Ruff, Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit - Reculver to Coldharbour 08/09/19

I headed down to Reculver after work. It was a beautiful afternoon with wall to wall sunshine and next to no wind. The tide was almost in. As the sea wall was very busy with people, and the sea appeared to be very quiet, I had a wander along the path at the back of the oyster farm. A Green Woodpecker called from the old caravan site as I started out on the path but otherwise all appeared to be very quiet. I came across a group of 12 Reed Buntings feeding amongst some umbellifer seed heads with one moving from there to a small bush and giving me a very nice view. A few Linnets were amongst them as was a single Sedge Warbler while another Sedge Warbler was calling from behind me.

Reed Bunting

Sedge Warbler

A Greenshank called from the oyster farm and groups of Meadow Pipits were active. As I neared the green bank 3 waders flew past heading west then turning south south west and I was chuffed when I realised that they were Ruff (150). Now that was a nice surprise.

Ruff

Ruff

When I reached green bank I decided to head back towards the sea wall. The air was full of the sound of calling Linnets with at least 140 in the bushes and there was also 12 Goldfinch amongst them and 7 Corn Bunting. A flock of Herring Gulls were resting in the field and a Kestrel was also in the field and preening before taking to the air again. As I reached the sea wall I had another 5 Corn Bunting in a bush by the sea wall together with a couple of Reed Bunting.

Corn Bunting

I sat and watched out to sea for a while. A few Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were bobbing around on the sea with others flying past. A flock of 17 Common Tern flew west, diving to feed as they did so. 8 Ringed Plover were on the shore together with a Turnstone.

Ringed Plover

More Ringed Plover were along the shore as I made my way up towards Coldharbour. 3 Dunlin were with some Ringed Plover. A couple of Common Tern's flew east and I enjoyed watching a couple of Wheatear as they looked out for insects. A Chiffchaff was repeatedly calling as it made its way through the bushes.

Wheatear

I did not quite manage to reach Coldharbour but stopped just short and had a sit and a watch out to sea again. A small number of Sandwich Tern were going both east and west. A large group of c65 Sanderling flew west and appeared to come down further along. I was very pleased when I had a single Knot (151) fly west. I did not manage much in the way of photos but they at least make good memory shots.

Knot

Knot

The moon was already at the waxing gibbous stage, it doesn't seem that long since I took the photo of the crescent moon. I came across the flock of Sanderling again, on the way back to Reculver, and there were 68 together in a small area along the shore. In the failing light a Hobby headed towards Chambers Wall.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

part of the Sanderling flock

Hobby

Out to sea a large flock of c160 Oystercatcher flew west low over the sea and a single Bar-tailed Godwit also flew west. Over on the oyster farm I had a second Greenshank and as dusk fell Common Sandpipers were calling away.

part of the Oystercatcher flock

It was a beautiful sunset as I made my way back. I reached Reculver in the dark to the sound of a Green Sandpiper calling from the oyster farm and another Common Sandpiper calling from below the rocks. I tried for another photo of the moon and then headed for home. I was pleased that I had been able to come, even if walking had been a bit problematic, and it had been an enjoyable and productive visit.

Sunset

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Birds seen this visit include: 1 Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Starlings, House Sparrows, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Magpie, 4 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 17 Reed Bunting, 1 Wren, 197 Linnet, 29 Meadow Pipit, 4 Redshank, 7 Cormorant, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Ruff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Goldfinch, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Greenshank. 1 Pheasant, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Coot, 17 west, 2 east Common Tern, 23 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 9 Dunlin, 4 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Knot, 160 Oystercatcher, 38 Mallard, 10 Sandwich Tern, Carrion Crows, 68 Sanderling, 1 Hobby, 6 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper

Peregrine, Rock Pipit, Pied Flycatcher and the Memphis Belle - Reculver to Shuart 06/09/19

It was very nice to have my first free day for birdwatching, that I have been able to have for the last couple of weeks, allowing me to aim for a slow wander from Reculver to Shuart. It was overcast with a light south westerly wind when I arrived but with the wind increasing to blustery as the visit went on. The tide was on the turn and had already started to go out. As I passed the towers a couple of Willow Warbler were working their way through one of the bushes and they made a good start to the visit. 6 Yellow Wagtail flew west overhead and 160 Starling around the towers area.

Willow Warbler

As I walked round to the sea wall I saw a Little Owl in its usual spot which is always a welcome sight. A Robin was ticking away and a couple of Little Egret flew overhead. On reaching the sea wall I had a look out to sea but it appeared to be very quiet with just a few passing Herring and Black-headed Gulls. 3 Turnstone flew east and another couple of Little Egret flew towards Coldharbour. A Greenshank flew up briefly, calling away, from the dyke running parallel to the oyster farm before settling back down again. A juvenile Herring Gull was ousted from one of the marker poles as a Cormorant flew in and laid claim to it.

Cormorant and juvenile Herring Gull

 A mixed flock of 24 Ringed Plover, 9 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 1 Sanderling flew past before settling on the newly exposed shore. The Greenshank from the oyster farm flew up from where I had seen it settle and then was joined by another and both flew away calling before coming down again further into the oyster farm.

Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling

Dunlin

Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone

A Mediterranean Gull flew west as I carried on along the sea wall. Small numbers of Oystercatcher were flying east calling nosily. I came across a couple of Wheatear.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A juvenile Peregrine flew past me, coming from behind, and unfortunately I only saw it as it was flying away which was a shame as it came past me pretty close. Luckily for me it settled on the shore further along, for a little while, which enabled me to try for some photos. They are not very good, and cropped, but I felt really lucky to be able to get them and they make good memory shots.

Peregrine

Peregrine

There appeared to be a small movement of Meadow Pipits with small groups heading west. Goldfinches were feeding amongst the Teasels. I saw another Wheatear on the rocks together with a Whinchat. The Whinchat was chased off the rocks by a Meadow Pipit and flew across to the bushes before dropping to the other side. Whinchat's seem poorly tolerated by both Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. A Teal flew east out to sea and Sandwich Terns were mainly heading west with the largest group being 20. As the morning went on it became more difficult to count the Sandwich Terns as they appeared to be moving both east and west and it was hard to know which were the same ones I was seeing. A first winter Sandwich Tern gave a good view as it went past.

1st winter Sandwich Tern

Coldharbour was very quiet with just a few Black-headed Gulls on it. I carried on up to Plumpudding and caught up with the juvenile Peregrine again as it shot through putting up a flock of 35 Linnet but otherwise Plumpudding was also very quiet. 19 House Martin came in off the sea in a group and then continued west.

Peregrine

I added Curlew and Common Sandpiper to the waders seen today as I carried on towards the turn off the wall I would take for Shuart. A large number of House Sparrows were flying down to feed amongst the stubble with c300 moving from the stubble to bushes and back again.

House Sparrows

House Sparrows

I got a nice surprise as I neared the turn off when I saw a pipit land on the shore and could see it was a Rock Pipit, my first of the autumn. It only stayed very briefly before flying low over the shore west and possibly coming down beyond the rocks. I couldn't manage much of a photo but was pleased to be able to get anything before it moved on. A few Wood Pigeon were feeding in one of the fields and a hovering Kestrel suddenly dived at the pigeons and made contact with one, plucking a few feathers as it did so but it did not appear to be able to do more than that as it immediately carried on flying off after making contact. Apart from having lost a few feathers the Wood Pigeon appeared to have survived the encounter.

Rock Pipit

I came off the sea wall and made my way past the stables. A Kestrel was hovering and causing consternation amongst the House Sparrows and Linnets. It was nice to catch sight of a Pied Flycatcher and a Blackcap appeared to be tutting away at its presence. 6 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks. House Sparrow numbers seem higher each time I come and a large group were in the stables area, with some of them giving a chance for a closer photo.

Kestrel

male House Sparrow

After crossing over the railway line I had a couple of Swift at Shuart. While taking photos of one of them I heard a plane and looked up to see the Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress going over.

Swift

Memphis Belle Sally B' Flying Fortress

Common Darters were plentiful as I made my way though Shuart and a few Migrant Hawkers were on the wing, despite the coolness of the wind. At least they were sheltered from the worst of the wind by the hedge.

Common Darter

Several Holly Blue Butterflies were resting up on the ivy. A Green-veined White gave the chance for a photo as did a smart Red Admiral butterfly. A very worn Comma was resting on the ground.

Green-veined White

Red Admiral

Comma

A couple of bushes had attracted a mix of birds, as they moved through, with 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, Blue and Great Tits and 7 Long-tailed Tits. I finished an enjoyable visit with 4 Common Buzzard in the air at the same time and a singing Red-legged Partridge giving some good views.

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Wood Pigeons, 420 House Sparrows, 220 Starling, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl, 23 Turnstone, 4 Robin, 6 Little Egret, 8 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Greenshank, 48 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Redshank, 41 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mallard, 4 Wheatear, 169 Linnet, 26 Swallow, 1 Pheasant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Whitethroat, 33 west, 8 east Sandwich Tern, 1 Whinchat, 4 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Teal east, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Coot, 1 Dunlin, 27 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Moorhen, 2 Swift, 1 Wren, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Red-legged Partridge

Wheatear, Mallards, Tufted Duck and Shoveler - Reculver to Coldharbour 03/09/19

I came down to Reculver after work and had a wander along to Coldharbour and back. It was a beautifully fine late afternoon with some cloud but lots of warm sunshine. The tide was on the turn and starting to go out. It appeared to be very quiet out to sea with only a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls. As I headed along the sea wall I could hear a Greenshank calling from the oyster farm and Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtail were moving from the sea wall to the shore and back again. A couple of Wheatear were busy looking for insects on the shore side of the sea wall. A Whinchat was flycatching from a small bush until it was ambushed by a Reed Bunting whereupon it flew further along and I did not pick it up again.

Wheatear

A couple of Stonechat were a little further on and I stopped to watch them for a while. They were a little too far away for photos today but I enjoyed just sitting and watching as they moved frequently from perch to perch while fly catching. I ended up doing well for Wheatears on my walk up to Coldharbour with 6 being seen with one particularly obliging individual posing nicely for me on the sea wall.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A Little Egret flew in and landed on the rocks and as it turned the sun catching in its eye caused it to glow and it was just beautiful. They are lovely birds and I did well for them today seeing 10 during the visit. Small groups of Swallows appeared to be moving west with them passing overhead, and out to sea, as well as inland parallel to the sea wall. There were fairly long spaces, when there was no obvious movement, before the next wave came through in small groups ranging from 3 to 24. I saw 180 west during my visit. A few waders were coming in as the tide fell with a couple of Dunlin associating with a group of Ringed Plover.

Little Egret

Coldharbour itself was very quiet just a few Black-headed Gulls and also a Common Sandpiper tucked into one of the edges. 3 Little Egret flew in and started to feed. I sat on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea.  A group of 14 Mallard flew in with a Tufted Duck bringing up the rear. They were followed by 2 larger groups of Mallard bringing the total to 64. Another 3 Mallard with a couple of Shoveler flew west before turning and flying inland. I also saw 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Mallards and Tufted Duck

Mallards

Mallards and Shoveler

I headed back to Reculver and as the sun set I was treated to the spectacular sight of the clouds gradually becoming aflame with colour. A waxing crescent moon was also a beautiful sight.

As I reached Reculver a Grey Heron was a silhouette as it stood on the rocks and for once it was left in peace by the Black-headed Gulls who, apart from squawking at it as they flew past, kept on their way as they headed past.

Grey Heron

Birds seen this visit include: 180 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, Starlings, House Sparrows, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 6 Wheatear, 1 Greenshank, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, Linnets, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Pheasant, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Cormorants, 67 Mallard, 4 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 10 Little Egret, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatcher, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Mute Swan, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveller, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 3 Great Black-backed Gull,