An Encounter with the five S's - Reculver 24/01/19

I headed for Reculver after work to see if there was any chance of catching up with the Hooded Crow that Chris Hindle had here this morning. Unfortunately the tide was fully in and it did not look hopeful but you can never know. The weather was not particularly pleasant with it being drizzly and very dull and overcast. The good thing was that there was very little wind which made walking along the wall much more pleasant.

Out to sea was very quiet but throughout the visit I did manage to see 5 Red-throated Diver going east and a couple of Great Crested Grebe also going east. I had a very sweet fluffed up Robin by the towers and there were the usual group of House Sparrows and the Blackbird was out looking for worms.

Robin

There were 15 Mute Swan in the back fields and I also saw a male Marsh Harrier hunting over there as well. Another 2 Mute Swan were in one of the oyster farm dykes. I had a Carrion Crow give a fly past and then come into land. But there was not any sign of the Hooded Crow.

Carrion Crow in flight

Carrion Crow coming into land

I carried on along the sea wall and was treated to some very nice views of a Dunnock. The white tips to his coverts have not worn off yet. They really are pretty birds in their own right. On the shore there was a group of 16 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone.

Dunnock

Ringed Plovers

The Stonechats were out in force and I reckon that I saw at least 12 during my visit. They seem to really like the areas on the shore that have been dug up by the wheels of the environmental lorries going back and fore. I think that they must be my most photographed birds but I love watching them.The light was very poor today so I struggled to get any decent photos but I enjoyed taking them.

Stonechat

Stonechat head on

I was well chuffed when I had a couple of Snow Buntings on the shore. One of them must be the same ringed male I have seen before. There were also 4 Linnet feeding with them and a Meadow Pipit. I love seeing Snow Buntings and these seemed unperturbed by anyone going past. They are such lovely birds to watch. I was pleased to be able to get some photos of both of them. They did not stay long before moving further up the beach.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting and twig

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting eating a seed

Snow Bunting back view

Snow Bunting head on

I carried on up to Coldharbour and found it was very quiet. There were 2 Mute Swan and a Redshank on Coldharbour. 5 Shelduck were on the shore with 18 Oystercatcher. A Little Egret flew into Coldhabour and disappeared into cover. The Environmental agency have repaired the bank so hopefully that will help protect it against any winter storms.

As I was running out of time I headed back towards Reculver. Another 8 Mute Swan flew over the back fields. 500 Brent Geese went up in the distance but too far away to photograph. A Meadow Pipit was on the shore and a male Stonechat allowed a photo.

Male Stonechat

I could see a Short-eared Owl hunting in the distance but once I got closer there was no sign of it. One of these days I will be in the right spot just as it flies right in front of me. There were 2 female and a male Reed Bunting and also a small group of Linnet in the same place that I saw them last time, just by the green bank. I caught up with the Snow Buntings again before they carried on down the beach. Another Stonechat was on the shore.

I got a very nice surprise when I saw a Snipe (80) feeding in amongst the churned up mud. I have kept checking it as it seemed it would be a good place for one to be, and today, there one was. They are amazingly well camouflaged.

Snipe

Snipe

The male Marsh Harrier flew past again but still too distant for a photo in the light available. I had a couple of Song Thrush, a Pheasant calling from the oyster farm, 4 Teal on one of the oyster farm lagoons, a male and a 3 females. 3 Mute Swan did a nice fly past.

Mute Swans in flight

I finished off with a Short-eared Owl sat on a post. There was not enough light for a photo but I was pleased to see it. I did not manage to catch up with the Hooded Crow but I had enjoyed my visit.

Birds seen this visit included: 5 Red-throated Diver east, 2 Great Crested Grebe east, 3 Robin, 8 House Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 27 Mute Swan, 22 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Dunnock, 12 Stonechat, 9 Redshank, 9 Meadow Pipit, 1 Magpie, 3 Reed Bunting, 18 Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, Pheasant, 4 Teal, 18 Mallard, 2 Short-eared Owl

A Magpie Looking for a Tail - Reculver 22/01/19

As it was such a beautifully sunny afternoon I paid a visit to Reculver after work. Though it was cold, there was next to no wind. I only caught the very last of the sunshine but it was extremely welcome. The sea appeared to be very quiet with only a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls on the water and remained quiet the whole time I was there. There was a small flock of 9 House Sparrows in their usual bush while the Blackbird was out hunting for worms again. I could see 8 Mute Swan in the back fields but otherwise it was very quiet.

I headed along the sea wall and saw a Curlew fly west. I did try for a photo but did not have much success with it. There were a couple of Mute Swan in one of the oyster farm dykes. Every now and then a Redshank would call and have a quick fly round. The tide appeared to be going out but only very slowly.

Curlew

I could see a Short-eared Owl hunting in the distance over the oyster far but unfortunately, though I saw it several times throughout my visit, it never came close enough to try for a photo. When I looked back towards the towers I could see a large bank of cloud coming in. The forecast for tomorrow is not great. A Carrion Crow flew past me so I grabbed a shot.

Reculver and Sky

Carrion Crow

A Redshank flew down onto the churned up mud and was kind enough to allow some photos. In the photos I can see that it is ringed.

Ringed Redshank

Ringed Redshank

I liked the reflection of one of the cormorant poles in the sea, with said Cormorant standing on top of it. I caught up with the tailless Magpie again and though a little distant I tried for a photo. I wonder how it lost its tail.

Cormorant and pole

Tailless Magpie

I had a sit and a rest on the sea wall, near the green bank, and a flock of 22 Linnet were spread between a couple of the bushes. They were chattering away. I had to use a high ISO but at least it meant that I have some nice memory shots.

Linnets

Linnets

I was really very cold by this time and in a lot of pain so I started to head back. The walk back was very quiet. Once I was back near the towers I could hear a Little Owl calling and also 3 separate Grey Partridge (79) calling.

As I neared the car park I thought I would try for a shot of the bay. It has not come out great but I like the reflections in the water.

Night shot of the Bay

Birds seen this visit include: 9 House Sparrow, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Redshank, 1 Curlew west, 2 Dunnock, Robin, 3 Stonechat, 22 Linnet, 1 Song Thrush, Wren, Reed Bunting, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Little Gull, 3 Grey Partridge

A Battle With a Worm - Reculver 20/01/19

I paid a visit to Reculver, after work, this afternoon. It was a beautiful day, sunny with some cloud, and though cold the north easterly wind wasn't so strong which made a difference from the strong winds we've had recently.

I had a walk towards the sea wall, via the towers, and saw a Blackbird catch a huge earthworm. I really didn’t think that it would be able to swallow it, particularly as it attempted to swallow it whole. It took it a few minutes, and quite a struggle, to manage to swallow it and it had to pause and just sit with the tip of the worms tail still visible in its open bill once it had almost succeeded, before finally being able to completely swallow it. Amazingly, afterwards, the Blackbird immediately started hunting again. I was somewhat surprised it could even move. I tried for a series of photos but the initial ones were very blurred, as my shutter speed was too slow, so although I have included the one that gives a good idea how big the worm was, they pick up again with much of the poor worm already swallowed. 

Blackbird and worm

Blackbird and worm

Blackbird and worm

Almost gone!

Hungrey again!

When I reached the sea wall there was a female/immature Marsh Harrier hunting at the back of the fields, near the railway line. I hoped that it might come closer for some photos but it went over Brook direction instead. I could also see 12 Mute Swans in the back fields. There were 11 Mallard out to sea. I saw a yacht passing the red buoy out to sea and it looked great as the sun caught its sails.

Yacht

I carried on along the seawall. Every now and then Redshank's would call or fly over . The tide was falling and gradually little patches of shore were being exposed. I was really pleased to see a distant Short-eared Owl (77) over the oyster farm and hoped that I might see it again a little closer, once I was further along the sea wall. A very sweet Robin was feeding amongst the churned up mud. It was a real little fluff ball. Out to sea some Mallards flew past close to shore and I was able to grab a shot of a couple of them.

Mallards in flight

I was very pleased to see the Short-eared Owl again a few times. It was mainly very distant but it did, on occasions, come a little closer so I tried for some shots. They have not come out very well, as I had to use a very high ISO, but they do make good memory shots. I love watching owls.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl on patrol

Short-eared Owl

It was getting very cold by now and I started to make my way back. A Little Egret flew over and landed on the shore. I did try for some photos but there was not really enough light. The sky looked quite spectacular.

Sunset

There is due to be a total eclipse of the moon tonight, it will be a super blood wolf moon. Super because the moon will be near its closest approach to earth, wolf because that is what full moons in January are called, apparently, and red because of the earths shadow. When I looked behind me I could see the rising moon just beginning to be clear of the clouds. I grabbed a shot before it was totally obscured again and then further along, once it was clear of the clouds, I tried for another shot, this time using spot metering.

Rising Moon

Rising Moon

As I came up to the towers I could hear a Little Owl (78) calling. I took a photo of the ruins with the moon in the background and then one of the towers with the moon. I liked the edging to the clouds. Once I got to the car park I tried another photo of the towers with the moon just above. Hopefully I might see the totality of the eclipse before I go to work in the morning. Apparently it will be the last full one visible from here for quite a while. The forecast looks hopeful that the sky will be clear.

Reculver Ruins and moon

Reculver Towers and moon

Reculver Towers and moon

In the early hours of Monday morning I took a photo of the blood moon and have included it here.

Blood Moon

Birds seen this visit included: 3 Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Redshank, 18 Mallard, 5 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher, 5 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit,1  Magpie, Carrion Crow, 12 Mute Swan, 1 Mistle Thrush, Little Owl heard calling.

A Case of Fieldfares Galore - Highstead to Marshside 18/01/19

I haven’t been to Highstead for a long time so I thought I would give it a go this morning and see if there was any chance of being able to see the water, going on the fact that the vegetation would have died down, being winter. I did look in the summer but at that point I could not see the water at all, everything was too grown up. The wind was south westerly today and some sunshine was a definite bonus.

It looks as if the apple orchard is being extended as they have cleared all of the rough ground. There are going to be some very disappointed birds as it was superb habitat there. A tractor was still working at the bottom of the area, while at the top 33 Black-headed Gulls were picking around in the newly cleared ground.

There were a huge number of Fieldfare, easily 1000, on and near the apple orchard, together with at least 500 Starling. The sound of the birds calling was incredible. A mass of Starling together are certainly pretty noisy. I could also see at least 60 Redwing as well. They were all making the most of all the fallen apples, and presumably the ones left on the trees. They were so loud that I could hear them as I walked up the road.

There were the usual little jobs around the stable area and I could hear a Green Woodpecker calling.

I could see some Fieldfare in the trees ahead as I started up the bridleway. I half expected them to all take off as soon as they saw me but luckily I was able to gradually work my way closer. As one of the birds came into land it showed its white underwing showed well.

Fieldfares

Fieldfare coming in to land

I kept tucked close to the hedge and worked my way slowly closer. There was a lot of swapping back and fore with the birds, as some flew to the orchard, and some flew from it to settle in the trees. One of the birds was showing its grey rump well and another allowed a view of its undertail covets.

Fieldfares

Fieldfares

I continued to work my way closer, keeping well tucked in to the hedge. By doing this I was treated to some lovely close views. They are very handsome birds. Some were very heavily streaked with very orange breasts while others were less heavily streaked and much paler breasts.

Fieldfare

Fieldfare

I carried on down the track, surrounded by sound from the Starlings and Fieldfares. I reckon any count that I make will be an underestimate. It sounded like thousands of birds in there. There were 44 Lapwing feeding at the back of one of the fields. At one point a Common Buzzard flew through and put them all up.

Lapwings in flight

I headed on towards the old gravel pit. There was a Common Buzzard perched in the far trees, perhaps the same one that flew over. It was disappointing to find that it was impossible to see the water. The banks are too high and too much vegetation has grown up in the bits that I might have been able to see. It seems such a shame. It used to be a really good spot to watch but since they reverted it back to farmland it is just no longer visible. There were a few sheep feeding on the banks. I am not sure what breed they are. A Common Buzzard flew over and may have been the same one I saw perched.

Sheep

Sheep

Common Buzzard

There was a little bit of a puddle in one of the fields, in the same place it used to collect and where I used to sometimes see waders, but nothing was on it today and it was very small. If we suddenly get some sustained rain it would be worth checking out again.

I headed on down towards Marshside rather hoping to catch up with a Woodcock as I have seen them here before on one occasion. Unfortunately no such luck today. I did however get a new bird for the year as I saw a female Sparrowhawk (75) fly out from the wood. At the bottom of the path there was some Traveller’s Joy and I also took a photo looking back up the ploughed field.

Traveller's Joy

Vanishing point

More Fieldfares were in the bottom trees while there were a few Redwing in the garden by the footpath. Although one of the Redwing was fairly obscured by branches it did enable me to take a shot. They are lovely birds. There was another small flock of Goldfinches.

Fieldfares

Redwing

As I carried on towards Marshside there were a few Long-tailed Tits feeding along the back of the hedge but they remained too obscured to be able to get any usable shots. A Kestrel shot across and a Sparrowhawk put up a large flock of Fieldfare. They had no sooner settled after that when there were birds up everywhere, bunching together in flocks, and clearly panicked. The reason soon became clear as I could see a Peregrine (76) going through the middle of them. It really did cause chaos. I was pleased to see the Peregrine but I did feel sorry for the birds. I could hear a Robin singing from the hedge and I was able to get some nice shots of it. Initially it was quite obscured by branches but I was able to slowly work my way round until I could see it better.

Singing Robin

Singing Robin

Singing Robin

A male Chaffinch gave some nice views, turning first this way then that. It was a real case of which is my best side.

Male Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch

As I walked down the road to Marshside flocks of Starling and Fieldfares shot into the trees with a whirring of wings. There must have been a raptor again. They are amazing, the air is full of multiple calls and then suddenly it goes completely silent as if mute has been pressed. It seems to be as soon as they spot a raptor. By the sheep field there were 6 Moorhens in the dyke and as I walked along the road a Grey Heron flew over at the back. I walked as far as Reynolds Lane and then called it a day. I took a photo, from the dyke just before Reynolds Lane, and as I arrived at the lane a few Rook flew over, one of which passed right overhead.

Marshside Dyke

Rook

It had been a good, even if very painful visit and two new birds for the year was a bonus.

Birds seen this visit include: Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, 1 Meadow Pipit, 500 Starling, c 1500 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, 3 Green Woodpecker, 5 Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, 44 Lapwing, 3 Common Buzzard, Magpie, Jay, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 7 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron