A Goosander, Guillemot and Hovering Wind Turbines - Reculver 08/11/20

As I finished work earlier than expected today I paid a short visit to Reculver this afternoon. It was a beautifully fine afternoon to begin with and a Starling on the rocks by the car park looked stunning in the light.

Starling

Wandering along the sea wall I saw some small duck, a good ways out, fly up briefly from the waters surface before settling back down again a short distance away. I had a sit on the sea wall and after a while the ducks once again flew up and flew low above the water before settling down again a little further on. I was able to see them better this time and I could see that they were 14 Teal.  

Teal

As I neared the green bank I saw a bird flying in from the sea quite high and about halfway between me and Reculver. I could see it was a female/immature sawbill and expecting it to be a Red-breasted Merganser I grabbed a few photos even though it was a long way off. The photos are very heavily cropped but all suggest it could actually be a Goosander with the bird showing a clear cut demarcation line between its head and neck. It isn't as thick necked as I imagined a Goosander would look in flight but is quite heavy bodied. A white chin spot is just about visible in some shots but could be the effect of heavy cropping of the photo. The white wing patch appears not to be separated by a black line but on a photo this cropped would probably be hard to see anyway. In the end I have come down on the side of Goosander because of that sharp demarcation between head and neck but, as always, I could be wrong.

female/immature Goosander

female immature Goosander

A little further along 7 Shelduck were on the sea and looking very smart. Out to sea the wind turbines were once again giving the optical illusion of floating in the air. I have seen it once before when the horizon line becomes lost and a darker band of sea fools the eye into thinking that it is the horizon line resulting in the turbines appearing to hover. 

Shelduck

Optical illusion of hovering Wind Turbines

Cloud cover started to build and the cloud formations looked very striking. The air was suddenly filled with the calls of Golden Plover and 177 birds were wheeling around, the most Golden Plover I have seen so far this winter. I couldn't see what had put them up.

Cloud formation

Golden Plover

I had another sit on the sea wall and just enjoyed watching out to sea for a while. Small numbers of Gannet were on the move with most heading west and a couple coming east.

immature Gannet

I caught sight of a little bird out to sea whirring along and had my only auk for the afternoon when a Guillemot flew east.

Guillemot

Three Great Crested Grebe were off shore and 14 Mallard came into land. I liked the shape they formed as they did so and the stages of landing on the water captured in the photo. It still fascinates me that photos allow me to see things that happen too fast in real life to be able to sufficiently appreciate them.

Mallards

I could see 190 Brent Geese on the sea towards Coldharbour and 110 Oystercatcher roosting on the beach. A Rock Pipit was investigating one of the groynes and 3 Pied Wagtail were along the shoreline with the male flying up to the groyne at one point. The Rock Pipit did not like that at all and chased it off. Out to sea a Sparrowhawk flew in from the north. Four Teal flew west and I wondered if they would join up with the other birds I saw earlier.

Teal

Teal

It was time to start heading back. I could hear multiple alarm calls from the Oystercatchers and turned to see they had been disturbed from their roost by walkers along the shingle bank.  The Oystercatchers flew my way together with some Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and a couple of Dunlin. Tucked in with one of the flocks of Oystercatcher were 2 Curlew.

A couple of Mute Swan flew east out to sea as I made my way back, coming down onto the water near Coldharbour. A little further along another couple of Great Crested Grebe were on the water. A single Teal was close inshore and climbed out onto the rocks but keeping a wary eye on passers-by on the sea wall.

Teal

Teal

I finished an enjoyable visit watching a stream of Brent Geese move west out to sea in an undulating long line. It was a bonus to have had some time for some birdwatching this afternoon.

Brent Geese

Birds seen this visit included: Teal, Shelduck, 9 Gannet 7 west 2 east, 1 Guillemot, 25 Sanderling, 10 Redshank, 18 Mallard, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 2 Mute Swan, 190 Brent Geese. 38 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 2 Curlew,

Long-eared Owl Encounter, Common Scoter and a Red Admiral Butterfly - Reculver to Shuart 09/11/20

I started out from Reculver on another beautifully fine morning. 70 Brent Geese were off the point and the usual Robin was on the rocks by the car park with another up by the towers as I made my way down to the sea wall. I was scanning the old camp site and fields at the back when I heard a couple of Herring Gulls calling loudly behind me and turned to see them mobbing a bird just out to sea. I couldn't believe it when I realised it was an Owl and even better, it looked good for a Long-eared Owl. Seconds later it shot towards the Towers and gave some brief views as it sped up the concrete apron, resting momentarily at the top and out of sight for me, before flying up and heading inland. The photos are pretty fuzzy but they do give me some great memory shots of a thrilling encounter. I have seen Short-eared Owls come in off the sea before but I have never seen a Long-eared Owl do so. What an incredible sight and to say it made my day would be putting it mildly. I love seeing Owls and felt incredibly lucky to see this one.

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

I carried on along the sea wall and out to sea a single Shelduck flew west and a Great Crested Grebe was on the sea. I could not see any Divers offshore. By the time I reached the oyster farm I had seen 388 Cormorant coming in off the sea and flying inland in multiple groups ranging in size from large to small. 

Cormorants flying inland

A few Redshank were dotted along the shore but apart from a Turnstone it was surprisingly quiet for waders. A few Great Black-backed Gulls flew east and 5 Mute Swan were at the waters edge. 

Mute Swans

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while but out to sea remained quiet. 70 Brent Geese flew east and it seemed likely that they were the same ones I saw off the point. I always enjoy hearing their calls and watching them in flight.

part of Brent Geese flock

As I neared the green bank I could see 45 Corn Bunting atop the bushes on the oyster farm and a male Reed Bunting showed its white outer tail feathers well as it flicked its tail open and shut.

Reed Bunting

Three Shelduck were just off shore from the exposed mussel bed and a Little Egret and a Grey Heron were both seeing what they could catch in a small pool of water.

Shelduck

Little Egret and Grey Heron

A Pheasant called from the oyster farm and a Cetti's Warbler was vocal. Scanning across the fields I could see 11 Pheasant in one of the fields. The tide was a long way out and the sea was incredibly calm. 7 Ringed Plover, with a few Turnstone and Redshank amongst them, were on the mussel bed. 26 Mallard were having a wash and brush up at the edge of the exposed mussel bed and in amongst them was a single Shoveler. 

Shoveler

I carried on towards Coldharbour and could see 47 Golden Plover tucked down in one of the fields. It was nice to catch up with Derek Smith, who was out on the sea wall, and as we were talking he heard Bearded Tits calling from the reedbed. I couldn't tell how many there were but they are always a welcome sound. I had another sit on the sea wall near Coldharbour and caught up with some more waders with a single Curlew and Grey Plover and more Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and Redshank. Oystercatchers, as always, were vocal. 250 Brent Geese were off shore though Coldharbour was quiet it was nice to see a Little Grebe tucked into one of the banks.

Little Grebe

As I headed towards Plumpudding I had another Shoveler flying west. I came across some Brent Geese that were on the shore and throwing perfect reflections into the various pools of water on the wet sand, the reflection only being broken as they moved or fed.

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

A Cetti's Warbler called as I came up to Plumpudding Island and I heard a single Bearded Tit give a couple of calls. I couldn't see any sign of the Snipe I saw the other day and all appeared quiet although a pair of Mute Swan looked gorgeous in the light.

Mute Swans

A couple of Goldcrest were in the bushes on the other side of the sea wall and I enjoyed watching them as they made their way along, searching painstakingly through the bush before a short flight to the next one and starting again.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Another Goldcrest was a little further along and a Water Rail called from one of the dykes. 11 Great Black-backed Gulls were off shore as I carried on along the sea wall. I had another sit on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea. A Great Crested Grebe was off shore and 6 Common Scoter flew east coming in fairly close as they did so.

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

A mix of Gulls were moving around and a Common Gull showed its underwing pattern well as it came through with a couple of Black-headed Gulls.

Common Gull

A second winter Mediterranean Gull gave some nice, even if a little distant, views as it came past and could possibly be the same bird I saw the other day.

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

A Rock Pipit called and settled on the shore as I neared the turnoff for the stables. It was quiet in the paddocks as I came past the stables but it was nice to see a couple of Greenfinches in one of the bushes.

Greenfinches

Greenfinches

7 Corn Bunting were atop the bushes and a single Chiffchaff was making its way through the bushes at the side of the track and gave some nice views as it did so.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

The walk through to Shuart was very quiet for birds along the track but very busy for humans with walkers, dog walkers, joggers and cyclists all making the most of the sunshine. A flock of 220 Starling were in the harvested sweetcorn field with 40 Stock Dove. Both a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal and a Siskin flew west calling away. A Red Admiral Butterfly flew over and settled in one of the trees to soak up some welcome warmth from the sun. I will miss seeing butterflies.

Red Admiral Butterfly

I finished an enjoyable visit with some great views of an immature Common Buzzard circling above and a couple of Ring-necked Parakeet calling away in alarm.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Birds seen this visit included: 320 Brent Geese, 15 Robin, 10 Meadow Pipit, 1 Long-eared Owl, 7 Magpie, 10 Pied Wagtail, 4 Shelduck, 26 Redshank, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Mute Swan, 388 Cormorant, 9 Turnstone, 18 Great Black-backed Gull, 52 Corn Bunting, 7 Reed Bunting, 12 Pheasant, 3 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 49 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Kestrel, 2 Dunnock, 4 Wren, Skylarks, 10 Stonechat, 29 Ringed Plover, Bearded Tits, 82 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Water Rail, 1 Common Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Rock Pipit, 11 Chaffinch, House Sparrows, 330 Starling, 1 Chiffchaff, 18 Blackbird, 3 Common Buzzard, 5 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Jay, Great Tits, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sandwich Terns, Gannets and a Red-breasted Merganser - Shuart to Reculver 06/11/20

I headed back to Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning and from the approach road could see a large group of 27 Red-legged Partridge in one of fields. They glowed in the early morning light and the few nearer the road scuttled to the edge of the hedgerow as we came down and peeped out before moving back to the others and continuing feeding.

Red-legged Partridge

It seemed fairly quiet from the car park area with just the usual suspects present. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling and a pair of Magpies were scolding at something I couldn't see. Skylarks were above and a couple of Robin were in the midst of a territory disagreement. As I headed towards the track a single Stock Dove peeped down at me.

Stock Dove

Making my way down the track I saw a flock of 7 Redwing fly over and I enjoyed watching the odd Goldcrest that I came across. It continued to have a fairly quiet feel to it today but was a beautiful morning for a walk through. Another 10 Red-legged Partridge were at the back of one of the fields and a Water Rail was vocal. I could hear alarm calls and through a small gap between the bushes I caught sight of the Hen Harrier but by the time I reached a gap in the hedgerow there was no sign. It is certainly a beautiful bird. The moon was still very visible in the blue sky and looked stunning.

Moon

I had heard four Cetti's Warbler in total by the time I reached the railway line and 28 Stock Doves were over in one of the fields. The two Stonechat were once again in the area of the crossing. From the stables I could see 14 Redwing in one of the paddocks and another 2 Cetti's Warblers were vocal. 15 Corn Bunting were calling from the bushes. As I reached the sea wall a Great Black-backed Gull flew over with the light really catching its eye.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

The tide was a good way out when I reached the sea wall and I could see 120 Oystercatchers stretched out along the shore. 10 Great Black-backed Gulls were loafing around and a single Dunlin was busily feeding. A Curlew flew east out to sea and 15 Sanderling were at the waters edge. Out to sea appeared quiet with just a single Great Crested Grebe offshore. I came across a group of Oystercatchers that had been attracted to the same small pool of water and they were almost exactly evenly spaced out.

Oystercatchers

As I headed towards Plumpudding I caught up with a small mix of waders and far out to sea I could see 2 Sandwich Tern fishing. I am going to miss watching those. The light caught a Mute Swan's eye as it came past and highlighted its feathers beautifully. 5 Common Gulls were on the shore and out to sea 3 Gannet headed east.

Mute Swan

A flock of 94 Mallard came in to land out to sea and I could see 3 Wigeon in amongst them. 240 Brent Geese also flew in and are always a very welcome sight. They tend to be a bit of a show stopper as well with quite a few people on the sea wall pausing to watch them come in. 

Brent Geese

Plumpudding Island proved to be very quiet and I could not see the Snipe today. A beautiful male Stonechat looked stunning in the light and I enjoyed watching it for a while.

Stonechat

On the way to Coldharbour I could see 12 Gannet flying west in small groups and 4 Brent Geese gave a flypast with the light beautifully highlighting their wings. 

Brent Geese

Coldharbour was deserted but the disturbance from walkers along the shingle bank was high. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the other side of the sea wall but otherwise all was quiet. A Mushroom was growing amongst the vegetation on the shingle by the sea wall. I am not sure at the moment which it is.

Mushroom

I headed on towards the green bank and off shore I could see another couple of Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver but otherwise it stayed quite quiet. 29 Golden Plover flew up from one of the fields.

Golden Plover

Another Cetti's Warbler was calling as I carried on towards Reculver and I could hear the Water Rail calling from the dyke in front of the oyster farm. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and out to sea 5 Gannet flew west.

Gannet

A Little Egret flew over the oyster farm but I could not see any Short-eared Owls today. A couple of Redshank alarm called. A single Shelduck was off shore and glowed in the sunlight.

Shelduck

I had a final sit on the sea wall just before I reached Reculver and watched out to sea for a while. It proved to very quiet with just another couple of Gannet west. Having watched for a while with nothing much happening I got my phone out to arrange a pick up from Reculver and a Red-breasted Merganser flew east. It is amazing how often a good bird waits until you have your hands full. By the time I had managed to put the phone down and get the camera on it the Merganser had flown well east. It has been a difficult and painful week and sometimes frustration gets the better of me and I lose my sense of humour briefly and this was definitely one of those moments. Luckily it only ever lasts for a couple of minutes but I can probably fit a years worth of swear words in, in that time, which is not good. Ah well. It was a lovely bird to end the visit with and though the photo does not do it credit it gives me a good memory shot and I was grateful to have seen it.

Red-breasted Merganser

Birds seen this visit included: 37 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Magpie, Skylarks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 10 Robin, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 21 Chaffinch, 29 Stock Dove, 27 Blackbird, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, 4 Wren, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Redwing, 7 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Water Rail, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 15 Corn Bunting, 13 Great Black-backed Gull, 120 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Common Gull, 22 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern, 94 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 1 Red-breasted Merganser