Goldcrest, Yellow-browed Warbler and a Snow Bunting - Chambers Wall to Reculver 16/10/20

Rain was blowing through the wind on a very overcast day as I arrived at Chambers Wall but luckily it did not come to anything. Skylarks were calling from above as I made my way down the approach road and a handsome male Sparrowhawk streaked away from the hedgerow as I approached. Above, 10 Siskin flew west and along the hedgerow I was greeted by the sight of flocks of Goldcrest working their way through. Within moments I had seen flocks of 7, 6 and another 6 flying to various bushes before dropping in and starting to acrobatically look for food. It was just beautiful to see so many of them. 

Goldcrest

More Goldcrests were in the bushes around the car park area and as I made my way down the track the hedgerow was alive with Goldcrests and a good mix of birds. I paused to watch several Goldcrests acrobatically working their way through one of the bushes and while scanning through them I was thrilled when I saw a small wingbarred warbler move out into view amongst them. It only gave two brief views and did not call but even though brief, the views were good, and seeing it both from the back and the side enabled me to see everything that made it perfect for a Yellow-browed as well as seeing its rump (not lemon yellow) as it flicked back into cover and its crown from the front (no obvious crown stripe) when it turned. Having noted what I could I tried for a photo but saw it move to the next section of bush and could not see where in the view finder so grabbed a few photos of the bush in the hopes that I might be lucky enough to get a shot of it. Moments later all the birds had continued moving through to the next bushes and I didn't manage to catch up with it again. When I got home I looked through the photos to see if by any chance I had managed to catch it. I found something in one of the photo and though it is incredibly heavily cropped, and it may be that I haven't actually even managed by sheer luck to get a photo of the Yellow-browed, it will always remind me of the brief encounter I had with a beautiful warbler.

Hoping I have a shot of it in there somewhere

Incredibly heavily cropped and something is there

After that excitement I carried on down and a Brambling flew over calling and a little further along another Brambling was calling from the back of the hedgerow just giving tantalising glimpses now and then through gaps in the branches. A couple of Migrant Hawkers were on the wing. Above a couple of flocks of Fieldfare and a flock of 12 Redwing headed west and in the hedgerow a few were enjoying the berries. Small flocks of Chaffinch were also moving west. As I approached the crossing 2 more Brambling were heading west. By now I had seen 72 Goldcrests and that was just the ones I had seen and there must have been many more. Every bush seemed to hold them. What an amazing sight. As I headed along to Coldharbour a Meadow Pipit's chest and belly glowed surprisingly white against the berries it was sitting next to.

Meadow Pipit

A Mute Swan and a Little Egret were on Coldharbour and 25 Redshank were roosting. A couple of Stonechat were active and Meadow Pipits headed back and fore but otherwise it was quiet. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and the tide was on its way out. Though it was quiet out to sea I just enjoyed watching the odd gulls that were moving around and amongst the usual Black-headed and Herring Gulls a Common Gull and also 3 Great Black-backed Gulls flew east. Two Greylag Geese called briefly as they flew high overhead. I was grateful for the call as I had missed them coming in from the north while I was watching the gulls. They gradually lost a little height as they headed inland but carried on and did not appear to come down. 

Greylag Geese

Another couple of Stonechat popped up as I made my way towards Reculver and a Snow Bunting was searching for seeds along the base of the sea wall and could have been the same one I saw the other day. They really are beautiful birds and it appeared to be finding a good number of seeds amongst the vegetation at the foot of the sea wall. It only moved back to the shore side when a group of cyclists passed by.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

I had another sit on the sea wall and realised that I had missed a message from Matt Hindle saying that there was a Pallas's Warbler in Reculver bushes. What a great find. Getting there in time with enough light would be a bit more of a problem, as my walking ability was having a decidedly off day today and I was still quite a way away but it was worth trying for. It was amazing as I headed back to see so many Goldcrest in the vegetation alongside the sea wall. I can honestly say that I have never seen so many Goldcrest on a single day as I have seen today. They were everywhere and an absolute joy to watch.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

A small flock of Goldfinch were busy extracting seeds from some of the Teasels and one of them was close to the sea wall and gave a good view as it delicately picked them out and pausing to eat them.

Goldfinch

A Brent Goose was close inshore and appeared to be eating thin strands of vegetation that it picked up from just under the seas surface.

Brent Goose

The sun light coming below the clouds had broken into a ribbon of sunbeams and was an amazing sight.

Sunbeams

Even though the light was fading fast Goldcrests were still active and the vegetation alongside the sea wall continued to be alive with them.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

It was dusk by the time I reached Reculver and I could not manage to find the Pallas'. I enjoyed watching the last few Goldcrest I saw in the gloom but with walking ability almost non-existant by now I was very grateful to reach the pick up point. Today though will be a day I remember for a long time. The sight of so many Goldcrests was a sight to behold and a gem of a Yellow-browed Warber the icing on the cake.

Birds seen this visit included: Skylarks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Chiffchaff, 25 Robin, 7 Wren, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Siskin, 86 Fieldfare, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 3 Song Thrush, 44 Chaffinch, 145 Goldcrest, 5 Dunnock, 12 Blackbird, 7 Mute Swan, 32 Goldfinch, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Golden Plover, 4 Brambling, 12 Redwing, 12 Lapwing, 4 Magpie, 3 Grey Heron, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Brent Goose, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Reed Bunting, 8 Stonechat, 2 Coot, 27 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Moorhen, House Sparrows, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl, 

Sunbeams, Coal Tits and Willow Warbler Song - Broomfield Track 10/04/20

I had an early morning walk for my exercise walk today and the air was full of bird song as I made my way along. More Whitethroat were in evidence today and I enjoyed listening to their song and calls. None were in the mood to be photographed though as they flitted from song post to song post, marking out their territory. As I came along the bottom path the sun was streaming through the trees and the effect of the sunbeams and backlit leaves was beautiful.

There also appeared to be more Blackcap in today and at various points the air was alive with their song. A Rabbit enjoying the sunshine seemed remarkably unconcerned with my presence and only moved off at a leisurely pace when I got nearer.

Rabbit

Two male Blackcap were chasing each other through one of the trees and the victor allowed a quick shot as he paused to check that the other bird had moved on. I heard my first Willow Warbler (107) of spring singing and it was lovely to hear the song once again.

Blackcap

A Fieldfare called as it flew across and 2 Red-legged Partridge flew up in a flurry of wing beats before disappearing into cover. Just before I started up towards the upper path I could hear a couple of Coal Tits calling from above me. They are lovely little birds and I always enjoy listening to their calls and song. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was busily drumming away and a Ring-necked Parakeet called.

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

The rest of the walk was very pleasant in the early morning sunshine but remained fairly quiet. A Common Buzzard flew over and a little while later a Sparrowhawk rose lazily into the sky. I finished my walk with a Speckled Wood butterfly enjoying the warmth in a patch of sun.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

In the afternoon, while out in the garden, the local Herring Gulls started to kick up a fuss and the cause turned out to be a passing Red Kite which was a very welcome sight. I did not manage much in the photo line but it is nice to have couple of memory shots.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Birds seen this visit included: 6 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Wren, 6 Dunnock, 8 Blackbird, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Robin, House Sparrows, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, 2 Collared Doves, 12 Chaffinch, 2 Coal Tits, 10 Blackcap, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Stock Dove, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk