Pied Flycatcher and a Feisty Black Redstart - Shuart to Reculver 18/09/20

On the way to Shuart this morning I was treated to some nice views of 15 Red-legged Partridge that were feeding in a field adjacent to the road. They gradually worked their way along and didn't seem too concerned by the little traffic that was passing by. 

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

A Green Woodpecker was calling loudly and a Jay alarm called at the beginning of the track. Robins were busy and a Wren scolded as I passed by. There was a fair bit of disturbance along the track with tractors coming back and fore to where the Sweetcorn was being harvested from further down. I caught sight of a skulky Pied Flycatcher up in one of the trees. It paused briefly in a gap between the leaves giving a tantalising view before a tractor and trailer thundered past and it was gone. I couldn't manage to pick it up again but it had been great to see, even if only briefly.

Pied Flycatcher

Robins were tick-ing away and numbers continue to increase. Once again good numbers of Chiffchaff were in the Hedgerow. 3 Greenfinch were vocal from the back of the hedge. As I came to the end of the hedgerow I could see a mixed flock of duck flying south west high in the distance with 23 Mallard, 20 Teal and 19 Wigeon amongst them.

Mallard, Teal and Wigeon

Mallard, Teal and Wigeon

There was a very welcome sight awaiting me at the stables with a Black Redstart on one of the fences. It took grave exception to any Yellow Wagtail that it saw, immediately chasing it off before either returning to the fence or to the ground in the paddock. Strangely enough it seemed to tolerate the Pied Wagtail's presence but time and again chased any of the 3 Yellow Wagtail present that it spotted. It remained fairly distant but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I tried to get some photos as it flew but did not do very well. With one its head disappeared behind the only bit of vegetation sticking up, either side of clear fence wire, ah well, and in the other I only just managed to get it in shot and not particularly in focus but I love the light through its wings and seeing the colour in its tail so, for me, both make great memory shots of a time spent watching a beautiful and feisty bird full of character.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I back-tracked from the stables and had a wander along the embankment towards Chambers Wall. There appeared to be fewer Chiffchaff than at Shuart but throughout the length of the embankment I still saw good numbers. 2 Yellowhammer flew west and a Hobby was eating prey in one of the fields before taking to the air again.

Hobby

Hobby

A few Common Blue butterflies were on the wing, several Whites and a Peacock and a couple of Red Admiral. Both Migrant Hawkers and Ruddy Darter were also on the wing. 2 Sand Martin came through amongst a small flock of 5 Swallows. 4 more Cetti's Warbler were vocal as I made my way along. I came off at Chambers Wall hoping for a Flycatcher or Redstart but I could not manage to find any. Chiffchaff were calling away here and there but overall it was surprisingly quiet. I headed along to Coldharbour and a single Wigeon was on the water near to 12 Mallard.

Wigeon

I sat and watched out to sea for a while but it was very quiet today. A Cormorant flying in was clearly going to make a take over bid for the top of the marker pole and, despite defensive posturing from the sitting bird, it successfully ousted the defender.

Cormorants

Cormorants

Cormorants

A passing 1st winter Black-headed Gull gave good views of its wing pattern and small numbers of Sandwich Tern were flying east.

1st winter Black-headed Gull

Sandwich Tern

I carried on towards Reculver and enjoyed watching the roosting waders sheltering from the north easterly wind along a shingle ridge. There were less Dunlin today, I saw 9 altogether and I did not see any Knot. 53 Sanderling, 52 Ringed Plover and 22 Turnstone were all tucked down behind the ridge. High above me 5 Common Tern flew east.

Common Tern

Common Tern

A little further along a very smart adult Sandwich Tern was resting on a shingle ridge close to the sea wall and gave some great views in the sunshine.

Sandwich Tern

A juvenile Common Gull moulting into first winter plumage did not get long to rest before it was disturbed by walkers on the beach but was a beautifully plumaged bird. It did not move far and came down just off shore.

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

juvenile moulting to 1st winter Common Gull

I had another Common Gull fly east that I think is a first winter. I still find aging gulls difficult but enjoy trying to work it out and, in time, will be able to tell which this is. It had a much cleaner underwing than the juvenile.

1st winter Common Gull

1st winter Common Gull

A couple of Wheatear were mobile but one paused obligingly as it moved along the beach and made a nice end to the visit.

Wheatear

Birds seen this visit included: 15 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Wren, 13 Robin, 62 Chiffchaff, 3 Jay, Jackdaws, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Moorhen, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 6 Magpie, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Grey Heron, 33 Mallard, 20 Teal, 19 Wigeon, 2 Linnet, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 14 Goldfinch, 5 Blackbird, 17 Swallow, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Collared Dove, 4 Dunnock, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Hobby, 3 Kestrel, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redshank, 9 Dunlin, 53 Sanderling, 52 Ringed Plover, 22 Turnstone, 14 Oystercatcher, 5 Common Tern, 9 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear, 3 Common Gull, 5 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit,   

Common Redstart and My First Brent Geese of Autumn - Shuart to Reculver 17/09/20

I headed to Shuart late morning and on arrival it seemed to be fairly quiet with only a couple of Robins in dispute and a single Chiffchaff calling. However, further along the hedgerow was alive with Chiffchaff calls and there were at least 30 calling away or actively feeding as I made my way along. I am sure that there were more than I managed to count. A single Willow Warbler was among them but the highlight, without a doubt, was a Common Redstart that another birder had seen just before I arrived. It was occasionally flicking between opposite sides of the hedgerow before quickly disappearing into cover. I hoped it might perch at some point but unfortunately it remained skulky and mobile. Still, it gave lovely, if brief, views of its tail as it flicked across and with the sun shining through its tail feathers as it fanned them it was a joy to see and made my day. 

I could not see anything new in at the stables but I enjoyed watching the antics of a couple of Pied and Yellow Wagtails in the horse paddocks. As I came up onto the sea wall 12 Gannet were flying east a fair way out. There was a breezy north easterly and the tide was almost in.

Gannets

Black-headed Gulls were strung out along the wave line that was breaking onto the shore. As some moved along to new sections others dropped in to take their place.

Black-headed Gulls

Black-headed Gulls

A small mix of waders was along the shoreline in places and I enjoyed trying for some flight photos of some passing Sanderling as they flew into the wind.

Sanderling

Sanderling

As I neared Plumpudding Island a Common Gull was on the shore. I could see an approaching dog walker and as they got closer the Common Gull lifted off giving good views of its lower and upperwings as it did so.

Common Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull and Black-headed Gull

Common Gull and Black-headed Gulls

Plumpudding Island was quiet apart from a a couple of Wood Pigeons and Pied Wagtails and a few Linnet at the back. 12 Sandwich flew up briefly before settling back down again, presumably from the roost on the beach behind Plumpudding. I glanced up from watching the antics of the Linnets to see 4 Brent Geese flying east, my first for the autumn. I could not manage much of a photo but was pleased to see them.

Brent Geese

On the way to Coldharbour a first winter Herring Gull gave a chance to try for some more flight photos as it flew into the wind.

1st winter Herring Gull

1st winter Herring Gull

1st winter Herring Gull

5 Redshank were roosting on Coldharbour with a couple of Dunlin and a couple of Black-headed Gulls were bobbing around on the water. A Bar-tailed Godwit appeared above the shingle bank briefly before disappearing from sight so I do not know if it was flying past or had lifted off from the roost at the back of Coldharbour. 3 Chiffchaff were calling from the bushes on the other side of the sea wall. I had a seat on the sea wall for a while so I could watch out to sea. A single distant Gannet flew east and an approaching Whimbrel looked as if it was going to come past quite close, but at the last minute veered off as it appeared to suddenly see the family that was on the shore. It flew a little further out to sea before turning and continuing east. 

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

A Ringed Plover gave a good view of its underwing as it came past and a Black-headed Gull appeared to slow in the gusty wind before picking up speed again.

Ringed Plover

Black-headed Gull

A beautiful adult Mediterranean Gull flew east. They really are gorgeous gulls in all plumages and I love watching them. It looked really striking against the blue sky.

adult Mediterranean Gull

107 Sanderling were roosting behind a shingle ridge as I made my way towards Reculver together with 18 Dunlin, which is the largest number of Dunlin I have seen in the roost together this autumn, 34 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover and 2 Knot. I saw several more Stonechat, one of which was repeatedly hassled by a Reed Bunting.

Dunlin, Sanderling and Turnstone

Knot

Further along another 58 Ringed Plover were roosting and 4 Knot flew east. My second Wheatear of the day was much more obliging for photos than my first and it treated me to some great views as it foraged amongst the shingle and vegetation.

Wheatear

Wheatear

I finished an enjoyable visit with a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull heading east, a fair way out to sea.

1st winter Mediterranean Gull

Birds seen this visit included: 6 Robin, 37 Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeons, 2 Moorhen, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Blackbird, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Sparrowhawk, 19 Goldfinch, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Starlings, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Gannet, 139 Sanderling, 44 Turnstone, 3 Oystercatcher, 91 Ringed Plover, 17 Sandwich Tern, 38 Linnet, 7 Stonechat, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Common Gull, 5 Redshank, 22 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Egret, 2 Wheatear, 6 Knot, 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock, 

A Strangely Calling Golden Plover and Moving Siskin - Reculver to Chambers Wall via Stables 11/09/20

The sun was rising and doing its best Jupiter impersonation, with its bands of cloud across, as I arrived at Reculver early morning. A Robin was on the rocks as usual but this time just a single Chiffchaff was in the bushes by the towers.

Sunrise

Small flocks of Oystercatcher were flying east and looked as if they came into shore at Coldharbour. Black-headed Gulls were roosting along the shoreline but quickly moved off as a dog walker and several racing cyclists came through. A little further along a single Black-headed Gull was surrounded by roosting Sanderling, Ringed Plover, a few Turnstone and 4 Dunlin.

Black-headed Gull and Sanderling

12 Mallard flew over and also headed in Coldharbour's direction. 7 Teal flew towards the sea before turning and heading back inland.

Teal

A Common Buzzard was up at the back of the oyster farm and disturbed 2 Little Egret from one of the dykes as it worked its way along. Several Reed Buntings were in the bushes by the junction with the green bank and Starlings chattered away. I found Coldharbour quiet on reaching it but one of the Redshank present was throwing a near perfect reflection into the water. A Cetti's Warbler called from from the other side of the sea wall and 3 Chiffchaff were in the bushes.

Redshank

I carried on along the sea wall and had a seat on the sea wall on the other side of Coldharbour. 2 Wheatear were on the shingle,blending almost perfectly in with it, one of which paused for a photo even if it was a little distant. Above me a flock of 32 Siskin flew west calling as they did so.

Wheatear

I decided to carry on along the sea wall and as I did I heard a wader give calls I did not recognise. It was coming closer but quite high above, flying fast west. I tried to record the calls on the voice recorder I carry to keep note of the birds I see and also tried to grab a few photos before it flew past me. I have tried transferring it to the camera so it can be downloaded as a video file. 

I was expecting the wader to be something different but was surprised when I looked at the photos to see what appears to be a Golden Plover. I have not heard one make these calls before and could not find a matching call on any sound files of Golden Plover calls I could find on the internet. It may just be that I have not got enough experience of Golden Plover calls but I have never heard one with a double followed by a triple element call before. It made the calls consistently as it went over with both the double element (first call on the recording) and triple element (second call on the recording) calls repeated many times as it continued west. I did not hear it make any other call.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

I think it likely that it was disturbed from the wader roost as a little further along I saw a cyclist pushing their bike along the shingle ridge nearest the beach. A little further on a Golden Plover flew in, landing briefly on a shingle ridge, before moving off and appearing to come down onto the wader roost behind Plumpudding. I do not know if this is the same Golden Plover or not, the other had appeared to carry on west but may well have circled round.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Plumpudding Island appeared deserted apart from a couple of Wood Pigeons and 3 Pied Wagtail. A few Linnet and Meadow Pipit were at the back. The tide was starting to go out as I neared the stables and a Robin was on the rocks and a few Sanderling and Oystercatcher on the shore. 5 Teal flew west.

Teal

At the stables a large number of Starling were singing and chattering away in the bushes but suddenly fell completely silent, as quickly as if a switch had been flicked off, when 2 Sparrowhawk shot through the bushes scattering Linnet and Goldfinches in alarm. As one, the Starlings took off in a whirr of wings and quickly began to loosely group before starting to wheel round in an ever tighter flock. 

Starlings

Starlings

I had a wander along the embankment and was greeted by another very vocal Cetti's Warbler. Chiffchaff were calling here and there. Above there was a large movement of Siskin flying west with flocks of various sizes every few minutes, or so, overhead. I tried to see if I could get some photos but it proved difficult as the space from when I heard them coming to them being past me was very short. Still, it was fun to try. By the time I reached the turnoff for Chambers Wall I had seen a total of 844 Siskin west. Wow.

Siskin

Siskin

A Marsh Harrier was over the fields and a little further along so were a couple of Common Buzzard. A Hobby was on the ground, in one of the fields, eating its prey. A Tree Pipit called flying west. As I walked up to Chambers Wall a Willow Warbler was singing and a Lesser Whitethroat was making its way through the bushes. Good numbers of Chiffchaff were calling and a few Reed Warbler and a single Sedge Warbler were in the bushes together with a couple of Blackcap and a Whitethroat. Another loud Cetti's Warbler finished the visit nicely.

Birds seen this visit included: 6 Robin, 29 Chiffchaff, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 14 Pied Wagtail, 3 Blackbird, 4 Little Egret, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Sandwich Tern E , 9 Redshank, 62 Ringed Plover, 7 Stonechat, 76 Goldfinch, 18 Reed Bunting, 3 Kestrel, 11 Meadow Pipit, 104 Oystercatcher, 36 Mallard, 2 Grey Heron, Carrion Crows, 49 Linnet, 6 Mute Swan, 1 Wren, 52 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 8 Turnstone, 2 Hobby, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 44 Golden Plover, 12 Teal, 2 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Magpie, 876 Siskin west, 2 Wheatear, 1 Rock Pipit, House Sparrows, 350 Starling, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sparrowhawk, 42 Swallow, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Tree Pipit, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warber,