A New Year Day's Bird Count - Shuart to Brook via Reculver 01/01/19

I have not done a New Year Day’s bird count for a long time so I thought I would give it a go today. The day started off surprisingly fine but became cloudy with a cool north westerly wind. I started at Shuart and aimed to walk through to Bishopstone but as it turned out there were so many people out by the afternoon that I decided to finish off at Brook instead.

We saw a very smart male Pheasant, together with the female, as we drove down to Shuart. It is a poor photo but makes a nice memory shot. There was a fair bit of activity around the car park when I arrived. A Chiffchaff was calling away and another was up near the bridleway. A flock of 12 Goldfinch were busily feeding and Blue and Great Tits were also very active. I picked up most of the usual little brown jobs and then started down the main path. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drilling away. 

Pheasant

I could hear a Ring-necked Parakeet calling and was lucky enough for it to land in a tree almost directly above me. It made for a somewhat obscured view and I had trouble holding the camera steady but it was nice to get the chance for a few shots.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Ring-necked Parakeet

A little further on I had a Goldcrest busily feeding away. They are lovely little birds and I really miss that I cannot hear them calling anymore. A Common Buzzard was bombarded by Magpies and a couple of Carrion Crows and vacated the bush it was resting on.

On the whole the walk through was surprisingly quiet but I did manage to pick up Jay, Green Woodpecker, Skylark and Fieldfare. I had hoped for a Cetti’s but did not manage to catch up with one. I was surprised that I had no luck with either Greenfinch or Long-tailed Tit. A couple of Mute Swan gave a fly past. A single Golden Plover called.

I headed on past the stables and was pleased to pick up Linnet and Pied Wagtail. A House Sparrow posed nicely and a flock of Brent Geese flew past chattering away to each other. They always sound very friendly.

House Sparrow

Brent Geese

The wind was very much in evidence once I hit the sea wall and I gradually made my way back towards Reculver. The tide was on the turn and a Carrion Crow was feeding along the shoreline and looked very smart in the sunshine. They are quite striking birds. 

Carrion Crow

Flocks of Oystercatcher were on the move with some going east and some going west.

Oystercatchers

A Curlew flew past with a couple of Oysterecatcher and a small flock of 6 Grey Plover flew west. Good numbers of Ringed Plover were flying both east and west. When I reached Plumpudding Island, apart from 6 Redshank there was nothing else on there. I was hoping to catch up with a Snow Bunting or two but could not manage to find one.

I carried on towards Coldharbour. A Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by Corvids at the back and some Reed Buntings looked lovely in the light. Despite the gas guns some Brent Geese had settled in one of the fields and further down a large group had formed an almost perfect ellipse. Further down 2 were clearly feeling antisocial as they were feeding in a field on there own. They are handsome birds and I think that their calls are lovely. In the large group every now and then a disagreement would break out, presumably when one became within bill reach. They may sound friendly but invasion of space was definitely not tolerated.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

I stopped for a break just before Coldharbour and scanned the sea for a while. It was still very quiet but I did see 3 Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver. A Herring Gull looked lovely in the light. At this point the weather changed completely, clouding over rapidly.

Herring Gull

 4 Mallard were on the sea fairly close to shore while another 81 were further out to sea.

Mallards

On Coldharbour a Little Egret gave some nice views and several more Redshank were present. 3 Mallards were feeding and 2 Mute Swan resting up.

Little Egret

Redshank

I carried on towards Reculver rather hoping to be able to pick up some more duck/divers etc on the sea or flying past but did not manage to get anything new. 5 Coot were up the main dyke towards Chambers Wall. 

Coots

I got some nice views of a Grey Plover that was resting on the beach. They are lovely little birds.

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Reculver had become very busy with walkers and dog walkers and as there were so many I decided not to carry on to Bishopstone, as the beach was crawling with people, and I walked instead to Brook. I hoped to catch up with a few more species and managed to add a Redwing and some Collared Dove’s. A large group of birds went up in the distance and I would imagine that it was the result of a Peregrine as it seemed that every bird possible was in the air, whatever it was it caused utter panic. At least it enabled me to add Lapwing and there were Golden Plover as well. A group of 30 Meadow Pipit were disturbed by some dog walkers.

Light levels were dropping a lot by the time I reached Brook and I called it a day. There were a surprising number of birds that I thought I was guaranteed today, such as Stonechat and Long-tailed Tit but I never managed to catch up with them. Ah well. I had a count up when I got home and I saw a total of 56 species today.

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Pheasant, 34 Goldfinch, 3 Robin, 58 Blackbird, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jay, 12 Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 5 Skylark, 38 Meadow Pipit, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, House Sparrow, Starling, 25 Linnet, 3 Pied Wagtail, 17 Mute Swan, 8 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Golden Plover, 67 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 6 Turnstone, 120 Oystercatcher, 170 Brent Geese, 84 Mallard, 8 Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, 12 Redshank, 5 Coot, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier.

Stonechats and Waders - Reculver 30/12/18

It was a real luxury to be able to go bird watching this afternoon after church, as normally I would be going into work instead to set up, but as it is the Christmas period I did not need to. It was pretty overcast and fairly misty with a very light drizzle of rain now and then. A light south westerly wind was making itself known.

I was still feeling very rough today and in a lot of pain so I did not go far but just walked along the sea wall as far as the green bank. It was very quiet overall. Mute Swan numbers were up a bit at the back, with about 25 present. A single Redshank was near the pumping station bit as usual but there was no sign of the Kingfisher. The tide was out when I arrived but was coming in fairly fast. I saw about 84 Brent Geese throughout the visit. I love the way they chatter away to each other. A single Curlew was feeding on an area of exposed shore together with a Grey Plover, 18 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 5 Turnstones and 6 Ringed Plover. Later on a 2nd Curlew flew west.

I got some very nice views of Stonechat as I went along the wall. A male and female allowed a few shots before moving further away.

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat

I did not see any sign of the Short-eared Owls or any Harriers. I did see a male Sparrowhawk and a single Kestrel. At one point it got quite busy out at sea. Either there was a sudden shoal of fish or a fishing boat had dumped some. Suddenly the sea was alive with 8 Gannets and 150 Cormorants all busily fishing. Herring Gulls and a a few Great Black-backed Gulls also joined in the fray. I had hoped a diver or two would join in but I did not see any amongst them. During the afternoon I saw 1 Red-throated Diver and 3 Great Crested Grebes but little else. 4 Mallards flew up at one point but they were the only duck that I saw.

A group of 25 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone kept being disturbed from the shore by the number of people on the sea wall. I tried for a photo as they flew past and though it is not great I am pleased that I tried it.

Ringed Plover and Turnstone

At one point a lonely Ringed Plover was left as the others flew off and I tried for a photo even though it was quite distant.

Ringed Plover

It had been nice to be out even if it was pretty quiet and I enjoyed the visit.

Birds I saw this visit included: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 32 Ringed Plover, 7 Turnstone, 40 Ostercatcher, 5 Stonechat, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, 5 Redshank, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Linnet, 8 Gannet, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel

On the 31st December I paid a visit to Broomfield Track and found it very quiet indeed so I have added it in here rather than do a separate entry. A Robin posed nicely, while a perched Kestrel was making some of the little birds very nervous indeed. 17 Magpie were on the cow field which was quite impressive. The highlight of the visit was a small flock of 7 Siskin over.

Robin

Kestrel

A Guillemot Passing By - Reculver 28/12/19

I paid a quick visit to Reculver this afternoon. It was very overcast but with next to no wind. I felt really rough today but it was good to be out as I have been able to do very little bird watching this month. I saw a male Sparrowhawk being chased by a Carrion Crow on the way down to Reculver.

There were a couple of Cormorant fishing just offshore but no sign of any little birds on the rocks. A little further along I could see a couple of resting Great Crested Grebes that were well out to sea. A few House Sparrow were around the towers and a couple of Blackbird were feeding on the grass. I only walked a short way along the sea wall, checking out to sea as I went. There were 12 Mute Swan inland as well as some Carrion Crows. I could see a distant Diver out to sea, which may have been the Great Northern Diver that Chris Hindle had seen earlier in the day, but it was too far away for me to be sure. It was definitely not a Red-throated Diver but that was as far as I could go. 

There were a group of 15 Meadow Pipit who were coming down to one of the puddles to have a wash and brush up, one of which allowed a photo. 

Meadow Pipit

Also a couple of House Sparrow joined them as well with the female close enough to try for a photo.

House Sparrow

I had a nice surprise out to sea when a Guillemot swam east while repeatedly diving for food. It is the closest I have seen one. It was still a bit distant for a photo but makes a good memory shot. 

Guillemot

Behind me, on the oysterfarm, a Short-eared Owl came to rest on a post. It was pretty distant but as I love seeing the owls I thought I would take a photo of that as a memory shot as well.

Short-eared Owl on post

I would like to have carried on to see if I could see any Snow Buntings but I felt too rough to go any further so I headed back. It had been really nice to be out. I might see if I can get the scope down to Reculver as it would certainly make looking for divers easier. I saw a couple of Mute Swan on the oyster farm and 3 Redshank as I walked back.

Birds seen this visit include: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Common Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Brent Geese west, 56 Oystercatcher west, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, 14 Mute Swan, 3 Blackbird, 5 House Sparrows, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Guillemot, 1 Short-eared Owl, 10 Linnet, 5 Starling, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 1 Great Northern or Black-throated Diver.

A Common Gull and Fairy Ring - Reculver 06/12/18

I came down to Reculver this afternoon after work. It is the first Thursday that I have worked and it looks like it is going to be a regular event. It was a very dull grey day with a fresh south easterly wind but at least it was dry. The sea was quiet with very little moving. I did see a distant Red-throated Diver west and also 7 Sanderling west but that was about it. The tide was in and it was hard to tell if it was on the turn or not. There was no sign of the Black Redstart today.

As I started along the sea wall I could see 26 Mute Swan in one of the distant fields at the back. I could hear a Redshank alarm calling and another was walking along one of the dyke edges. A couple of Stonechat gave nice, if distant, views. A little further on a Wren popped up briefly, close to me on the sea wall. It allowed a very quick grab shot, which is not quite in focus and very noisy, but I am pleased I was able to get it.

Wren on the sea wall

I carried on along the sea wall. The odd Blackbird and Robin either called or appeared but it really was very quiet. I did not manage to catch up with either the Short-eared Owl or the ring-tailed Hen Harrier but I did see a Marsh Harrier which was nice and gave some reasonable views. It was hard to photograph against the sky.

Marsh Harrier

Out on the sea there were 8 Great Black-backed Gulls. The path alongside the oyster farm was pretty muddy and churned up where the heavy machinery is going up to the works near Coldharbour. It may mean that something good may turn up on the mud and will certainly be worth keeping an eye on. There were a couple of Redshank nearby but they saw me before I saw them which was a shame as they would have made a good photo. Another Redshank walking alongside one of the dykes was a little more obliging. Apart from the red of its bill and legs it blended in very well to the colour of the mud. Regular flights of Cormorants were flying over, presumably heading to Stodmarsh.

Redshank

I had a single Great-crested Grebe far out to sea and on the way back I saw a Teal going west. 

Teal

3 Oystercatchers also went east. A Reed Bunting popped up but was just too quick for a photo. I didn’t see many Linnets today, I am not sure if the numbers have dropped or I am just not catching up with them. The odd Meadow Pipit was around as well. I saw more Stonechats on the way back and reckon I saw about 7 throughout the afternoon. As I neared the towers a male Blackbird popped up onto the fence and watched me somewhat warily.

Blackbird

The Common Gull was in its usual spot and paddling the ground for worms very successfully. I saw it catch a good number of them while I was watching it.

Common Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull

There was a fairy ring of mushrooms in the grass. It was quite a large ring and quite impressive. I tried for a photo of the ring itself and of some of the mushrooms that made it up.

Fairy Ring

Mushrooms making up the Fairy ring

I may not have seen a lot today but it was good to be out, even if I was very cold by the time I got back to the car park.

Grey Plovers - Bishopstone to Reculver 22/11/18

There was a strong south westerly wind blowing today so I thought I would have a walk from Bishopstone to Reculver as for most of the way I would be sheltered by the cliffs. When I arrived it was too windy to make it worth walking round the Glen so I made my way straight down to the shore. The tide was heading out so there was no problem walking round to Reculver.

The first birds I saw were an adult and juvenile Herring Gull. The youngster was begging constantly but Mum was in complete ignore mode.

Adult and juvenile Herring Gull

 Out to sea a single Great-crested Grebe was fishing off shore. It was a bit too far away for a photo but it makes a nice memory shot. 

Great Crested Grebe

I headed along to the point and heard a bunting call as it flew over and managed to get a view of it as it disappeared round the point. It was a Snow Bunting which was a really nice surprise. I hoped to catch up with it again but unfortunately did not manage to.

I saw at least 8 Grey Plover during the afternoon. One of them, presumably a juvenile, was very well marked indeed and a lovely little bird. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them as I made my way towards Reculver.

Grey Plover in flight

Grey Plover in flight

Grey Plover

Grey Plover yawning

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

A single Curlew and a Brent Goose flew past going west as I cleared the point. 8 Sanderling were feeding along the shore line. I love watching them and was pleased to also get a shot of one in flight. 

Sanderling

Sanderling

Sanderling in flight

Good numbers of Ringed Plover and a several Turnstone were also amongst the shorebirds. One of the Carrion Crows had whitish flight feathers. I tried for a photo but it was not having any of it. There appeared to be about 60 Carrion Crow along the cliffs and feeding along the shore.

I enjoyed my walk and finished with a Little Egret as I headed towards Reculver car park. I might not have seen a huge variety but enjoyed watching the ones I did see.

Birds seen this visit included: Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 8 Grey Plover, 8 Sanderling, 32 Ringed Plover, 12 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snow Bunting, Carrion Crows, Robin, 1 Curlew, 1 Brent Goose, 2 Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipits