Floating Goldfinch - Reculver 21/11/18

I paid a visit to Reculver this afternoon. Unfortunately the wind over the last few days has been perfect for seeing passing seabirds and I have been unable to get down as I have been working. Today, when I could finally get here, the wind has swung round to south easterly and everything was pretty quiet. Each time there has been a good seawatch I have been working. Ah well. Such is life. It was nice to have some sunshine for the first part of my visit but it was very cold. I had a look for the Black Redstart but could not see any birds on the rocks by the car park today. A couple of Redshank flew in to the rocks at the foot of the towers and I managed to get a couple of shots.

Redshank in flight

Redshanks landing

I headed on and could see a distant winter plumaged Great Crested Grebe out to sea and there were a couple of Lapwing on the old caravan site. Out to sea I saw an unusual combination of 2 Brent Geese and a Cormorant flying in formation. They were very distant but I tried for a photo and though it is cropped a lot, it does make a nice memory shot. I also had a Little Egret fly past and then come into the oyster farm. They certainly have an impressive wing span. A Great Crested Grebe flew east and a Red-throated Diver flew west.

Brent Geese and Cormorant in formation

I carried on along the sea wall, moving over regularly for cars and vans as the workmen headed up to the works that are taking place on the outflow near Coldharbour. I kept my eyes open for an owl or harrier but all was quiet. There were however good numbers of Stonechat, I saw at least 7 during the visit. They are lovely little birds. There were also good numbers of Meadow Pipit and I saw 22 during the afternoon.

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

I continued heading towards Coldharbour and saw 3 Teal going east followed by 6 Eider going in the same direction. 

Eider in flight

Eider in flight

There was a very sweet Blue Tit busily feeding on the other side of the sea wall.

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

During the afternoon I saw a total of 34 Brent Geese with 3 giving nice reflections in the water as they flew low over the sea. I also saw a couple of Curlew but could not get a decent photo. The tide was slowly going out giving the chance to catch up with a few waders. I had really hoped for an Avocet but did not have any luck so I had to make do with the usual suspects.

Brent Geese and reflections

There did not appear to be anything on Coldharbour which was well named today, as I was frozen by the time I reached it. I had a quick rest and then headed for home. A family group of Goldfinches were feeding on some Teasels. Where one of them was perched on top of a Teasel it looked like it was floating above it. 

Goldfinch on Teasel

A Song Thrush was enjoying a wash and brush up in a puddle of water.

Song Thrush wash and brush up

I could hear a couple of Grey Plovers calling and one flew in and started feeding along the shore, calling regularly and was soon joined by another one. 

Grey Plover

I was pleased to see a group of 6 Sanderling while Turnstone and Ringed Plover were also busy feeding.

Sanderling

I caught sight of a Short-eared Owl very briefly but unfortunately it did not come up again. With the light starting to fail I headed for home. A group of Brent Geese were feeding near the pumping station outflow. 

Brent Geese

One of the Lapwing was nearer on the old caravan park. I tried for  photo but had to use a high ISO but at least it enabled me to get a shot.

Lapwing

I had a check for Little Owl but could not see one today. A Common Gull was feeding once again on the grass by the towers and was a nice finish to the visit.

Birds I saw this visit included: 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 25 Redshank, 15 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plover, 9 Sanderling, 2 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 34 Brent Geese, 5 Blackbird, 6 House Sparrows, 64 Linnet, 2 Lapwing, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Pheasant, Cormorants, 7 Stonechat, 22 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 1 Short-eared Owl, 6 Eider, 3 Teal, 8 Mallard, 5 Mute Swan, 1 Coot

Sparrowhawk on a Roman Wall - Reculver 18/11/18

I paid a very brief visit to Reculver this afternoon but found walking very difficult today so did not stay long. I headed back to the car as the light was failing and saw a bird fly up onto the Roman wall. I expected it to be a Little Owl, as I have often seen one in this area but it turned out to be a Sparrowhawk. It was a shame that the light was so poor as it would have made a very nice photo otherwise. Still, I was pleased that I was able to get a shot at all. They are stunning birds.

Sparrowhawk

Mist at Reculver - 16/11/18

The weather remained very misty and damp all day today. I had hoped it might brighten but as it made no sign of doing so I headed down to Reculver in the afternoon and had a short walk along the sea wall. Once again I got some very nice views of the Black Redstart from the car park. It is a beautiful little bird. The Robin was also there but, like yesterday, it really did not want its photo taken. This is one very shy Robin.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I carried on along the sea wall but it was not easy with the mist getting ever thicker. Now and then a clearer patch would come in but only last for a minute or so before the mist came down again. It was nice to see 2 Little Grebes on one of the oyster farm lagoons. I saw a Pied Wagtail and heard a few others. Out to sea there were 8 Mallard on the water, with another 2 resting on the shore and one flying in from the west. A Grey Plover was on the shore, presumably the same one that I often see around. They are very handsome birds.

Grey Plover

A Robin popped up on the sea wall and allowed a quick photo. It is a poor photo but a nice memory shot.

Robin

It was very quiet walking through. I saw 3 Redshank and 18 Ringed Plover. There was not any sign of any Stonechats but the odd Meadow Pipit was batting around. I walked up to the green bank and then turned round. It was very very quiet overall. I got a nice surprise as I headed back as a ring-tailed Hen Harrier appeared out of the mist. I grabbed a few shots and though none of them came out well I am pleased that I have a memory shot. I did not see any Short-eared Owls today.

Hen Harrier

On the way back there was a Dunlin amongst the Ringed Plovers.  A couple of Dunnock were near the sea wall and a couple of Blue Tit were also feeding nearby. As I came up to the pumping station I disturbed a Kingfisher. They are always a pleasure to see.  The Common Gull was in its usual spot paddling the ground for worms while the towers enjoyed a short spell without very much mist.

Reculver Towers in the mist

Birds I saw this visit included: 1 Black Redstart, 3 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 11 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 18 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 1 Common Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crows, Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls

Black Restart - Reculver 15/11/18

I had a walk along the sea wall this afternoon. It was sunny with a light wind to begin with. Later on it became very misty and cool. There was a far bit of activity around the rocks by the car park. A Pied Wagtail posed very nicely while a Robin was surprisingly shy and definitely did not want its photo taken. 

Pied Wagtail

A Peacock butterfly was sunning itself on one of the rocks.

Peacock Butterfly

A Wren was also in the same area and though a little distant it did allow some photos.

Wren singing

Wren

I was really pleased when a Black Redstart popped up onto the rocks and allowed me to take some photos. At one point it caught a Large Yellow Underwing moth. I was well chuffed to see the Black Redstart. I have been looking out for one, without any luck, for a while now.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I finished off with nice views of a House Sparrow and then carried on past the towers and onto the sea wall. It appeared to be pretty quiet overall and that proved to be the case. There were a few Herring Gulls on the sea but nothing else. 12 Brent Geese flew west. A Meadow Pipit was feeding along the shore line.

Meadow Pipit

 A Dunnock popped up on some brambles and looked very handsome in sunlight.

Dunnock

Some Stonechats were also making the most of the sunshine and insects available. I saw 5 in total during the afternoon. On several occasions they were close to the sea wall but at that point there was always a dog walker or cyclist coming along before I could get a photo. As I neared Coldharbour I could see a bank of mist coming in from the east and within a short space of time it had blocked out the sun and the temperature rapidly dropped. There was a pair of Mute Swan on Coldharbour but apart from them and the odd Meadow Pipit it was deserted. 

Mute Swans

120 Oystercatcher were roosting on the shore near to Coldharbour and as I headed back I came across a group of Ringed Plover. There was a juvenile with very dull legs and who looked smaller and it gave me pause for a moment. I think though that it is a juvenile Ringed Plover. Still, it was nice watching them. I saw 25 in total during the afternoon.

Ringed Plovers

I carried on with visibility getting worse quite rapidly. I had hoped for an owl or harrier but was decidedly out of luck. A Meadow Pipit gave some nice close views.

Meadow Pipit

As I walked past the towers a Common Gull was paddling for worms on the grass. It managed to catch quite a large one and swallowed it in one.

Common Gull

The best bird of the day was without doubt the Black Redstart, as otherwise it was pretty quiet but it was nice to be out.

Birds I saw included: 1 Robin, 4 Wren, 1 Black Redstart, 4 Mute Swan, Carrion Crows, 5 Redshank, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 15 Goldfinch, 12 Meadow Pipit, 5 Reed Bunting, 121 Oystercatcher, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 5 Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, House Sparrows, Starling, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Common Gull

A Merlin Fly Through - Reculver 10/11/18

We paid a short visit to Reculver on a cold but fine afternoon. I had very little time but it was nice to be there, even if only for a little while. I was watching the Pied Wagtails on the rocks by the car park when suddenly there were multiple alarm calls and next second a female Merlin shot through, right in front of me. I just was not quick enough to be able to get a worthwhile photo but I felt really lucky to have seen it and though the photo does not really show anything useful, it does make a nice memory shot.

Merlin

I enjoyed watching the Pied Wagtails and got some very nice views indeed.

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

I had a walk up to the towers and saw a sweet female House Sparrow enjoying the sunshine.

Female House Sparrow

I headed along the sea wall for a short distance but it was very quiet indeed. My highlight was an extremely brief view of a Short-eared Owl. As I was frozen by this time, and needed to be somewhere else shortly, I called it a day.

Short-eared Owls - Reculver 08/11/18

I had a walk along the sea wall to Coldharbour and back this afternoon. There was a fairly brisk South westerly wind but it was sunny. On the whole it appeared to be very quiet. There was nothing out at sea apart from some Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. I had really hoped that the White-billed Diver might be around but no luck. I would love to see it. I saw a total of 7 Pied Wagtail with a smart male posing nicely.

Pied Wagtail

I saw very little on the walk up to Coldharbour. There were 25 Redshank roosting on Coldharbour itself and a few Meadow Pipits zipping about. I had a little more luck on the walk back. I saw 3 Stonechat with one giving nice views. 

Stonechat

A Grey Plover was on the beach with a Turnstone.

Grey Plover and Turnstone

I was really pleased to see the Ring-tailed Hen Harrier. It is the first time I have managed to catch up with it. It was hunting at the back of the oyster farm and though I tried for a photo it wasn’t really usable apart from showing the white ring. Hopefully I may be able to get a decent photo at some point. I had a little more luck with a Short-eared Owl. I saw 2 altogether during the visit. One came fairly close and though I had to use a high ISO it did at least allow me to be able to get some photos. I love watching owls.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

As the sun started to set it gave a spectacular sky. I headed for home as dusk came in.

Birds I saw this visit included: 7 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Cormorants, Carrion Crows, 10 Turnstone,5 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 25 Redshank, 36 Mallard, 3 Stonechat, 130 Linnet, 12 Meadow Pipit, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Wren, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Ring-tailed Hen Harrier