Red-throated Divers, Greylag Geese and a Hungry Little Egret - Shuart to Reculver 26/11/20

It was a very overcast morning when I arrived at Shuart but with next to no wind. A flock of mixed Tits were working their way through the trees, calling noisily and moving rapidly from tree to tree. A couple of Ring-necked Parakeet were vocal and provided a welcome flash of colour on a grey and dingy morning.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Wandering down the track I could see 3 Little Egrets busily feeding at the edge of the vegetation cleared from one of the dykes as I came up to a break in the hedgerow. At the back of the same field 7 Greylag Geese were resting up in groups of 4 and 3. They instantly became very alert as a passing dog walker's dogs started barking.

Little Egrets

Greylag Geese

As I carried on down the track both a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were vocal and I could hear Blackbirds alarm calling from the back of the hedgerow but I couldn't see at what. However all became clear when first a Blackbird, and then a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit, exploded out from the hedgerow and disappeared through the opposite side. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees and was promptly mobbed by a flock of 5 Meadow Pipits who flew up from the field edge to intercept it and were soon joined by another 4. The Great Spotted Woodpecker moved down and to the other side of the tree and peace reigned once again as the Meadow Pipits presumably decided that was far enough away. I was surprised at how quickly they responded to its presence, particularly as it is outside the breeding season.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Good numbers of Blackbird were making the most of the berries together with 1 Fieldfare and 6 Redwing. A single Goldcrest peeped out and a pair of Mistle Thrush looked very smart in the flat light. As I came up to the railway line 17 Red-legged Partridge were along a field edge while a Common Buzzard was up at the back following the edge of a distant field. It was fairly quiet as I came past the stables with just the usual jobs present. The manure heaps were proving to be good growing grounds for small groups of mushrooms.

Amongst the flock of House Sparrows there was a smart male with a much darker grey/brown crown than the other males and from some views I almost wondered if it could be a hybrid of sorts. Its cheeks were very white with a strong dusky patch. I can only think that it must be in a different stage of moult than the other males round it who still had very pale grey crowns and much less black on their breasts and not so much contrast on their cheeks.

darker crowned male House Sparrow

darker crowned male House Sparrow

paler crowned male House Sparrow

On reaching the sea wall the tide was mostly in and 30 Redshank were strung along the shore.

Redshank

Turnstone were also roosting and disputes were breaking out regularly between the birds on the groyne as new birds tried to join  and were unceremonially pushed off by the sitting birds. A single Redshank amongst them was no more tolerant of arriving birds dropping in close to it than the Turnstones. The birds on the shore appeared to be much more settled. 

Turnstones

A few Oystercatchers were a little further along and one of them was having a very enthusiastic wash and brush up by ducking down as the waves came in and allowing them to wash right over it. Afterwards it was time for a quick rearranging of its feathers to ensure all was at it should be.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

As I approached Plumpudding I could see good numbers of Oystercatcher and Sanderling on the wader roost together with 20 Curlew and 8 Grey Plover. 320 Brent Geese flew over and landed on the sea. Plumpudding itself was quiet and a Mute Swan flying in to join its mate landed on the water which is an impressive sight and always shows superb control for such a large bird.

Mute Swan

As I made my way along to Coldharbour the cloud formation shapes were interesting and even on such an overcast day the tones and hints of colour in the greys were beautiful.

Four Common Scoter were off shore and a single Bar-tailed Godwit flew west. A flock of 9 Red-throated Divers were my first divers of the day and came as a very nice surprise. 

Red-throated Divers

Coldharbour was quite with just a few Redshank and a Little Egret. The Little Egret gave some great reflections as it hunted, paddling the mud with its foot causing bubbles to rise to the surface.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Another Water Rail was calling just past Coldharbour and as I neared the oyster farm a Short-eared Owl came up briefly at the back before landing in cover again. A single Brent Goose was on the rocks and was the second lone bird that I had seen today as there was also a lone bird in one of the fields.

Brent Goose

A Kestrel hovering over the oyster farm was once again giving a masterclass in remaining stationary and the fully fanned tail was a lovely sight.

Kestrel

Two Red-throated Divers flew east and another was off-shore as I neared the towers. I enjoyed watching a couple of Stonechat and they made a nice end to the visit.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Kestrel, 4 Wren, 9 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, 7 Stock Doves, 10 Magpie, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzard, 10 Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tits, 45 Blackbird, 7 Little Egret, 7 Greylag Geese, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Meadow Pipit, 1 Jay, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Pheasant, 17 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Redwing, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 5 Stonechat, 2 Brent Geese, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, House Sparrows, 40 Redshank, 45 Turnstone, 96 Oystercatcher, 70 Sanderling, 20 Curlew, 8 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Red-throated Diver, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 

Snipe, Merlin and Gadwall - Chambers Wall to Reculver 21/11/20

I started out from Chambers Wall on an overcast morning with a breezy south westerly wind and wandering up the approach road I could hear a single Golden Plover calling in alarm as a Kestrel flew low over one of the fields. A very smart male Marsh Harrier was on the hunt over the far fields but unfortunately remained distant. The hedgerow and car park area were quiet and I could only see a single Robin working its way through one of the bushes and the odd Blackbird. As the Robin moved into the open a gust of wind caught its feathers turning it into an instant fluff ball.

Robin

Two Siskin flew south overhead calling away as they did so. A few more Blackbird and a scolding Wren greeted me as I stopped to check out tiny patches of orange on the ground and found small groups of Orange Peel Fungus. They might be tiny but the colour really catches the eye.

Orange Peel Fungus

Orange Peel Fungus

Plenty of Blackbird were in the hedgerow as I made my way towards the embankment together with 7 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and a couple of Song Thrush. Some Blue and Great Tits were busily looking for insects and as I came to the end of the hedgerow I could see a Peregrine on a small mound of earth in the field by the railway line. No sooner had I spotted it then so did a Carrion Crow and calling for reinforcements it, and then another joining it, mobbed the Peregrine causing it to move on. A couple of Linnet flew over as I started along the embankment towards Shuart end and a pair of Stonechat were swaying atop the reed edge. A single Mushroom was growing at the side of the track.

A few more Blackbird and a couple of Song Thrush were in the bushes as I made my way along and a small flock of Blue and Great Tits were working there way through. A pair of Stonechat were keeping out of the wind at the edge of one of the fields and perching very low to the ground.

Stonechats

A pair of Little Grebe and a pair of Mallard were on the river as I came up to it together with a pair of Coot. Every now and then one of the Coot would seem to feel that a Little Grebe was just that bit too close and move to chase it whereupon the Little Grebe would instantly dive and surface a safe distance away before gradually working its way back towards the Coot and the whole thing would be repeated. Finally the Little Grebes moved a little further away and peace ruled.

Little Grebes

Eighty-seven Lapwing were on the flooded portion of the field with all of them facing into the wind.

Lapwing

I couldn't see any Snipe tucked in with the Lapwing today but moving along a little I could get a better view of the rest of the flooded area, through a gap in the hedgerow, and as I scanned along I saw more and more Snipe ending up seeing 14 in total. I had hoped I might be able to pick up a Jack Snipe but couldn't manage to find one but it will certainly be worth keeping an eye on.

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

A single Redshank was also working its way from flooded area to flooded area.

Redshank

A single Siskin called as it flew west as I carried on and on the next flooded field the only occupant appeared to be a Black-headed Gull. A flock of c320 Brent Geese formed an almost perfect ellipse in one of the fields near the sea wall.

Brent Geese

The 9 Red-legged Partridge were in the same area I saw them on the last visit and were tucked in keeping out of the wind with just one adventurous one off for a wander.

Red-legged Partridge

There wasn't anything unexpected as I headed past the stables. The tide was coming in quite fast when I reached the sea wall but there wasn't a wader to be seen on the remaining exposed shore as it was crowded instead with people. A Common Gull was off-shore but otherwise the walk to Plumpudding remained quiet. Out to sea the windy conditions had attracted Kite Surfers and Sail Boarders.

The pair of Mute Swan on Plumpudding Island were busily tucking into vegetation they were bringing up from just below the surface of the water.

Mute Swans

As I carried on towards Coldharbour a Merlin came in off the sea and shot past giving a brief view as it did so. Out to sea 7 Common Scoter were bobbing around a good ways out.

Merlin

Common Scoter

I could see 31 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew were on the beach at the back of Coldharbour as I headed round along the sea wall. There was a single Redshank and a Little Egret on Coldharbour and I could see 2 Mallard and a couple of Gadwall out to sea while sitting on the sea wall. A Grey Plover was on the shore and behind me the sun breaking through the clouds into beams looked spectacular.

Grey Plover

I had a wander along for a little way and then had another sit on the sea wall for a while. Waders were moving to roost with Turnstone and Ringed Plover heading past. A single Dunlin was tucked in with both flocks. Off-shore a pair of Shelduck were gradually moving further out to sea.

Shelduck

From the next sit on the sea wall waders were still on the move with some Oystercatchers giving a close fly past and a flock of c100 Sanderling with a single Dunlin amongst them heading for roost.

Oystercatcher

Sanderling and Dunlin

I could see a couple of distant Gannet heading east as I made my way towards Reculver and a male Marsh Harrier was quartering over the fields. I wonder if it is the same one that I saw earlier.

male Marsh Harrier

The Mallard and Gadwall lifted off from the sea and after a quick circular flight headed off  east towards Coldharbour.

Mallard and Gadwall

Mallard and Gadwall

Oystercatchers were on the move during my final sit on the sea wall before reaching Reculver and were an impressive sight, as always, and brought the visit to an end nicely.

Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers

Birds seen this visit included: 8 Robin, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit, Skylarks, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Pheasant, Wood Pigeons, 37 Blackbird, 3 Siskin 2 south 1 west, 3 Dunnock, 3 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 7 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 11 Magpie, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Peregrine, 6 Stonechat, 2 Linnet, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 4 Mallard, 87 Lapwing, 14 Snipe, 9 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Common Gull, 239 Oystercatcher, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Merlin, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 1 Grey Plover, 35 Turnstone, 88 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gannet east, 

Brent Geese, Curlew and a Confiding Wren - Reculver to Chambers Wall 20/11/20

I arrived at Reculver on a cold but sunny morning. The tide was still going out with good amounts of shore already covered with birds and I could see 125 Brent Geese off the point with lots of Herring and Black-headed Gulls strung along the exposed shore. As I came down onto the sea wall I glanced back at the towers and every stone was highlighted in the early morning light as a few Starling launched themselves from the ruins.

Reculver Towers

Making my way along the sea wall a couple of Stonechat were active and 3 Pied Wagtails were busy along the shore. 4 Mute Swan moved out to sea and a Common Buzzard was hunting along the back field edge. A Wren, Blue Tit and a couple of Reed Bunting were working their way through the reeds and a Kestrel hovering above caused them to move deeper into cover. A few Brent Geese had started to move round to the newly exposed shore and looked lovely in the golden light, with more of them arriving in small groups.

Brent Geese

Some started to make their way along the shore and initially they were almost exactly the same distance apart which made it look as if even the geese were socially distancing in these strange times as they ate some of the vegetation left by the retreating tide.

Brent Geese

I didn't see them eat any of the red/orange seaweeds, they only appeared to be looking for the freshest green vegetation of which there seemed to be much less of than the rest.

Brent Geese

A single Curlew was also working its way along the shore and gave some good views as it did so. It was nice to see one a little closer than I am used to. Initially it was wading a little way into the sea and probing the sand but then moved closer to me and probed along the edge of the exposed shingle band.

Curlew

Curlew

As I continued up towards the Green Wall 5 Pheasant flew across to the oyster farm from the fields and 7 Corn Bunting were vegetation hopping as they moved from seed head to seed head. A Great Black-backed Gull flew low along the shore with the size of its bill highlighted as it gleamed palely in the bright sunshine.

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

While walking on towards Coldharbour good numbers of Ringed Plover were on the exposed mussel beds and shore with some Turnstone and plenty of Redshank. A flock of 27 Golden Plover lifted off from the fields before settling down again with their calls carrying well as they swirled round. I had a sit on the sea wall again just before Coldharbour and enjoyed watching a Grey Plover, a few Oystercatchers and a Curlew out on the mussel bed. 16 Mallard were off-shore and I heard a Lapwing call with a single bird coming in off the sea and flying overhead as it headed inland.

Lapwing

Lapwing

Lapwing

I had hoped to get as far as Shuart but with walking proving to be decidedly problematic today I decided to head to Chambers Wall for a nearer pick up point. I had a quick look at Coldharbour but could only see 1 Little Grebe today and a couple of Black-headed Gulls. A couple of Stonechat greeted me as I made my way towards Chambers Wall and a Wren was alarm calling from one of the bushes.

Wren

Nearing the railway line I came across a single Mushroom and a Cetti's Warbler was alarm calling on the other side of the railway. I caught a glimpse of it flicking its tail up as it called before it disappeared into cover. I couldn't see what it had been alarm calling at.

The walk through Chambers Wall was fairly quiet but it was nice to catch up with some Redwing and Fieldfare together with Blackbird in the hedgerow. I couldn't find any Goldcrest or a Firecrest today but enjoyed looking. 7 Magpie were in one of the fields and a Common Buzzard was up at the back. I was checking a bush covered in ivy to see if any late insects were out when a Wren popped out and gave some great views of its undertail coverts before turning and peeking at me briefly before it dived back into cover. It was a little beauty.

Wren

Wren

Wren

I finished with a Robin giving a classic Christmas card pose before it worked its way towards me, stopping to check me out, before carrying on. Another little beauty to finish the visit with.

Robin

Robin

Robin

Birds seen this visit included: 125 Brent Geese, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 10 Blackbird, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Common Buzzard, 9 Wren, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Reed Bunting, Carrion Crows, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 27 Golden Plover, 54 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 7 Corn Bunting, 10 Magpie, 5 Pheasant, Skylarks, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Moorhen, 16 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 4 Linnet, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Robin, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare,