Cuckoos, Greylag Geese and a Thirsty Chaffinch - Shuart to Reculver 12/05/21

Two Blackcap were in full song when I arrived at Shuart this morning with wall to wall sunshine but with an increasingly breezy wind. More Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff song filled the air as I had a wander along the track. A Red Admiral butterfly was making the most of some shelter from the wind and early morning sunshine.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Two Goldfinches flew over and Blue and Great Tits were busy gathering bill fulls of food for youngsters back at the nest. A Wren was its usual power house of song and a Whitethroat kept a wary eye on me as I made my way along.

Whitethroat

The Marsh frogs were calling loudly from the dyke and a Common Buzzard drifted over above. More Blackcap were singing and I saw a couple of females in the hedgerow. The odd Herring Gull was flying over high above with the light shining through their flight feathers.

Herring Gull

A couple of Cetti's were singing at various points as I made my way along and I paused to enjoy the song of a Lesser Whitethroat. A Yellow Wagtail flew over and once again was a vivid splash of yellow against the blue sky. There was a repeated begging call from a Sedge Warbler tucked down in the reeds and a couple of Reed Warbler were singing away. I could hear a Cuckoo calling in the distance and at the same time had a second Cuckoo fly past. I only managed a couple of memory shots but was pleased to be able to get them.

Cuckoo

Cuckoo

Small numbers of Swift were flying west every now and then and as I came up onto the embankment 2 Greylag Geese flew past.

Greylag Geese

A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over towards the sea wall and 2 passing Swifts mated briefly in the air before continuing on west. A Painted Lady butterfly settled for a few moments before continuing on along the embankment.

Painted Lady Butterfly

A couple of Swallow flew west and another 15 were hawking for insects over the horse paddocks at the stables. 2 Pied Wagtails flew west and another couple were in the paddocks. A smart male Chaffinch dropped down for a drink from one of the puddles as I came up to the sea wall.

male Chaffinch

male Chaffinch

It was a quiet and decidedly breezy walk to Plumpudding with a steadily strengthening cool south south westerly wind. A single Redshank was on the shore and at various bushes along the way Whitethroat were working their way through various bushes looking for insects. A Cetti's Warbler was singing explosively as I came up to Plumpudding and a Meadow Pipit and a couple of Reed Bunting were flitting back and fore between the island vegetation and other side of the sea wall. A single Oystercatcher was throwing a ruffled reflection as it kept an eye on passers by on the sea wall.

Oystercatcher

Three Pied Wagtail, a couple of Meadow Pipit and 2 Yellow Wagtail were making the most of the insects on the sea wall and though repeatedly disturbed by people coming past they returned to the same patch of wall each time.

Yellow Wagtail

A pair of Tufted Duck were down their usual dyke and the male Marsh Harrier was up at the back. A Painted Lady Butterfly was making the most of the little bit of shelter from the wind afforded by a patch of flowers near the sea wall and busy drinking nectar.

Painted Lady Butterfly

Painted Lady Butterfly

It kept clouding over as I carried on to Coldharbour but with the strong wind they moved through quite quickly still giving some good sunny intervals in between. A Wheatear popped up at the back of a  shingle ridge as I neared Coldharbour and Sedge and Whitethroat song followed me along.

Wheatear

Coldharbour had its usual inhabitants of a couple of Shelduck and 2 Mallard. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and a single Gannet flew east. A Lesser Black-backed Gull also flew east and a couple of Great Crested Grebe were off shore and busy fishing. One of them raised a spiky crest after each dive.

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

I carried on towards Reculver with the weather alternating between sunshine and the threat of showers but apart from a couple of drops the rain came to nothing. Out to sea a distant Fulmar flew east and 3 Common Tern were off shore. A Common Seal popped its head up briefly while overhead a couple of Common Tern flew inland.

Common Tern

Common Tern

I saw the usual mix of waders on the way to Reculver and a Wren and a Blackcap together with a Whitethroat were singing as I came up to the towers. I paused to enjoy their song and could also hear a Cuckoo calling from the oyster farm while overhead a Kestrel was carrying prey, bringing the visit to a close.

Birds seen this visit included: 9 Blackcap, Jackdaws, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 7 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 1 Robin, 4 Wren, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Jay, 13 Chaffinch, 3 Pheasant, 11 Goldfinches, 25 Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, Herring Gulls, 1 Moorhen, 22 Sedge Warbler, 3 Cetti's, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Cuckoo, 11 Reed Warbler, 20 Swift west, 1 Magpie, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Marsh Harrier, 19 Swallow,  11 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, 12 Linnet, 1 Redshank, 13 Meadow Pipit, 3 Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 1 Wheatear, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Turnstone, 15 Sanderling, 1 Gannet east, 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Tern, 1 Fulmar east, 

A Mugged Grey Heron, Wheatear and a Wall Butterfly - Shuart to Reculver 02/05/21

I started out at Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning. Bird song was in full swing while in the horse paddock a handsome Pheasant was showing off the iridescent colours of his plumage well.

male Pheasant

A wander down the track did not turn up anything unexpected but the sunshine seemed  to have resulted in some of the birds singing even more enthusiastically today. A Wren was positively vibrating with song with tail feathers spread and a rapid fluttering of its wings.

Wren

Sedge and Reed Warblers were in good voice as I neared the railway and two Tufted Duck flew past with another 3 Tufted Duck joining them in the air moments later.

Tufted Duck

A Sparrowhawk was gradually circling higher above me while in one of the dykes a Mute Swan was throwing a perfect reflection in the still water.

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

A Cuckoo had been calling for much of the time I had been walking down the track but had remained firmly out of sight. I came across a predated egg at the side of the path. It was quite large but didn't appear to be big enough for a Mute Swan egg and I wondered if it could be a Greylag Goose egg.

I could see two Oystercatchers in one of the fields as I came up onto the embankment and overhead a couple of Yellow Wagtail called as they flew over. A Mediterranean Gull called from the direction of the sea wall while at the stables, apart from three Pied Wagtails, all was quiet in the horse paddocks. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song nearby but stayed under cover. A Whitethroat was more obliging and kept a wary eye on me as I came past.

Whitethroat

On reaching the sea wall the tide was on its way out and a Grey Heron, landing in the shallow water, drew the unwanted attention of a couple of Herring Gulls who mobbed it repeatedly.

Grey Heron and Herring Gull

Grey Heron and Herring Gull

Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing as I made my way towards Plumpudding and the odd Oystercatcher was along the shore. A Cetti's Warbler was singing on the opposite side of the sea wall while a Rock Pipit was working its way along one of the island edges on Plumpudding Island itself. A couple of Mallard appeared to be the only other occupants apart from a couple of Pied Wagtail but a little further on I caught sight of a single Dunlin on one of the islands with its black belly patch showing well.

Dunlin

A little further along both Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat were in full song and I paused to be able to enjoy listening to both.

Whitethroat

Sedge Warbler

I keep hoping to hear a Grasshopper Warbler but have not had any luck so far despite listening in all likely spots. I am just hoping that it is not like Goldcrest and Redwing where I suddenly realised that I couldn't hear them any more. Still, I can only keep trying each time I come out and hopefully at some point I might be lucky enough to either see or hear one. A little group of flowers offered a welcome splash of colour on the concrete slope of the sea wall and appeared to be a Marigold. 

The odd House Martin was moving west with small numbers of Swallow. Several Skylarks were towering higher in their song flights. Coldharbour was quiet but on the other side of the sea wall a smart male Wheatear showed well.

male Wheatear

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and 7 Common Scoter were off shore. The tide was well out and a couple of Grey Plover were on the exposed Mussel bed. A Whimbrel called as it flew west a good ways out to sea and a small flock of 15 Sand Martin also headed west. I carried on towards Reculver and an Oystercatcher took exception to a passing Carrion Crow and gave chase. It got slightly more than it bargained for when the Carrion Crow turned the tables and nearly took a tail feather from the Oystercatcher. A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the far field edge on the other side of the sea wall.

Oystercatcher and Carrion Crow

Oystercatcher and Carrion Crow

A Little Egret was up over the oyster farm and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. A couple more Stonechat were fly catching as I neared Reculver. Cloud was continuing to build to the south but I still had clear blue sky above and out to sea the wind farm and sea forts shimmered in the heat haze.

With the sun still shining when I reached Reculver I had a check along the path beside the Roman wall to see if there was any sign of a Wall Butterfly. I had almost reached the end when I could see one flying towards me. It alighted very briefly before moving off to patrol again. It continued to be very active and tending, when it did settle, to be tucked down on the dried mud at the base of the wall and mostly obscured by vegetation. I only saw the one but it was a welcome sight, and my first for the year, they are lovely butterflies. It was time to make a move but luckily for me it chose just then to settle briefly in view, choosing a handy shell as a perch, closing its wings on landing and only resting for a moment before it was off again. 

Wall Butterfly

Wall Butterfly

Wall Butterfly

Several patches of Common Fumitory were dotted around, the colour catching my eye as I made my back and brought a walk through on a beautiful spring day to a close.

Common Fumitory

Birds seen this visit included: 5 Pheasant, 10 Blackbird, 2 Collared Dove, 8 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock, 3 Chiffchaff, Jackdaws, 6 Wren, 3 Robin, 9 Blackcap, Wood Pigeon, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Stock Dove, 3 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Whitethroat, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Moorhen, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Mute Swan, 6 Shelduck, 9 Lapwing, Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Swallow, Reed Warblers, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Oystercatcher, 6 Reed Bunting, 3 Pied Wagtail, 10 Linnet, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 17 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Rock Pipit, 8 Mallard, 3 House Martin west, 1 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Stonechat, Skylarks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Grey Plover, 15 Sand Martin, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret

Red Kites and Disagreeing Cuckoos - Chambers Wall to Reculver 30/04/21

I started out from Chambers Wall, on a beautifully sunny afternoon with a very light northerly wind, to the accompaniment of towering Skylark song. A Kestrel coming over was met by a another pair of Kestrel who flew up to meet it and mobbed it until it moved on. A passing Yellow Wagtail was a vivid splash of yellow against the blue sky. A distant male Marsh Harrier was on the hunt but the heat haze made it difficult to get any photos but the spread of wings and tail as it turned was beautiful to see.

male Marsh Harrier

A large bank of cloud was building and looked that it might be heading my way but as I approached the start of the hedgerow on the approach road everything looked amazingly crisp and sharp and in bright light. Above I could see a couple of Red Kites high up and spiralling round as they gradually moved west. They made a great start to the visit.

Red Kites

Red Kites

The Marsh Frogs were very vocal as I made my way towards the railway line and a couple of Cetti's Warblers were giving it everything they had in song. Blackcap, Sedge, Reed and Whitethroat were all in good voice. At various points Peacock butterflies were perched on the path. Several of them appeared to be very worn.

Peacock Butterfly

Each time a rival male entered its territory the perched butterfly would immediately fly up to chase it and the two would rise rapidly, spiralling around each other in an intense duel. Higher and higher until they broke off and one of them would return and reclaim the original territory with the other moving further along.

duelling Peacock Butterflies

duelling Peacock Butterflies

duelling Peacock Butterflies

A Blackbird was singing beautifully as I neared the railway line and the air was literally bursting with Sedge, Whitethroat and Blackcap song. Up above a single Common Buzzard spiralled lazily. A Swallow was over the river as I started along the embankment. It was surprisingly quiet along the embankment. I could hear a Cuckoo calling and Whitethroats were in good voice. A few bees were making the most of the sunshine with a queen Red-tailed Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee  amongst them.

queen Red-tailed Bumblebee

Common Carder Bee

I enjoyed listening to a couple of Lesser Whitethroat as I approached the stables and another was singing there. The cloud had caught up and the sudden drop in temperature was noticeable. An Alderfly on the Alexanders had become very sluggish but the bank of cloud soon moved on and with the returning warmth of the sun the Alderfly was once again on the move.

Alderfly

Alderfly

Alderfly

The male Tufted Duck was down its usual dyke, its bright yellow eye gleaming as it rested tucked partially into the reeds.

male Tufted Duck

A couple of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits were in the paddocks as I came past the stables and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing away. A male Blackbird was tucked into one of the bushes and singing a quiet subsong, only opening its bill a little as it sang.

male Blackbird

The sky had cleared once again as I reached the sea wall and the sea was a beautiful shade of blue. The air was warming up again and with the light wind it made for a very pleasant walk as I turned back towards Plumpudding.

A pair of distant Mediterranean Gulls were heading east and a Shelduck flew out to sea with the light shining through its wings.

Mediterranean Gulls

Shelduck

Plumpudding was quiet with a solitary Redshank and a couple of Mallard. Meadow Pipits flitted from the lower track to the lagoons and back. On the other side of the sea wall I could see the male and female Marsh Harriers up near the railway embankment and a Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were filling the air with song. There was still a real split in the weather between where I was and the bank of cloud to the south with what appeared to be heavy showers in the distance and very faint rumbles of thunder sometimes reaching me. 

Redshank

A Cuckoo flew past as I made my way along to Coldharbour and a Cetti's Warbler made its presence known. Wandering a little further along I saw a couple of Oystercatchers on the shore and a Carrion Crow gave a fly past.

Cuckoo

Carrion Crow

While having a seat on the sea wall an adult Mediterranean Gull flew over the top of me as it moved out to sea before turning and heading west. It looked strikingly pale against the blue sky and is a gull I always enjoy seeing, no matter how often I do. What a beauty.

adult Mediterranean Gull

adult Mediterranean Gull

Coldharbour had its usual occupants of a pair of Shelduck, a couple of Mallard and a few Black-headed Gulls. A Cetti's Warbler was singing away from behind me. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and enjoyed watching the antics of the Turnstone on one of the groynes. There was a continual change around as they dropped down to the little bit of shore that was becoming exposed by the falling tide, together with some Sanderling.

Turnstones

A flock of 135 Sanderling were disturbed from the shore further along and came past before turning to come back in. They flashed light then dark as they twisted and turned with wing bars gleamingly white as they came back in.

Sanderling

I continued on towards Reculver and a few more Sanderling and Turnstone were along the shoreline. A Whitethroat was busily searching for insects and a couple of Little Egret were over the oyster farm.

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Over on the shore side one of a couple of Grey Plover peeped out at me as I passed and a little further along a single Wheatear was on the rocks.

Grey Plovers

Wheatear

Four Shelduck flew east out to sea and there was a flash of white from the rocks as an Oystercatcher had a wing stretch.

Oystercatcher

I sat on the sea wall for a while to watch 2 Short-eared Owls that were hunting in separate areas of the oyster farm. Mostly they were distant but one did come close enough for a memory shot, its yellow eye shining as the light caught it. The other spent a while sat on one of the fence posts.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

A Grey Heron flew onto the rocks on the shore but on seeing a pair of incoming loudly screeching Herring Gulls decided discretion was the better part of valour and beat a hasty retreat.

Grey Heron

As I neared Reculver the odd Stonechat were fly catching while out to sea there were six Mute Swan just gently drifting along. 

Mute Swan

I paused to watch a Cuckoo that I could see was tucked into the side of one of the bushes on the oyster farm and while watching that one a second Cuckoo suddenly popped its head up at the back of the bush.

Cuckoo

Cuckoos

The front appeared to react to the other Cuckoo's presence and as it moved to the back of the bush the second bird flew while the original bird stayed put.

Cuckoos

Cuckoos

Cuckoos

The other Cuckoo flew to the far side of the oyster farm and showed an impressive spread of tail as it came into land. It was far too distant for a photo but does at least give a memory shot even if it is a really poor photo.

Cuckoo

It was time to head for home and as I came past the towers a small flock of Linnet and some Wood Pigeons were making the most of the short grassy area. A calling Little Owl finished off the visit nicely.

Birds seen this visit included: Skylarks, 6 Blackbird, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Kestrel, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Robin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Red Kite, 18 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 6 Reed Bunting, 5 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 9 Chaffinch, 4 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 21 Whitethroat, Carrion Crows, 4 Magpie, Wood Pigeons, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Cormorants, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Swallow, 4 Cuckoo, 21 Linnet, 2 Coot, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Collared Dove, 8 Mute Swan, 1 Tufted Duck, 3 Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, 2 Corn Bunting, 15 Meadow Pipit, 3 Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Shelduck, 166 Sanderling, 40 Turnstone, 3 Pheasant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Little Owl