First Redwing of the Autumn - Shuart to Reculver 04/10/18

I planned to do a slow walk from Shuart to Reculver today. It was mainly a sunny day with some cloud and a light south westerly wind. It seemed very quiet on the whole when I arrived Shuart. I could hear Great Tit and Blue Tit calling, Robin, Dunnock, Magpie, Wood Pigeon and Wren. A Marsh Harrier (female/immature) flew over in the distance while a couple of Skylark flew overhead. A Chiffchaff called as well. I saw a single Silver-Y moth and also thought I had a Hornet in the distance but I did not manage to catch up with it.

I had a wander along the path and there were still good numbers of Common Darter on the wing and also Ruddy Darter. I also saw a couple of Red Admiral butterflies. 5 Greenfinch were feeding on Blackberries. I could hear a few Long-tailed Tits calling and a Green Woodpecker. A Cetti’s Warbler called nearby but I did not manage to catch sight of it. I also heard a Redwing call from the other side of the hedge, my first for the autumn. a group of 50 House Martin were wheeling around high up before moving west.

I watched some Whirly Gig beetles whirling around in one of the dykes. They are fascinating to watch and move so fast yet never seem to collide. They are certainly well named. A Kestrel flew past as I approached the railway line and gave good views.

Whirly Gig Beetles

I had a walk up to the stables and then onto the sea wall. I could see 4 Pied Wagtail in the far horse paddock and at least 2 appeared to be White Wagtails. Chaffinch appeared to be on the move and I had 60 west in small groups on the walk up to the sea wall. The tide was out and large numbers of Black-headed and Herring Gull were on the shore with 4 Sandwich Tern.

Unfortunately at this point I lost my walking stick as I sat down on the sea wall for a rest and to watch the sea and it had gone when I got up to leave. I guess someone going past must have taken it. Either someone thought that was very funny or perhaps they needed it more than I did. I hoped they might have just moved it, as a practical joke, but there was no sign of it. I can only hope that whoever took it actually needed it more than I did but it did make getting back to Reculver very difficult.

A faded Painted Lady butterfly was near Coldharbour and came to rest right in front of me, which was very obliging of it. They are lovely butterflies.

Painted Lady

A little further on I saw what I think is a Fox Moth caterpillar inching its way along the sea wall.

Fox Moth Caterpillar

There were good numbers of Stonechat and I saw at least 12 during my visit with one in particular giving some very nice views. I found it difficult to get the exposure right as it was into the light but they give nice memory shots.

Stonechat

Stonechat

A lone Chiffchaff was catching flies whilst 12 Redshank were roosting on the rocks before moving off and landing in the oyster farm.

Redshanks

I was very pleased to reach Reculver but had the bonus of seeing a Wall Brown butterfly resting on the concrete by the pumping station. 

Wall Brown Butterfly

There were also 3 Stonechat working their way along the fence.

Stonechat

Birds seen this visit included: Marsh Harrier 1, Wren 2, Dunnock 2, Robin 6, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 4, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit 4, Blue Tit 5, Redwing 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Cetti’s Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Chaffinch 60 west, Kestrel 6, Pied Wagtail 4 with at least 2 alba amongst them, Meadow Pipit 25, House Sparrow 30, Starling 250, Sandwich Tern 4, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull 4, Common Gull 2, Redshank 20, Turnstone 15, Ringed Plover 2, Linnet 150, Swallow 1, House Martin 50, Skylark 5, Magpie 6, Common Buzzard 6, Goldfinch,

Crow Versus Shell - Hampton 03/10/18

I paid a quick visit to Hampton this afternoon. There were 7 Turnstone down on the beach and they gradually worked their way towards me. It was fascinating watching them feeding. A Kingfisher shot past while I was watching them.

Turnstone

A Crow was also on the beach and it picked up a shell and tried all ways to see if anything was inside it.

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

It was another beautiful sunset. We certainly get some stunning ones in this part of the world.

Start of Sunset

A Herring Gull was on the rocks and even though it was in shadow its eye glowed. They are certainly striking birds and the light from the setting sun made an ever changing pattern in the water behind it.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

It was only a short visit but I enjoyed the opportunity to watch the Turnstones and the Crow feeding up close.

Great Skua to Peregrine via Snow Buntings - Reculver 02/10/18

I paid a visit to Reculver after work. The wind was a light north easterly with a mix of sunshine and grey cloud. It was surprisingly mild. A female/immature Marsh Harrier was hunting at the back of the oyster farm but too distant to allow a decent photo but very nice to see. It managed to hunt hassle free as none of the Carrion Crows came to cause it any problems. A couple of Mute Swan flew on a couple of occasions and I could see another 2 at the back and a further 3 down a dyke. The sea appeared to be very quiet.

A Dunlin was roosting with some Ringed Plover on the beach and has started to moult some of its feathers into its winter plumage. 

Dunlin and Ringed Plovers

A very handsome male Stonechat gave very nice, if rather distant, views.

Stonechat

I could see, when looking towards Coldharbour, that a Great Skua had come in close inshore and if I had been up that end I would have got stunning views but unfortunately I was still a long way off. I really hoped that it might fly down the coast towards me but unfortunately it headed straight out to see again. Despite being very distant I tried for a photo and it makes a nice memory shot. I kept an eye out in case in came in close again but I did not see it again for the remainder of the visit. 

Great Skua

I saw at least 10 Corn Buntings throughout the visit. They are actually really pretty birds close up and the pale spot on their face was very noticeable today. 

Corn Buntings

Corn Bunting

As I neared Coldharbour I could see a Brent Goose out to see and on Coldharbour itself there were 15 Mallards and 4 Redshank. 

Redshanks

A person walking along the shingle bank sent up a cloud of Oystercatchers in alarm. There appeared to be about 150. Some flew past me and I tried for a shot. I do not do well, at the moment, when trying for bird in flight photos.

Oystercatchers

I sat and had a rest on the sea wall and the two Snow Buntings flew past me and then a short time later flew back and settled back in the same spot I had seen them in before. They really are beautiful birds and it made my afternoon to see them. 

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

I headed back and the biggest surprise of the afternoon was a juvenile Peregrine that was disturbed by a cyclist and flew up from some rocks. I tried to get some photos as it came past me but it was moving so fast. At one point it saw a Redshank and turned on a sixpence. I managed a photo as it turned and it is amazing to see its tail fanned out. Both photos are very poor but I feel really lucky to have been able to get them.

Peregrine

Peregrine

I kept my eyes open for a Short-eared Owl but did not have any luck. I haven’t seen any for a while now. I would really like to see how this camera copes with low light in flight so will just have to hope at some point I catch up with some owls. 

There was a winter plumage Dunlin on the shore and I tried for a photo. I had to use a very high ISO of 2000 as there was so little light but at least I did manage to get a photo of sorts and I think it was worth trying. 

Dunlin

I finished with a photo of the beautiful sunset .

Sunset

Birds that I saw on this visit include: 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Mute Swan, 1 Marsh Harrier, 16 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 3 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 150 Oystercatchers, 12 Goldfinch, 25 Linnet, 2 Stonechat, 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Great Skua, 25 Meadow Pipit, 10 Corn Bunting, 2 Snow Bunting, 1 Peregrine.

Low Buzzards and a Snow Bunting - Reculver 01/10/18

I managed to finish work a little earlier today and thought I would pay a visit to Reculver and see what I could see. The visit started really well when, as we came down the road to Reculver, I saw 2 Common Buzzards very low over the road. Luckily we were right by a spot that we could pull in so I tried for some photos of them. I managed to get some and felt so lucky as it is the closest I have ever seen a Buzzard before. It really was an incredible encounter.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

 

Feeling well chuffed I wondered what else may be in store. There was a brisk north westerly wind blowing and for once the sea wall was pretty much deserted. I guess everybody else had more sense than to be out on it. There was not a huge amount going out at sea but I did see 8 Common Gulls west. 

Common Gull

Common Gull

I got a very nice surprise when I saw a Brent Goose, presumably the same one I saw the other day, much closer in. It looked very handsome indeed and did not seem to be bothered by the waves as it rode them up and down.

Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Some Sanderling and Ringed Plover were roosting on a close shingle ridge to the wall and therefore gave good views.

Sanderling

Ringed Plover

I got another nice surprise when I had 2 immature Gannets go west. I tried for some photographs but they were a little too far out for me. But at least it makes a nice memory shot.

Immature Gannets

Meadow Pipit numbers are definitely climbing and one was particularly obliging today and allowed me a nice close photograph of it.

Meadow Pipit

Goldfinches were enjoying the seeds from the teasels.

Goldfinch

A couple of Oystercatchers were feeding along the shingle and were also quite close. One prised something out from a shell and then ate it.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Two Mute Swans flew past and as I approached Coldharbour.  I also saw 2 Rock Pipits, one of which rested briefly on one of the groynes.

Rock Pipit

I really hoped that I would be able to see the Snow Bunting today as I still have not managed to see it yet. As there was so few people around  I hoped that improved my chances. I checked carefully as I went along but without any luck. Once I reached Coldharbour I saw movement on the last bit of shingle before the lagoons and there was a Snow Bunting. I felt the luckiest person in the world. I watched it for a while and took some photos before a passing cyclist spooked it and it flew to the shingle bank at the back of Coldharbour. I was so chuffed to have seen it.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

I decided to have a walk round Coldharbour. There were 4 Little Egrets roosting and 27 Mallard on the lagoons and I got a nice surprise when I saw a Little Grebe with them. I could not manage much of a photo but, again, it makes a nice memory shot. 

Mallards and a Little Grebe

I had a rest on the sea wall for a while and then headed for home. By this time I was losing the light but kept my eyes open for a Short-eared Owl but they were noticeable by their absence. I do wonder if they have moved on, or else perhaps are just not hunting in the day at the moment. It was another stunning sunset and made a lovely finish to the afternoon, as did hearing a Little Owl calling.

Reculver Towers at Sunset

Birds I saw during the visit included: 2 Common Buzzard, 7 Redshank, 25 Ringed Plover, 25 Sanderling, 5 Oystercatchers, 10 Turnstone, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 8 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 immature Gannet west, 8 Common Gull west, 7 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 27 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Stonechat, 16 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Dunnock, 1 Kesterl, 1 Little Owl calling.