New Arrivals and a Firecrest - Reculver to Chambers Wall 17/04/19

Due to work and other commitments I have not been able to bird watch since the 5th April so it was good to have the opportunity for a walk from Reculver to Chambers Wall today. There was a sea mist when I arrived at Reculver and it remained throughout the visit but luckily it never progressed to becoming foggy, so that was a bonus. The tide was almost fully in but on the turn and there was a light north easterly wind.

As I walked up to the towers I could see the immature male Eider off shore and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were resting on the sea but otherwise the sea was very quiet. I checked some of the vegetation just past the towers and had what I think is a Tawney Mining Bee and a Common Carder Bumble Bee. I had not realised how long a bee's tongue is, at least it is on the Common Carder Bumble Bee here and appears to hinge.

Tawney Mining Bee

Common Carder Bumble Bee

Common Carder Bumble Bee

I had a walk up to the pumping station and back and had a confiding Linnet that was singing a quiet sub song. I also came across what I think is an Ichneumon Wasp but haven't been able to narrow it down any more than that. A Little Egret gave a fly past and the air was full of Oystercatcher song and calls as several pairs displayed.

Linnet

Ichneumon Wasp

Many of the Alexander leaves are covered in yellow spots on the top surface with yellow raised areas on the undersurface. I wondered what had caused them and on looking it up it appears to be galls of the rust fungus Puccinia smyrnii.

Galls of Rust Fungus Puccinia smyrnii

I could hear Sandwich Terns (121) calling and had 3 east out to sea. It is lovely to hear their calls again and I saw 5 in total today. I also had 1 Fulmar and 3 Gannet east while a single Curlew flew west. A Yellow Wagtail (122) came in off the sea and headed inland. I was pleased to catch up with my first Swallow of spring and had a total of 7 Swallow (123) east. Sedge Warbler numbers had increased a lot since my last visit and I saw at least 16 today. Butterflies abounded with good numbers of Peacock, a couple of Tortoiseshell, 2 Large White and a Holly Blue.

A pair of Stonechat were active along the parallel track. I also saw another male further along having a disagreement with a Reed Bunting.

Stonechat

As I approached Coldharbour I could see 11 Turnstone roosting on one of the groynes and one of them was moulting into summer plummage. Coldharbour itself was very quiet with just 5 Redshank and 6 Black-headed Gulls. I had an eye to eye view of a Reed Bunting as it peered at me through a gap in a bush.

Reed Bunting

On the walk up to Chambers Wall a Peacock Butterfly gave very nice views of its upperwings and underwings. From the underwing you would never think that it was as colourful as it is once it opens its wings.

Peacock Butterfly

Peacock Butterfly

A Sedge Warbler was singing away and, although a little distant and against the light, I tried for a photo where upon it promptly stopped singing. But I was still pleased to get it.

Sedge Warbler

Digger Wasps were active and this one was checking out a hole in the ground. More than one appeared to be checking the hole out. I also came across an Alderfly resting on a stem. Apparently they only live for two or three days. I had not realised that the adult life span was so short.

Digger Wasp

Alderfly

A Cetti's Warbler was singing away and a couple of Corn Bunting peeped at me from the back of a bush. A pair of Tufted Duck were in the dyke and Marsh Frogs were calling frequently.

male Tufted Duck

female Tufted Duck

I saw a Firecrest working its way through the back of a bush. Unfortunately it remained mainly obscured but I did manage a couple of shots as its head appeared briefly in small gaps. They are beautiful birds and it was great to see it. Nearby two male Blackcap were competing in song and a female Blackcap appeared to be checking them out.

Firecrest

Firecrest

I finished off the visit with another Alderfly and a 2-spot Ladybird.

Alderfly

2-spot Ladybird

Birds seen this visit: 1 immature male Eider, 8 House Sparrows, 5 Sandwich Tern east, Cormorants, 21 Linnets, 4 Magpie, 3 Starling, 3 Little Egret, 12 Oystercatcher, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Fulmar east, 7 Swallow east, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 12  Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 10 Reed Bunting, 3 Gannets east, 4 Pheasant, 6 Mallard, 15 Corn Bunting, 16 Sedge Warbler, 3 Dunnock, male Marsh Harrier, 4 Goldfinch, Skylark, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Curlew west,  1 Yellow Wagtail in off the sea, 3 Ringed Plover,  11 Turnstone with 1 moulting into summer plumage, 4 Redshank, 2 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Carrion Crows, Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap, Chaffinches, 1 Firecrest, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Shelduck

Birds and Insects and a Passing Train - Shuart to Reculver 05/04/19

I took a slow wander today from Shuart to Reculver. It is the last chance I have for any bird watching for probably at least a week so I wanted to make the most of it. There was a cool north easterly wind and it was mainly overcast. I saw two male Blackcap from the car park, both singing away in competition with each other. Lots of the usual jobs were batting around or singing with gusto.

The walk up to the railway line was pretty quiet for birds but very busy for dog walkers. It seems to have become a very popular spot for them. Near the stables a small flock of 12 Linnet gave some nice views. They are lovely little birds and beautifully marked with the males breeding plumage being  particularly handsome.

Linnet

Linnet

Linnet

When I reached the sea wall the tide was on the turn and had started to go out. A small flock of 9 Common Scoter were flying east before settling down onto the sea. Apart from a few Herring Gulls the sea itself was very quiet. One of the Ringed Plover on the shore had a ring on its right leg but I could not read what was on it.

Ringed Plover

There was a single Brent Goose in one of the fields on the way to Plumpudding but otherwise it seemed pretty quiet. Plumpudding Island carried on the trend with only 14 roosting Redshank and a Mute Swan. The immature male Eider was asleep offshore. Walking was proving to be a little problematic today but it had the advantage of enabling me to see some insects, when I was sitting on the sea wall, that I might have missed otherwise.There was what I think is a Notostira elongata climbing up the sea wall.

Notostira elongata

Notostira elongata

I also saw a beetle, working its way along the base of the sea wall. I am not sure what it is but I think it is one of the burying beetles, possibly Silpha laevigata.

? Silpha laevigata

? Silpha laevigata

? Silpha laevigata

A pair of Shelduck were on Coldharbour as usual, together with 8 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Redshank and 3 Little Egret.

Shelduck

A breeding plumage Cormorant gave a nice fly past on the walk to Reculver.

Cormorant

The train with the 1920's carriages, that I have seen before, was going through again, this time drawn by 67020 EWS with I think the Belmond Pullman, or similar, at the back. The trips must be pretty popular as I see it fairly regularly. It makes a pretty impressive length train with the two engines and 12 carriages.

3 Little Egret were on the oyster farm and a Carrion Crow appeared to be carrying a piece of plastic or something similar. It hopefully is taking it back to a nest rather than being unable to let it go.

Little Egrets

Carrion Crow

The Black Redstart was on the rocks near the towers briefly before being disturbed by dog walkers. I had a walk, for a short way, along the path at the back of the oyster farm. A Little Egret and a couple of Redshank were on the first patch of water but otherwise it was fairly quiet. 3 Mallard flew up, 2 males and a female, and gave some good views as they flew past. One of the males has moulted several of his primary feathers leaving large gaps.

Mallards

I watched a spider spinning its web. It was amazing watching the way it built it up and I was surprised at the speed it could spin. I only saw it from underneath so I am not sure what type of spider it was, but from the web presumably it was an orb web spider. It had a couple of distinctive white commas on the underneath of its abdomen and noticeably large pedipalps, so hopefully I will be able to find out what it was at some point.

Spider

Spider

On the walk back to the car park I saw a smart, what I think is a Colletes succinctus. It is a little different to the one I saw the other day but I think it still is one.

Colletes succinctus

As some Starlings took off from the telegraph wires the sun behind them shone through their flight feathers beautifully.

Starling

Starlings

I also came across what I think, is a Mining Bee.

? Mining Bee

A worn Peacock butterfly with quite a chunk out of its lower wing was sunning itself on the roman wall. It was the third Peacock butterfly I had seen today.

Peacock Butterfly

I also had a striking, what I think is a Nomad Bee possibly Nomada leucophthalma.

? Nomada leucophthalma

? Nomada leucophthalma

? Nomada leucophthalma

I finished off with a Pisaura mirabilis. It wasn't sitting with its front legs out in front of it, which I normally see them doing so I may have the identification wrong.

Pisaura mirabilis

Birds seen this visit include: 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, 6 Wren, 5 Dunnock, 2 Magpie, Carrion Crow, 18 Chaffinch, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Jay, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Goldfinch, Skylarks, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Pheasant, 8 Mute Swan, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Bunting, 12 Linnet, 9 House Sparrow, 1 Collared Dove, 9 Common Scoter, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail, 40 Oystercatcher, 8 Mallard, 5 Curlew, 36 Sanderling, 18 Redshank, 1 Brent Goose, 8 Ringed Plover, 12 Turnstone, 1 immature male Eider, 5 Stonechat, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Little Egret, 1 Black Redstart,

Crab Eating Eider - Reculver 03/04/19

I haven't been able to do any bird watching for a few days so it was nice to be able to come down to Reculver and see what I could see. The forecast was for light rain showers but I think the weather must have missed the word light as the showers, when they came, were torrential.

I got brief views of a Black Redstart near the towers which started the visit well. They are lovely birds and I always enjoy watching them.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I watched the immature male Eider that was off shore for quite a while. It was repeatedly diving and coming up with a crab after each dive. It then proceeded to remove the legs and claws one by one, by grabbing a leg in its bill and then throwing the crab away from it so that the leg was removed, or it thrashed its head from side to side while holding the crab. The Eider would then pick the crab up from where it had landed in the water and start all over again until just the body was left which it would then swallow whole, shell and all. It was very proficient at catching them and I did not see it have an unsuccessful dive.

Eider with Crab

Eider with Crab

Eider throwing Crab

Eider eating crab body

It appeared to depend on the size of the crab but after every one, or up to 3 dives, the Eider would rear up in the water and then twist up and throw its head back and push its bill up, always to the same side, presumably to help them go down, before settling down again into the water and resuming diving. It certainly had a voracious appetite. I felt very sorry for the crabs but it was fascinating to watch and certainly he is feeding well.

Eider rearing up

Eider

He finished off about every 3rd or 4th rearing up with wing flapping.

Eider

As I carried on along the sea wall I could see 2 Short-eared Owls up in the distance, over the oyster farm. Once again, they appeared to be chasing each other and circled each other, climbing higher and higher while they did so, sometimes appearing to come into contact as they spiralled. Both went down after a little while, with one luckily starting to hunt and coming nearer to where I was. As always, it made my day to see them.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

4 Oystercatcher were flying over the oyster farm and calling repeatedly and loudly. I was fascinated to see the almost perfect spacing between them. I couldn't tell if it was 2 pairs disputing territory or whether it was some sort of joint display.

Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers

A Reed Bunting did not seem too bothered by the rain that had started. It had a ring on its right leg but I could not make enough out in the photos to be able to read any of it.

Reed Bunting

6 Shelduck were active over the oyster farm, with either 2, 4 or all 6 in the air at the same time.

Shelduck

A Merlin flew low over the oyster farm and a Marsh Harrier passed along over the back edge. A Ringed Plover worked its way along the track parallel to the sea wall.

Ringed Plover

The rain showers were becoming much more persistent and decidedly torrential at times. As I neared Coldharbour it eased briefly. A pair of Mute Swan flew past. Seeing the curl of the feather in the wing tip of this bird I wondered whether this was caused by air flow or the bird itself. How much fine control do they have of the actual feather tip?

Mute Swan

As I approached Coldharbour I could see a pair of Oystercatchers roosting on some wooden posts. I was pleased to hear a Sedge Warbler (120) singing.

Oystercatchers

Coldharbour itself was quite quiet with 3 Mute swan, 2 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck and 12 Redshank and 6 Black-headed Gulls. A White Wagtail was very flighty, resting on the shingle bank briefly and allowing only very distant photos. At this point rain really did stop play as it absolutely fell down then, just for fun, it turned into a torrential hail shower. I couldn't get a photo until it stopped so a fair amount has melted.

Hail

It was a quiet, if soggy walk back. As I approached Reculver the sun appeared but unfortunately I had a meeting I had to get to so I couldn't stay. I might have got soaked and the photos have come out pretty badly, as the light was so poor, but they make good memory shots and I enjoyed my visit.

Birds seen this visit include: 15 House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Black Redstart,  immature male Eider, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Robin, Black-headed Gulls, Wood Pigeons, Herring Gulls, Cormorants, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Shelduck, 6 Mallards, 25 Meadow Pipits, 3 Little Egret, 1 |Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 15 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Reed Bunting, 1 Dunnock, 9 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 1 Merlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 28 Corn Bunting, 2 Linnet, Skylarks, 2 Coot, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Magpie, 8 Carrion Crow, 2 Grey Heron,