Whinchats, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits - Shuart to Reculver 02/09/20

I paid a visit to Shuart this morning and on the walk down the road had a small group of 7 Swallows on the wires, a mix of adults and juveniles. A Chiffchaff flicked up from the hedgerow and another 2 were calling further down with a single Willow Warbler working its way along the hedgerow.

Swallow

Swallows

As I had a wander down the track I saw a couple of beautifully fresh and bright immature Willow Warblers and enjoyed watching them as they made their way through the hedgerow. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and one was returning to persistently hover over one of the dykes giving the chance to try for some flight photos..

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

It appeared fairly quiet as I came past the stables. 3 male Blackcap were in one of the Blackberry bushes and 2 Stonechat were on the fence at the back of one of the paddocks. A charm of 35 Goldfinches swirled round as they moved from Teasels to Thistles. Another Stonechat was by the sea wall as I came up onto it. A flock of c150 Starling appeared to be flycatching as they swooped and turned above me. The tide was mostly in and as I started along the wall I could see 17 Turnstone on the rocks.

Turnstones

I was pleased to see 2 Whinchat  with a third seen a little further along. They seemed very wary of the people passing on the sea wall and tended to keep their distance.

Whinchat

Whinchat

A couple of juvenile Stonechats were begging from their parents. They are beautifully marked little birds. 

juvenile Stonechat

adult and juvenile Stonechat

As I headed along the sea wall it became increasingly overcast and noticeably cooler. I saw a good mix and numbers of waders roosting at various points as I made my way towards Coldharbour. 3 Teal flew east and a little further along 4 were a fair distance out on the sea but gradually drifted a little closer in. A short while later 4 Teal flew east and I thought the ones on the sea had taken off but they were still present.

Teal

Teal

Small flocks of Ringed Plover flew past now and then giving the opportunity to try for some flight photos. An adult Dunlin showed its black belly patch well as it came into land. 

Ringed Plover

Dunlin and Ringed Plover

A Knot flying east in the company of 3 Oystercatcher was a welcome sight.

Knot and Oystercatchers

Pied Wagtails were busily feeding along the shore with 3 Yellow Wagtails working their way along the tide line. 3 Bar-tailed Godwit flying east were a good addition to the waders seen today.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Coldharbour had the usual few Black-headed Gulls in attendance and 7 Redshank roosting on one of the banks. 4 Goldfinch were amongst the thistle heads. As I carried on to Reculver I saw another 77 Ringed Plover roosting on the beach on the high tide line roost with 40 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone and 5 Dunlin. A Hobby was over the far edge of the fields and another 3 Stonechat were busy insect catching. The last part of the walk to Reculver was fairly quiet and I finished the visit with a good view of a Carrion Crow as it banked.

Carrion Crow

Birds seen this visit included: 7 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Wren, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, 2 Magpie, 43 Linnet, 8 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 39 Goldfinch, 6 Stonechat, 150 Starling, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 15 Turnstone, 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 98 Oystercatcher, 189 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 49 Turnstone, 46 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 11 Teal, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Sandwich Tern, 7 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, Carrion Crows

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

Young Swallows - Marshside 21/06/19

I had a short window for some bird watching so headed to Marshside to see what I could see from the road. A singing Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat greeted me on arrival. A young Swallow was sitting on the wires waiting to be fed and I left him in peace so as to not disturb the parents when they came back.

young Swallow

Overall it appeared to be very quiet for birds. I could hear a Blue Tit family moving through the hedgerow and a couple of Reed Warblers were busy collecting food. A Ring-necked Parakeet called and Song Thrush, Blackcap and Wren were all singing away. A few Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies were dotted around. I saw 3 Meadow Brown Butterflies but they were decidedly camera shy and I never did manage to get a good shot of one.

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Both Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker called and a Chiffchaff was chiff chaffing away. A couple of Red Admiral Butterflies and a Speckled Wood were on the wing. A little further on I caught sight of a Banded Demoiselle but unfortunately it kept going without stopping. I love watching them, they are beautiful damselflies. A female Cranefly Tipula lunata was resting up allowing some good views.

female Cranefly Tipula lunata

A Cuckoo was calling frequently but I did not hear a female answer today. A Common Buzzard was spiralling above and Swifts were hawking for insects high above me. I disturbed a small moth that flew a short distance before settling down again. I think that it was a Chrysoteuchia culmella. A Holly Blue butterfly settled briefly allowing a photo.

Chrysoteuchia culmella

Holly Blue Butterfly

A little further on a Reed Warbler peeped out at me as it worked its way through the vegetation. An Ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius paused briefly before moving off, they are striking insects. I kept my eyes open for dragonflies but did not have any success today in seeing any. A few Red-eyed Damselflies were resting on the duck weed in the dyke.

Reed Warbler

Amblyteles armatorius

I caught sight of yellow again and thought I had another Ichneumon wasp but then realised it was a Longhorn Beetle. Luckily for me it flew and landed closer to me and I was able to get a couple of photos before it moved on. It was a Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata and was fascinating to watch.

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata

A small family group of Great Tits were calling away and Goldfinch song and calls filled the air as a small group flew over. I had a look in some vegetation that was in the shade and got good views of a Ptychoptera contaminata and also a Pericoma species Moth Fly.

Ptychoptera contaminata

Pericoma species Moth Fly

I caught sight of a small spider with a bright green abdomen and tried for some photos. I did not manage to get much in the photo line but I think that it is either Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa as apparently they are indistinguishable in the field in general appearance and size.

Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa

Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa

A Great Pied Hoverfly Volucella pellucens was busy feeding amongst a flower head and I saw a nymph that I think must be a Speckled Bush-cricket nymph.

Great Pied Hoverfly Volucella pellucens

Speckled Bush-cricket nymph

A female Marsh Harrier was hunting along a field edge and I could see a couple of Common Buzzard one of which was thermalling while the other was hovering before dropping down presumably onto something it had seen. 3 young Swallows were on the wires and Mum/Dad were kept busy feeding them.

Swallow feeding young

I finished off the visit with a Common Green Caspid Bug. I saw some Fringed Water-Lilies out in flower. Alarm calls above from the Swallows alerted me to a Sparrowhawk passing over. It was carrying food presumably back to feed young so hopefully they will do well. I had not been able to spend long but it had been good to be out and had been an enjoyable visit even if a fairly quiet one for birds.

Common Green Caspid Bug

Fringed Water-lily

Sparrowhawk

On the way home I saw a male Marsh Harrier hunting over one of the fields.

Male Marsh Harrier

Birds seen this visit include: 14 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Magpie, 9 Blackbird, 8 Chaffinch, 18 Swallow including at least 8 young, 3 Blackcap, 1 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Song Thrush, Wood Pigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Swift, 19 Goldfinches, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Common Buzzard, Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, 5 Great Tit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Yellowhammer, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Mistle Thrush,