Chris's Birding Blog

Thursday, 20 August 2020

Bathing Swans, Whinchat and Clouded Yellows - Shuart to Chambers Wall 20/08/20

I headed to Shuart on a sunny but increasingly breezy morning. Overall it appeared quite quiet but I enjoyed just seeing what I could see. A Stock Dove peeped out at me while above a Common Buzzard called and a Ring-necked Parakeet called from the trees.

Stock Dove

A Jay alarm called as I headed down the track and a Sparrowhawk streaking through caused the local residents and visitors to disappear into cover before venturing out again. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and when they came to rest it gave the opportunity to admire their markings as I made my way along.

Migrant Hawker

A pair of Mute Swan were having an enthusiastic wash and brush up in one of the dykes.

Mute Swans

Mute Swan

As I neared the end of the track a Clouded Yellow butterfly motored past without stopping. A Kestrel hunting near the stables was harassed by a flock of Swallows before moving a little further along. Making my way along the sea wall I was pleased when a Whinchat (134) appeared briefly. Unfortunately with so many people about on the sea wall I only saw it briefly before it was disturbed and I did not manage to pick it up again.

Whinchat

A couple of Swift flew west, hawking for insects as they went. I enjoyed watching the various Yellow Wagtails that I saw as I made my way along.

Yellow Wagtail

A Sanderling searching for food along the tide line gave some good views as it did so. They are beautifully marked birds.

Sanderling

As I made my way towards Chambers Wall the wind had increased and it had become increasingly cloudy. Another Clouded Yellow butterfly flew along the path and luckily for me it stopped to feed from some Clover alongside the path giving the opportunity to try for some photos. They are beautiful butterflies.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

A Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were searching for insects in the hedgerow while the cooler conditions meant there were several resting Damselflies, Hawkers and Darters. A single Blue-tailed Damselfy was tucked down low and a smart male Migrant Hawker was hanging motionless from a branch.

Blue-tailed Damselfly

male Migrant Hawker

A Common Darter was making the most of the welcome warmth from the sunshine during the brief breaks in the clouds as was a Ruddy Darter.

Common Darter

Ruddy Darter

I saw a couple of Willow Emeralds one of which had the seed head from a Dandelion flower stuck in its wings.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

I finished off my visit with a Small Red-eyed Damselfly.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Birds seen this visit included: 5 Stock Dove, 4 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Wood Pigeons, 2 Blackbird, 5 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Wren, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 30 Swallow, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Curlew, 15 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Stonechat, 3 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swift, 1 Whinchat, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Sanderling, 2 Coot, 5 Goldfinch, 15 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler

Tuesday, 18 August 2020

Stonechat, Grass Snake and a Green Woodpecker - Chambers Wall to Shuart 18/08/20

It was a windy afternoon but fine as I made my way from Chambers Wall to Shuart via the sea wall. Chambers Wall was quite quiet but I enjoyed watching the antics of the Blue and Great Tits and a Cetti's Warbler called loudly as I made my way down the track. A Garden Warbler peeped out at me as it made its way through one of the bushes and a family of Whitethroat called frequently to each other as they searched the hedgerow for insects.

Coldharbour was very quiet apart from a few Black-headed Gulls on the lagoon and a few Sandwich Terns passing by out to sea. Meadow Pipits called as I made my way to Plumpudding and a Little Egret passed by out to sea. A pair of Pied Wagtail were busily feeding amongst the scrub on Plumpudding island but otherwise it remained quiet. As I made my way round a Stonechat popped up and peeped at me through a gap in the undergrowth. They are lovely little birds and always appear full of character.

Stonechat

On reaching Shuart I caught sight of a Grass Snake crossing one of the dykes and disappearing into cover. I am always amazed at just how fast they can move.

Grass Snake

A little further along a juvenile female Green Woodpecker was on the track and gave some good views as she searched for food.

juvenile Green Woodpecker

A pair of Common Buzzard were circling above and calling away and several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing as I made my way along. A male paused and allowed a photo.

male Migrant Hawker

A collection of spiders webs caught my eye as they glinted in the sunlight. Some were somewhat in need of repair but beautifully intricate all the same.and brought a pleasant walk to a close.

Spiders Webs

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called as I made my way to the car park.

Monday, 17 August 2020

Knot, Wheatear, and Southern Migrant Hawker - Shuart to Marshside 17/08/20

It has been a long time since I have been able to visit the Reculver area properly but with the start of a weeks holiday it gave the opportunity to have a slow wander today. I started out from Shuart and heading down the track it was nice to catch up with most of the usual jobs even if overall it did appear to be quite quiet. A large bee, what I think is a Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris, was busy amongst the flowers. I find, at the moment many bees hard to identify. Still the only good thing with that is that hopefully in time I can only get better.

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris

3 Yellow Wagtails were in the horse paddocks and a pair of Pied Wagtail were calling away noisily. Goldfinches were busy amongst the seed heads and small flocks of House Sparrow, Starlings and Linnet were all chattering away as I made my way along. On reaching the sea wall a Stonechat was calling away constantly.

Stonechat

The tide was mostly in as I made my way along but still on the rise. It appeared quiet out to sea with just a few passing Black-headed and Herring Gulls. A Sandwich Tern (130) called as it passed. On nearing Plumpudding Island I could see 4 Whimbrel (131) on the shore and another flew in, calling as it did so. I carried on to Coldharbour which apart from a few Black-headed Gulls was very quiet. A moth, which I have not been able to identify yet, was moving rapidly from flower head to flower head.

I sat on the sea wall for a while and enjoyed watching a small group of mixed waders busily feeding on a small patch of exposed shore that was rapidly disappearing as the tide came in. A juvenile Knot (132) was amongst them and was a pleasure to watch as it fed busily.

Knot, Turnstone and Sanderling

Knot and Turnstone

Knot

With the last bit of shore being covered by the in-coming tide and the waders departing I carried on along the sea wall got a nice, if brief view of a Wheatear before it was disturbed by a passing dog walker. A couple of Common Sandpiper (133) flew past calling as they headed east. As I neared the green bank I caught up with another Wheatear.

Wheatear

12 Little Egret were in their usual tree and the air was full of the sound of Starlings as they moved from the oyster farm to the bramble bushes alongside the sea wall.

Little Egrets

A passing rain shower reduced the number of people on the sea wall temporarily but as Reculver was very busy I took the track to Brook instead. A family of Reed Warblers were noisily feeding in the hedgerow. A Corn Bunting peeped at me as I passed by but otherwise seemed unconcerned by my presence. It was fairly bedraggled from the rain shower but drying rapidly as the sun came out again.

Corn Bunting

A friend met me at the top of Brook and gave me a lift round to Marshside where I spent a while looking for Dragonflies and Damselflies. Good numbers of Willow Emeralds Damselflies were present and I was treated to some very nice views.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

I also saw several pairs in tandem.

Willow Emerald Damselflies

A couple of Emperor Dragonflies were patrolling various sections of the dyke but I did not manage to catch up with one at rest. A Ruddy Darter was more obliging.

Ruddy Darter

A Common Buzzard gave some good views as it flew over while a couple of Ring-necked Parakeet called as they flew past behind me.

Common Buzzard

Without a doubt though the highlight was fnding a male Southern Migrant Hawker, which came as a very nice surprise as I have not seen one at this site before. The males are very handsome and he was an absolute pleasure to watch. I haven't seen one since the male I found at Shuart last year so I felt incredibly lucky to see this one.

Southern Migrant Hawker

It made a great end to the day and as I made my way back to the car I finished the visit with a young Moorhen peeping out at me.

juvenile Moorhen

Birds seen this visit included: 8 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Blackcap, 6 Wren, 12 Whitethroat, 5 Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 15 Goldfinch, 3 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Linnet, 7 Stonechat, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipits, 4 Collared Dove, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, 2 Sparrowhawk, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Sandwich Tern, 56 Oystercatcher, 5 Whimbrel, 15 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone, 1 juvenile Knot, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Reed Bunting, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Wheatear, 2 Redshank, 12 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 2 Grey Heron, 12 Little Egret, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet,

Friday, 5 June 2020

Grey Partridge and a Hovering Kestrel - Broomfield Track 05/06/20

I paid a short visit to Broomfield Track on a beautifully fine afternoon. I came across an insect I have not been able to find at the moment in my books but was very smart with its iridescent purple hues and the green colour at the base of its abdomen.

In the same area a Hoverfly was busily working its way around a flower head and a little further along a bee was busily collecting nectar.

I caught a glimpse of white amongst the vegetation and saw a Crab Spider patiently waiting for prey to come within its reach.

A Whitethroat was singing away out of sight but then helpfully popped up onto a stem and gave me some brief views before disappearing to the other side of the bush again.

Whitethroat

As I made my way along the track a smart Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was on a bare patch of ground sunning itself, its colours looking gorgeous in the afternoon light.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

I could see a blob tucked in by the back fence and binoculars revealed that it was a Grey Partridge (126) which came as a very welcome surprise. Movement behind it revealed a female as well. Though a little distant for the camera the male gave some good views.

Grey Partridge

It was time to be heading back and as I turned for home a small flock of 5 House Martins made their way through. I tried for some photos which though not very successful did give me good practice at trying to photograph such a fast moving bird.

House Martin

I finished a short but enjoyable walk through with a hovering Kestrel a little way in front of me.

Kestrel

It then moved over to the field next to me and started some low level hovering giving some very nice views indeed. I did not do very well with the photos but they do give me some good memory shots.