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 21 Chaffinch, 29 Stock Dove, 27 Blackbird, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 4 Wren, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Corn Bunting, 13 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Common Gull, 22 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern, 94 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser

Great Northern Diver, Gannets and a Leucistic Mallard - Reculver to Shuart 30/10/20

There was a breezy south westerly wind as I walked from Reculver this morning with some sunny intervals and out to sea the tide was coming in quite fast. The rocks by the car park were quiet with even the local Robin seemly keeping its head down in the wind. A single Brent Goose was out by the point and 3 Pied Wagtails on the grass by the towers as I made my way to the sea wall. Overhead 5 Swallow flew west and coming up to the oyster farm I could see a single Turnstone and 17 Ringed Plover roosting on the shore with a few Black-headed Gulls. Out to sea appeared quiet apart from any gulls that were on the move. A Grey Seal popped its head up briefly, showing its head profile well, but submerged again moments later and that was the last I saw of it. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and enjoyed watching the few Gannets that were on the move with most heading west. They were mainly very distant but one came through closer in and shone brightly against the sky.

Gannet

Gannet

As I carried on a few Great Black-backed Gulls were off shore or heading east. 10 Sanderling and 17 Ringed Plover flew east in a mixed flock and a single Great Crested Grebe lifted off from the sea and headed west. Skylarks were calling from above and 5 Chaffinch flew west. I was watching a Turnstone tossing sea weed around on the shore and idly looked up to see a large thickset diver flying west. Looking good for a Great Northern I grabbed a few photos which, though they are really bad and heavily cropped, do give me a couple of memory shots of a very welcome and smart Great Northern Diver. What a beautiful sight.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

Carrying on towards the Green Wall I caught up with more Turnstone and Ringed Plover and a couple of Redshank called from the oyster farm. I had a flock of 11 Little Egret flying west and they are always quite a sight in a large flock.

Little Egret

I paused again to watch a Turnstone as it looked for food amongst the items left behind at the high tide line. Bits of seaweed were flying this way and that as it tossed them aside.

Turnstone

Turnstone

A little further on some Ringed Plover were roosting on one of the shingle ridges. Most were hunkered down from the wind but one intrepid Ringed Plover was excelling in the art of standing on one leg despite being repeatedly buffeted by the wind.

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Out to sea 48 Mallard flew west before wheeling round and heading back east and coming down near Coldharbour. There appeared to be a very pale duck amongst them so I hoped it would still be around if I caught up with them again. A Great Crested Grebe flew west and another few Gannet were also heading west.

Mallard

During another sit on the sea wall I enjoyed watching a Gannet also giving a closer flypast before it carried on west, plunge diving at one point for fish before carrying on. A Sandwich Tern followed the Gannet in before carrying on east.

Gannet

Sandwich Tern

I couldn't hear the Water Rail today, when I reached the junction with the Green Wall but the wind was steadily picking up and made hearing calls difficult. Another 7 Chaffinch flew west. A Cormorant flew in and successfully ousted a sitting bird off the marker pole before sitting with its feet holding on to the edge to help keep itself in place.

Cormorants

Cormorants

A few Common Gull were flying west in ones and twos as I made my way along towards Coldharbour. 3 Corn Bunting paused briefly at the top of one of the bushes before carrying on towards the oyster farm and a Rock Pipit flew along the shore. A Kestrel showed its total mastery of the air as it hovered perfectly facing into an increasingly strong and gusty breeze yet managing to keep rock steady. As I neared Coldharbour another Gannet started to fly in closer before continuing west. They are striking birds and I love watching them.

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Coldharbour held the usual two Mute Swans and 16 Redshank were roosting on the bank. A Little Egret was disturbed as two dog walkers walked along the shingle bank at the back and gave a great view of its wings as it moved over before watching the dog walkers warily and only settling down again to roost once they were well past. The Redshank alarmed called but held their nerve today, instead of their usual panicked response, and stayed put until the people had gone past.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Once I reached the other side of Coldharbour I had another sit on the sea wall and enjoyed watching the small numbers of Common Gull that were heading west and giving good views as they came past.

1st winter Common Gull

1st winter Common Gull

2nd winter Common Gull

The Mallards I had seen flying earlier were still steadily drifting east and rather obligingly came straight past me giving the chance to catch up with the pale bird which appeared to be a leucistic Mallard. The flock size had increased to 94.

leucistic Mallard

leucistic Mallard

leucistic Mallard

Four Brent Geese were off shore and after lifting off they gave some good views as they flew in. The first winter birds pale upperwing covert tips showing well and as the geese turned in the sunshine their flanks shone, appearing quite pale before becoming the usual darker colour once again as the birds turned from the light.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

The weather appeared to be going off with threatening rain but I decided to try and continue through towards Shuart as it is unlikely that I will get much chance for bird watching for the next few days. As I neared Plumpudding I could see some Grey Plover ahead roosting on the shingle edge.

Grey Plover

A flock of 58 Sanderling came into land with a few Turnstone and 28 Ringed Plover. I could see some kids heading along the beach and next second all the waders took to the air. There turned out to be 20 Grey Plover and also 1 Dunlin tucked in with them.

Grey Plover and Turnstone

Eleven Brent Geese were in one of the fields beside the sea wall and did not seem too perturbed by the people passing by.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

12 Redshank were roosting on Plumpudding Island but apart from a Stonechat and a couple of Meadow Pipit all else was quiet there.

Redshank

By the time I sat on the sea wall on the other side of Plumpudding the Mallard flock were still drifting east and gave me another chance to catch up with the leucistic Mallard. It was certainly a pretty duck.

leucistic Mallard

I could see 8 Curlew and c80 Oystercatcher roosting at the back of Plumpudding but they were too far away to see what else may be amongst them. Nearing the turn off for the stables a flock of House Sparrows were flying down to the rocks and small flocks of Chaffinch continued to head west now and then. A couple of Goldfinch flew from the Teasels and another 3 Pied Wagtail were along the shore. I have certainly done well for Pied Wagtail today. A couple of Sandwich Tern headed west.

Sandwich Tern

As I passed the stables I could see 3 Lapwing in one of the paddocks but otherwise it was surprisingly quiet and I could only see the usual jobs. Making my way through Shuart there were 42 Stock Dove in one of the fields feeding on the remnants from the harvested Sweetcorn crop. 5 Magpie and a couple of Mute Swan had also joined them together with a flock of Wood Pigeon and some Feral Pigeons.

Stock Doves

Stock Doves

I disturbed 3 Common Darter from the ground at various points as I walked along the track at Shuart, having missed them each time until they flew. I hoped that they might resettle within sight but none of them played ball today. A Mistle Thrush called and a couple of Redwing and a few Blackbird were making the most of the berries. A mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits were making their way rapidly through the hedgerow but I could see how many of each. I paused to take a photo of a Robin and it flew over to take a closer look before disappearing back into the hedgerow.

Robin

Robin

Three Green Woodpecker were alongside the track and a couple of Jay alarm called as I passed by. 2 Ring-necked Parakeet were vocal and gave a fleeting view as they appeared briefly above the trees. A Migrant Hawker was on the wing despite the cool conditions. I finished the visit watching a Grey Squirrel that was busily burying its food cache for the winter.

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel burying food cache

Birds seen this visit included: 16 Brent Goose, 20 Pied Wagtail, 11 Blackbird, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 13 Magpie, 8 Mute Swan, 15 Swallows west, 38 Starling west, 6 Robin, 10 Meadow Pipit, 88 Turnstone, 109 Ringed Plover, 6 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Stonechat, 16 Gannet 13 west 3 east, 6 Sandwich Tern, 6 Reed Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Corn Bunting, 31 Redshank, 12 Skylark, 6 Wren, 36 Chaffinch west, 68 Sanderling, 1 Great Northern Diver, 12 Little Egret, 97 Mallard, 4 Kestrel, 9 Common Gull, 20 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 8 Curlew, c80 Oystercatcher, 11 Goldfinch, House Sparrows, 3 Lapwing, 4 Dunnock, 48 Stock Dove, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Redwing, 2 Jay, 1 Mistle Thrush, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet,