It was a luxury to be able to come out bird watching again today as unusually I have 3 days off together. It was due to be the hottest day of the year today so I headed to Shuart early morning with the aim of walking through to Reculver via the sea wall to take advantage of the breeze. There was a south easterly wind.
Several Robin were ticking away and Blackcap and Wren were singing beautifully. A Green Woodpecker flew over calling loudly while a young Moorhen was loudly begging from the dyke. A young Green Woodpecker was near the farm buildings, and another on the track gave some good views.
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| Green Woodpecker |
Several Red Admiral butterflies were sunning themselves and looked gorgeous in the early morning light. A Migrant Hawker had a brief fly around before settling back down again.
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| Red Admiral Butterfly |
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| Migrant Hawker |
Even though it was early it was very warm. Families of Blue and Great Tits were working their way through the hedgerow on either side and a Cetti's Warbler called. Another couple of juvenile Green Woodpeckers were active, as were another couple of Migrant Hawker. As I came to the end of the hedge a male Marsh Harrier must have been flying very low and parallel to the hedge as we arrived at the end of the hedge at the same time and it was so close. On seeing me it shot upwards and veered off. I only managed to get a shot as it flew away from me but it makes a good memory shot.
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| male Marsh Harrier |
Reed and Sedge Warblers were busy amongst the reeds as I made my way to the embankment. Once across the railway line a flock of 150 Starling were in the horse paddocks and 15 Swallow were weaving in and out as they hawked for insects. I could see a couple of Pied Wagtail and 50 House Sparrow and an equal number of Linnet. 10 Swifts were above me and I tried for some photos.
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| Swift |
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| Swift |
The south easterly breeze was welcome once I reached the sea wall. A Great Black-backed Gull was out to sea and another 3 flew east A couple of Dunlin and Sanderling were working their way along the shore.
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| Dunlin |
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| Sanderling |
A little further on I could see 8 Whimbrel on the shore in groups of 5 and 3. Presumably these are the same 8 that I saw yesterday although those were flying east but may have just been moving to further along the shore. A couple of Pied Wagtail were in dispute with some Meadow Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail called.
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| Whimbrel |
Plumpudding was very quiet while off shore I could see a Great Crested Grebe. Small numbers of Sandwich Tern and Common Tern were also offshore. One of the Sandwich Tern was very adept at catching small fish. A juvenile Common Tern and an adult gave some very good views.
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| juvenile Common Tern |
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| Common Tern |
Coldharbour was also very quiet. While sat on the sea wall I watched a fascinating interaction between a young Common Tern and a couple of Sandwich Tern, one of whom was ringed. The juvenile Common Tern was sat on one of the poles minding its own business when 2 passing Sandwich Terns decided they wanted to sit on it and chased the youngster off. It wasn't, however, having any of it, and despite there being two it took on both Sandwich Terns, chasing them off each time one of them tried to settle until eventually they left it to it. It was one plucky youngster.
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| Sandwich Terns and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Terns and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern and Common Tern |
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| Sandwich Terns and Common Tern |
A little further along 11 Sanderling were feeding on the shore before being flushed by a dog walker. A Common Sandpiper was flushed at the same time.
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| Sanderling |
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| Sanderling and Common Sandpiper |
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The immature male Eider was out on the rock preening.
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| immature male Eider |
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| immature male Eider |
I was pleased to see a juvenile Whinchat. It was a lovely little bird.
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| juvenile Whinchat |
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| juvenile Whinchat |
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| juvenile Whinchat |
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| juvenile Whinchat |
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| juvenile Whinchat |
I continued on towards Reculver and a Little Egret gave a close fly by. A single Lapwing was on the oyster farm while Sand Martin and Swallow hawked for insects above. Another Common Sandpiper was on the shore. An overheated Cormorant flew over with its mouth agape to try and cool down.
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| Little Egret |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Cormorant |
I had a short look along the bottom path and saw a couple of Emperor Dragonflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies. There was also a Common Darter but otherwise it was very quiet for insects. As I came back up onto the sea wall I could see a couple of Green Sandpiper on the oyster farm
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| Common Darter |
I finished off the visit enjoying views of the Starlings as they looked for food amongst the rocks. They also had their bills wide open to try and help themselves to cool down. It was certainly very warm by this time. The Starlings plumage looked lovely in the sun. A little House Sparrow also had bill agape.
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| Starling |
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| Starling |
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| Starling |
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| House Sparrow |
Birds seen this visit include: 6 Robin, 5 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 8 Magpie, 5 Wren, 4 Green Woodpecker, Herring Gulls, 2 Blackbird, 2 Moorhen, 2 Blackcap, 11 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Whitethroat, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 9 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Mallard, 8 Goldfinch, 22 Swallow, 10 Swift, 150 Starling, 50 House Sparrow, 6 Pied Wagtail, 71 Linnet, 10 Sedge Warbler, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling, 8 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Sandwich Terns, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Coot, 6 Little Egret, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 immature male Eider, 3 Stonechat, 1 juvenile Whinchat, 10 Sand Martin, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper
