A Goosander, Guillemot and Hovering Wind Turbines - Reculver 08/11/20

As I finished work earlier than expected today I paid a short visit to Reculver this afternoon. It was a beautifully fine afternoon to begin with and a Starling on the rocks by the car park looked stunning in the light.

Starling

Wandering along the sea wall I saw some small duck, a good ways out, fly up briefly from the waters surface before settling back down again a short distance away. I had a sit on the sea wall and after a while the ducks once again flew up and flew low above the water before settling down again a little further on. I was able to see them better this time and I could see that they were 14 Teal.  

Teal

As I neared the green bank I saw a bird flying in from the sea quite high and about halfway between me and Reculver. I could see it was a female/immature sawbill and expecting it to be a Red-breasted Merganser I grabbed a few photos even though it was a long way off. The photos are very heavily cropped but all suggest it could actually be a Goosander with the bird showing a clear cut demarcation line between its head and neck. It isn't as thick necked as I imagined a Goosander would look in flight but is quite heavy bodied. A white chin spot is just about visible in some shots but could be the effect of heavy cropping of the photo. The white wing patch appears not to be separated by a black line but on a photo this cropped would probably be hard to see anyway. In the end I have come down on the side of Goosander because of that sharp demarcation between head and neck but, as always, I could be wrong.

female/immature Goosander

female immature Goosander

A little further along 7 Shelduck were on the sea and looking very smart. Out to sea the wind turbines were once again giving the optical illusion of floating in the air. I have seen it once before when the horizon line becomes lost and a darker band of sea fools the eye into thinking that it is the horizon line resulting in the turbines appearing to hover. 

Shelduck

Optical illusion of hovering Wind Turbines

Cloud cover started to build and the cloud formations looked very striking. The air was suddenly filled with the calls of Golden Plover and 177 birds were wheeling around, the most Golden Plover I have seen so far this winter. I couldn't see what had put them up.

Cloud formation

Golden Plover

I had another sit on the sea wall and just enjoyed watching out to sea for a while. Small numbers of Gannet were on the move with most heading west and a couple coming east.

immature Gannet

I caught sight of a little bird out to sea whirring along and had my only auk for the afternoon when a Guillemot flew east.

Guillemot

Three Great Crested Grebe were off shore and 14 Mallard came into land. I liked the shape they formed as they did so and the stages of landing on the water captured in the photo. It still fascinates me that photos allow me to see things that happen too fast in real life to be able to sufficiently appreciate them.

Mallards

I could see 190 Brent Geese on the sea towards Coldharbour and 110 Oystercatcher roosting on the beach. A Rock Pipit was investigating one of the groynes and 3 Pied Wagtail were along the shoreline with the male flying up to the groyne at one point. The Rock Pipit did not like that at all and chased it off. Out to sea a Sparrowhawk flew in from the north. Four Teal flew west and I wondered if they would join up with the other birds I saw earlier.

Teal

Teal

It was time to start heading back. I could hear multiple alarm calls from the Oystercatchers and turned to see they had been disturbed from their roost by walkers along the shingle bank.  The Oystercatchers flew my way together with some Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and a couple of Dunlin. Tucked in with one of the flocks of Oystercatcher were 2 Curlew.

A couple of Mute Swan flew east out to sea as I made my way back, coming down onto the water near Coldharbour. A little further along another couple of Great Crested Grebe were on the water. A single Teal was close inshore and climbed out onto the rocks but keeping a wary eye on passers-by on the sea wall.

Teal

Teal

I finished an enjoyable visit watching a stream of Brent Geese move west out to sea in an undulating long line. It was a bonus to have had some time for some birdwatching this afternoon.

Brent Geese

Birds seen this visit included: Teal, Shelduck, 9 Gannet 7 west 2 east, 1 Guillemot, 25 Sanderling, 10 Redshank, 18 Mallard, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 2 Mute Swan, 190 Brent Geese. 38 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 2 Curlew,

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 

Redwing, Brambling and a Confiding Whinchat - Shuart to Reculver 03/10/20

I started out from Shuart on an overcast day with showers threatening but it was good to be out. It appeared to be generally pretty quiet as I started down the track. As I came to one of the gaps I could see a flock of 26 Lapwing flying south west in the distance, the largest I have seen for quite a while. 5 Blackbird were on the track with a single Redwing searching for prey amongst the grass, giving some very nice views as it so. They are beautiful birds and my first good view of the autumn is always just that extra bit special.

Redwing

Redwing

Redwing

A couple of the Blackbird were showing clear signs of moult giving both of them quite a striking appearance.

Blackbird

Blackbird

Blackbird

Another couple of Redwing were in the hedgerow further along and 3 Greenfinch called from the back of the hedge before moving along further. There were noticeably a lot fewer Chiffchaff around than my recent visits. On nearing the railway line Skylarks were busily calling away and two small flocks of Chaffinch flew west. I was pleased to hear a Crossbill calling loudly as it flew west with another 8 heading in the same direction a short time later. As I neared the stables 11 Siskin passed overhead calling away as the flew west. I had a check of the horse paddocks and a couple of Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush were in one while Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were flitting about in several paddocks. A flash of orange amongst the mud caught my eye and I was pleased to see a Brambling in the company of 3 Chaffinch in another paddock. They are lovely birds and are always a very welcome sight and one guaranteed to lift the spirits.

Brambling with Chaffinch

On reaching the sea wall a Knot was flying west out to sea and I could see 42 Turnstone roosting on the rocks with more coming in as the tide rose. There was a very smart juvenile amongst them that was later joined by a second juvenile. A Rock Pipit called as it landed on the shore briefly before moving further along. 

Turnstone roost

juvenile Turnstone

two juvenile Turnstones

Oystercatchers were moving along the shore to still exposed feeding areas giving some nice flight views as they did so. 

Oystercatchers

A pair of Stonechat were active on the other side of the sea wall and a Bar-tailed Godwit flew west presumably heading for one of the roosts on the beach. As I headed along towards Plumpudding I was pleased to see a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks and sat on the sea wall for a while to give me time to be able to admire it. It was a little beauty.

Purple Sandpiper

Just before Plumpudding I had another sit on the sea wall so I could have a scan through the wader roost on the beach. There were 14 Curlew and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, presumably the same bird I had seen fly west earlier, tucked in with 168 Oystercatchers. I enjoyed trying for some photos of the various Turnstone that were flying past.

Turnstones

Turnstones

As I approached Plumpudding Island 2 Wigeon flew in and landed briefly before carrying on. 2 Mallard were roosting on one of the islands. Three Stonechat were on Plumpudding Island and 3 Meadow Pipit. The waders from the roost wheeled up as somebody walked along the beach and some of the Curlew appeared above the fence before disappearing from sight again. I always feel very sorry for the roosting birds when they are disturbed, as it must waste vital energy reserves, and here it seems to happen a lot.

Curlew

Curlew

A Whinchat flicked up near the waters edge and perched obligingly and then proceeded to work its way closer and I ended up getting some cracking views of one of the most confiding Whinchat I have ever come across. It was an absolute beauty and a joy to watch.

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

As I carried on towards Coldharbour a couple of Sandwich Tern flew past calling loudly and a Redshank flew up from the shore. 2 Shoveler and 1 Teal landed on the sea and 20 Mallard flew over and also settled on the water. From the land side both Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant called.

Shoveler and Teal

Mallards

A Little Egret was on Coldharbour and 16 Redshank were tucked into one of the banks. As I headed to Reculver I saw a Grey Heron on the edge of the dyke which was having a decidedly bad hair day as the wind ruffled up its head feathers. It was a beautifully smart bird.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

A Rock Pipit was working its way along the shore as I neared Reculver. I had not managed to see a Short-eared Owl over the oyster farm so hopefully another time. As I passed the towers 2 Chiffchaff were in the bushes and 16 Swallow were hawking for insects above the grassy area bringing an enjoyable visit to a close.

Rock Pipit

Birds seen this visit included: 9 Chiffchaff, 13 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Wood Pigeons, 26 Lapwing, 18 Swallow, 3 Magpie, 1 Moorhen, 13 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Dunnock, 4 Skylark, 5 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 27 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 9 Crossbill west, 5 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 10 Reed Bunting, 3 Kestrel, 22 Meadow Pipits, 8 Mute Swan, 2 Collared Dove, 11 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, House Sparrows, 1 Wren, 11 Siskin west, 1 Knot, 88 Turnstone, 2 Rock Pipit, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 184 Oystercatcher, 9 Stonechat, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 14 Curlew, 130 Ringed Plover, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 17 Redshank, 2 Wigeon, 22 Mallard, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Pheasant, Golden Plover, 1 Sanderling, 16 Swallow,