Wigeon, Whimbrel and Migrant Hawkers in Flight - Reculver to Chambers Wall 13/09/19

I paid a visit to Reculver in the morning. There was a north north westerly wind and the tide was on its way in. It was cloudy when I arrived but the cloud was clearing and there was plenty of blue sky behind me as I headed for the sea wall. A few Herring and Black-headed Gulls were heading west in dribs and drabs. Apart from them the first birds that I saw were a pair of Wigeon heading west and 2 Mute Swan flying in over the sea from the north. 5 Sand Martin were hawking for insects.

Wigeon

Mute Swan

As I headed along 4 Oystercatcher headed east. 4 Goldfinches were feeding on the Teasels and 12 Turnstone flew in and landed on the rocks. I only managed a photo of the tail end of them as they came in to land but it makes a good memory shot. I had hoped that perhaps the northerly wind would result in some birds moving past out to sea but all appeared quiet.

Turnstone

There appeared to be a brief, small movement of Carrion Crows west and I had 25 in total with the biggest group being 10.

Carrion Crows

I could hear a Whimbrel call and one flew over the oyster farm and circled before settling down out of sight. I also had a Greenshank call and fly up from the oyster farm before settling back down again. Meadow Pipits were moving from the sea wall to the shore and back again. A Great Black-backed Gull flew west as did a Little Egret.

Whimbrel

Greenshank

A flock of 12 Reed Buntings were atop one of the bushes and chasing off any other bird that landed. Linnets were chattering away as they moved along the shore. A Great Black-backed Gull flew west and 3 Grey Herons were on the oyster farm. A Yellow Wagtail was working its way along the shore and showed the white edges to its tail feathers well as it moved along.

immature Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

While having a seat near the green bank I got some very nice views of a Wheatear on the shore and also one of the Meadow Pipits. Corn Buntings were in the bushes bordering the oyster farm.

Wheatear

Meadow Pipit

I carried on down to Coldharbour. A few more Wheatear were dotted around the shore on the way. The Little Grebe was still on Coldharbour and 4 Mallard were tucked into one of the banks. A Common Sandpiper was over at the back and a few Black-headed Gulls bobbed around on the water. A Kestrel sent up a flock of 34 Linnet as it flew over the shingle bank.

Mallard

Kestrel

I started to head in the direction of Chambers Wall and as I came to the first bushes a few birds were making their way through them with Great Tit, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Warbler, and a obliging  Sedge Warbler were all represented.

Sedge Warbler

A Cetti's Warbler was singing away as I crossed the railway line and a Hobby was high up hawking for insects. As it was still very quiet for birds I had a look to see what I could see in the dragonfly line. A Squash Bug was sunning itself.

Squash Bug

I came across a Migrant hawker that was repeatedly returning to the same area and then hovering and I took the opportunity to try for some flight shots. Many ended up out of focus or else the Hawker was disappearing out of the frame but I ended up with some that I am pleased with and it was great fun trying for them and hopefully in time I will get a bit better at it. I will really miss insects and dragonflies when the season comes to an end.

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

 

Migrant Hawker

I came across a spectacular female Dark Bush-cricket.

Dark Bush-cricket

I finished off an enjoyable, if fairly quiet visit with 4 Common Buzzards thermalling together and a smart Red Admiral and a very worn Painted Lady Butterfly. The ivy flowers had also attracted a cloud of hoverflies and wasps.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Painted Lady Butterfly

Birds seen this visit include: 5 Sand Martin, 2 Wigeon west, 3 Mute Swan, 7 Oystercatcher,  14 Swallow west, 21 Turnstone, 11 Goldfinch, 3 Redshank, 20 Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeons, 109 Linnet, 25 Carrion Crow west, 19 Reed Bunting, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 10 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 28 Mallard, 6 Coot, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Great Tit, 7 Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Skylark, 2 Hobby, 2 Blackbird, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Magpie, 1 Curlew, House Sparrows, 4 Common Buzzards,

A Murmuration and a Close Encounter with a Common Buzzard - Shuart to Chambers Wall 12/09/19

It was good to have a day off today and with no commitments until later in the afternoon I headed off to Shuart with the aim of having a slow wander to Chambers Wall via the sea wall. It was sunny and there was a light south westerly wind. A couple of Robin were singing away as I arrived and were soon joined by most of the usual cast. A Green Woodpecker called as I walked up to the bridleway but apart from a couple of Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk it seemed very quiet. As I came back down to the main track a Great Spotted Woodpecker called and making my way along I picked up much of what I would have expected. From the first gap I could see 44 Lapwing tucked down amongst the furrows of the ploughed field. A small flock of 8 Long-tailed Tits flew into a bush and I was lucky as a couple of them paused long enough to enable some photographs. They are lovely little birds, so full of character, and I never tire of either watching them or hearing their calls as they keep in contact with each other.

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

As I neared the end of the hedge I could see 7 Red-legged Partridge split between a couple of fields. A female Migrant Hawker was vibrating gently as it warmed up before taking to the air. Another Cetti's Warbler burst into song right next to me but was invisible as it was tucked deep in the hedge. I paused to enjoy its song and then headed on up to the stables.

female Migrant Hawker

A large flock of 36 Goldfinches were feeding from various seed heads with the flock consisting of both adults and youngsters. A couple of Pied Wagtail were in the horse paddocks and a 100 House Sparrows were chattering away.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

3 Magpies were perched in the top of a bush with the sun behind them and as a dog walker came up they took to the air with their wings looking beautiful with the light shining through them.

Magpies

Magpie

Magpie

As I came up to the sea wall a Little Egret flew past with its yellow feet glowing in the sunlight. The tide was at the halfway stage and coming in. A few Turnstone were dotted about. A couple of Dunlin flew in and as I made my way along a flock of 8 Ringed Plover also flew in. A Grey Heron feeding along a dyke edge eye caught the light making it glow. A Common Gull was tucked in with some Black-headed Gulls as they roosted on the shore.

Grey Heron

Common Gull

As I neared Plumpudding a Wheatear was on the beach and a flock of 5 Dunlin flew west. Plumpudding Island itself was very quiet with just a few Linnet on it. I carried on to Coldharbour and a flock of 35 Linnet flew up calling as a Kestrel flew low over the beach. A flock of 55 House Sparrows scattered in alarm as a Sparrowhawk flew through them and then came on past me.

Sparrowhawk

I enjoyed watching a Little Grebe on Coldhabour. It was quiet otherwise with just a Little Egret, a few Black-headed Gulls and some Meadow Pipits. A House Sparrow paused, its bill stained from enjoying the Blackberries, before going back to tucking in again.

Little Grebe

House Sparrow

I heard a Greenshank call and had one flying west. A flock of 9 Turnstone flew past and settled further along the shore.

Greenshank

Greenshank

I carried on and a Kingfisher called as it flashed past. More Turnstone were along the shore and 3 Sand Martin flew west. Small numbers of Swallow continued to come past west. A Cormorant flew in and ousted a youngster off the top of one of the poles. A short time later another Cormorant tried its luck but did not succeed in ousting this one and had to carry on. Both had inflated their gular pouch, which is something I do think I have noticed before. I came across the youngster a little further on and its plumage shone in the sunshine.

Cormorant defending its perch

immature Cormorant

As I reached the beginning of the oyster farm a bird of prey put up the Starling flock. I was expecting it to be a Peregrine from the cloud of birds that went up but it appeared to be a Kestrel that had caused the widespread consternation. I was treated to a murmuration display by the Starlings as I sat on the sea wall. It was a beautiful sight and I could see how effective it would be at dazzling an aerial predator.

While I was sat one of the two Wheatear, who had been feeding on the shore nearby, came closer and closer and I ended up with some very nice views.

Wheatear

I decided to head along the green bank and as I started out a beautifully marked juvenile Stonechat gave some good, if distant views. While watching that a female Stonechat flew into the bush in front of me giving me a chance to admire her plumage. 12 Corn Bunting were also on the oyster farm.

juvenile Stonechat

Stonechat

Stonechat

The walk along the green bank was very quiet overall. Once I reached the railway embankment I headed towards the Chambers Wall turn off. A Comma was sheltering out of the wind and a Migrant Hawker hawking for insects over a dyke gave me a chance to try for some flight shots. I did not have a great success but I enjoyed trying.

Comma

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

The bushes by the poplars produced at least 4 Chiffchaff.

Chiffchaff

I made my way to Chambers Wall. A Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler together with Linnet, Blue and Great Tits were in the hedgerow. A Red Admiral gave some nice views of its underwing. As I walked through the car park, to reach the road, a mating pair of Migrant Hawker's flew in and landed high in the hedgerow.

Red Admiral Butterfly

mating Migrant Hawkers

A pulse of hirrundines moved through. In 20 minutes I had 257 Swallows, 33 House Martin and 5 Sand Martin, all heading west. It appeared to ease off again to dribs and drabs coming through. As I walked up the road I got some great views of a Common Buzzard making a very nice end to the visit.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Birds seen this visit include: 9 Robin, 7 Blackbird, 4 Dunnock, 4 Wren, 23 Chaffinch, 2 Green Woodpecker, 16 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawk, Jackdaws, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Wood Pigeons, 2 Jay, 315 Swallow west, 5 Kestrel, 8 Magpie, 1 Common Buzzard, 44 Lapwing, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Pheasant, 1 Mallard, Carrion Crows, 4 Blackcap, 8 Long-tailed Tit, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 7 Red-legged Partridge, 45 Goldfinches, 4 Grey Heron,  7 Coot, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Reed Bunting, 214 House Sparrow, 7 Mute Swan, 3 Pied Wagtail, 75 Linnet, 1 Collared Dove, 4 Little Egret, 9 Ringed Plover, 24 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Dunlin, 17 Meadow Pipits, 3 Wheatear, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Sand Martin west, 1 Kingfisher, 13 Corn Bunting, 3 Stonechat, 1 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 2 Common Buzzard, 33 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin.