A Superb Osprey and Egyptian Geese - Reculver to Coldharbour 03/09/20

I headed to Reculver on an overcast morning with a fairly brisk south westerly wind. The tide was well out when I arrived and a Cormorant eyed me warily from the exposed rocks near the car park as I made my way up to the towers. 

Cormorant

Coming down onto the sea wall there were 3 Pied Wagtail on the rocks with lots of Black-headed and Herring Gulls dotted along the exposed shore. I could not see any waders except for a Redshank. 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were further along and a Common Buzzard was hovering in the wind over the oyster farm, much to the annoyance of the resident Carrion Crows who promptly mugged it until it moved on. I wondered why a Little Egret was carrying a large bill full of seaweed. All became clear when it suddenly shook the seaweed vigorously and a sizeable fish fell out which appeared to be a Dogfish. It took a few attempts to get it into the right position for swallowing but once it was it disappeared in a few seconds.

Little Egret with seaweed hidden fish

Little Egret with fish

Suddenly distant alarm calls rang out and every gull, as far as the eye could see, lifted off from the shore and flew up, joining in with the ever increasing alarm calls as they did so. With that level of panic I really hoped there might be an Osprey coming in and scanning round I couldn't believe my luck when I could see one in the far distance circling well offshore from Coldharbour. It started to fish, catching one on the first attempt, and flew towards the shore carrying it. Whatever it had caught must have been too heavy for it because it dropped it just before it reached the shore and it continued in before coming down on the beach.

Osprey with catch

Osprey

I was still a long way off but with the hopes it might rest for a while I made way up towards Coldharbour. A Rock Pipit flew along the beach and alighted briefly before carrying on. 16 Redshank were on the shore and another flock of 38 Swallows flew west. Small numbers had been moving west throughout the visit.

Rock Pipit

The Osprey obligingly stayed on the furthest point of the exposed shore allowing me to get further along the sea wall. As the tide rose the sand it was standing on gradually became submerged and as the water got deeper the Osprey lifted off and started to fly west towards me.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

I thought it was going to keep going but as it gained height it started to circle back and come back east giving some impressive views of its wingspan as it did so.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

It came back into land, once again on the furthest point of the exposed shore, but this time a bit closer to me, and folding its wings away tidily once again sat as the tide came in and started to cover the part of the shore it was on.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

As it took off this time the feathers of its wing must have folded back giving the impression of a large gap. Once again I thought it was going to come in but, as before, it turned and headed west, still remaining a fair way out.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

It rapidly gained height and this time carried on going, circling now and then, looking down, as presumably it searched for fish. I could see it circling offshore from Reculver for a while before carrying on west out to sea and it was lost to view. Without a doubt it is the longest and best views of Osprey that I have had and it was a privilege to be able to watch such a beautiful bird.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Well chuffed, and with the Osprey definitely having made my day, I carried on along the sea wall towards Coldharbour. Turning to check the shore I saw 4 Egyptian Geese (145) flying east and giving some superb views as they did so. They really are striking birds in flight and with great views of the Geese it really was turning out to be a superb morning.

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese

A flock of 70 Golden Plover flew up in alarm as a Hobby moved through before coming down into one of the fields ahead of me. The Hobby meanwhile caused consternation amongst some of the birds on the shore before turning its attentions inland again. I came across the Golden Plover who had settled down in the field as I neared Coldharbour and they were near enough to try for a photo from the sea wall. They really are superbly camouflaged.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

A Whimbrel flew west calling and a short while later a Bar-tailed Godwit flew west allowing a quick photo. 3 Yellow Wagtails were busy along the tide line and Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the shore.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Coldharbour was quiet with just a couple of Redshank and a few Black-headed Gulls. On the walk back to Reculver a Wheatear was on the shore but decidely camera shy. A Common Sandpiper flew east calling and a few more Sanderling and Ringed Plover were on the shore. A Hobby moved back out to sea again causing alarm amongst the waders.

Hobby

A passing Black-headed Gull showed its regrowing moulted outer primaries well and I finished a hugely enjoyable visit with 10 Little Egret and a Grey Heron in their customary tree.

Black-headed Gull

Grey Heron and Little Egret

Birds seen this visit included: 3 Pied Wagtail, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 105 Swallow west, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Sand Martin, 12 Little Egret, 17 Redshank, 1 Osprey, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 55 Ringed Plover, 4 Kestrel, 10 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Oystercatcher, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 5 Goldfinch, 12 Linnet, 23 Sanderling, 3 Stonechat 

Whinchats, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits - Shuart to Reculver 02/09/20

I paid a visit to Shuart this morning and on the walk down the road had a small group of 7 Swallows on the wires, a mix of adults and juveniles. A Chiffchaff flicked up from the hedgerow and another 2 were calling further down with a single Willow Warbler working its way along the hedgerow.

Swallow

Swallows

As I had a wander down the track I saw a couple of beautifully fresh and bright immature Willow Warblers and enjoyed watching them as they made their way through the hedgerow. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and one was returning to persistently hover over one of the dykes giving the chance to try for some flight photos..

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

It appeared fairly quiet as I came past the stables. 3 male Blackcap were in one of the Blackberry bushes and 2 Stonechat were on the fence at the back of one of the paddocks. A charm of 35 Goldfinches swirled round as they moved from Teasels to Thistles. Another Stonechat was by the sea wall as I came up onto it. A flock of c150 Starling appeared to be flycatching as they swooped and turned above me. The tide was mostly in and as I started along the wall I could see 17 Turnstone on the rocks.

Turnstones

I was pleased to see 2 Whinchat  with a third seen a little further along. They seemed very wary of the people passing on the sea wall and tended to keep their distance.

Whinchat

Whinchat

A couple of juvenile Stonechats were begging from their parents. They are beautifully marked little birds. 

juvenile Stonechat

adult and juvenile Stonechat

As I headed along the sea wall it became increasingly overcast and noticeably cooler. I saw a good mix and numbers of waders roosting at various points as I made my way towards Coldharbour. 3 Teal flew east and a little further along 4 were a fair distance out on the sea but gradually drifted a little closer in. A short while later 4 Teal flew east and I thought the ones on the sea had taken off but they were still present.

Teal

Teal

Small flocks of Ringed Plover flew past now and then giving the opportunity to try for some flight photos. An adult Dunlin showed its black belly patch well as it came into land. 

Ringed Plover

Dunlin and Ringed Plover

A Knot flying east in the company of 3 Oystercatcher was a welcome sight.

Knot and Oystercatchers

Pied Wagtails were busily feeding along the shore with 3 Yellow Wagtails working their way along the tide line. 3 Bar-tailed Godwit flying east were a good addition to the waders seen today.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Coldharbour had the usual few Black-headed Gulls in attendance and 7 Redshank roosting on one of the banks. 4 Goldfinch were amongst the thistle heads. As I carried on to Reculver I saw another 77 Ringed Plover roosting on the beach on the high tide line roost with 40 Sanderling, 12 Turnstone and 5 Dunlin. A Hobby was over the far edge of the fields and another 3 Stonechat were busy insect catching. The last part of the walk to Reculver was fairly quiet and I finished the visit with a good view of a Carrion Crow as it banked.

Carrion Crow

Birds seen this visit included: 7 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Wren, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, 2 Magpie, 43 Linnet, 8 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 39 Goldfinch, 6 Stonechat, 150 Starling, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 15 Turnstone, 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 98 Oystercatcher, 189 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 49 Turnstone, 46 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 11 Teal, 7 Reed Bunting, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Sandwich Tern, 7 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, Carrion Crows