Sedge Warblers and a Snow Bunting Encounter - Shuart to Reculver 30/03/21

It was great to be able to head to Shuart today. It has been a long time since I have been able to visit the Reculver area and with a few days holiday from work it was nice to have the whole morning ahead of me. A couple of Red-legged Partridge flew from the field edge as I made my way down the road and near the beginning of the track a handsome male Pheasant looked stunning as he made his way along.

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

male Pheasant

A male Blackcap was singing and was a welcome sound, my first for the spring. The air was alive with the song and calls of Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees calling away before moving off. As I started down the track I could hear a Green Woodpecker calling and a Peacock butterfly flew past. A little further on a Chiffchaff was calling and from the first gap I could see a Common Buzzard hunting over the far fields. A few Blackbirds and a Redwing were moving between the track and the hedgerow and Blue and Great Tits were making their way through the bushes. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song nearby and as I neared the end of the hedgerow a second bird also burst into song.

It was surprisingly quiet as I made my way past the stables apart from another very vocal Cetti's Warbler. On reaching the sea wall it was nice to catch up with Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Redshank as I headed towards Plumpudding. I also saw a couple of distant Curlew.

As I made my way towards Coldharbour it was lovely to hear the sound of my first Sedge Warbler of the Spring singing away. It is incredible to think of the journey that it has made to get here and that amazing burst of song was beautiful to hear.

Sedge Warbler

A Little Egret at Coldharbour was throwing an almost perfect reflection into the barely ruffled surface of the water that was reflecting the blue of the sky beautifully. A noisy group of cyclists passing caused it to fly and, again, it threw a near perfect reflection as it did so.

Little Egret

Little Egret

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and watched out to sea. Herring, Black-headed and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls were passing by and a single Great Crested Grebe was offshore. A Shelduck flew west and a small flock of 10 Common Scoter on the sea were gently moving eastwards.

Common Scoter

Carrying on towards Reculver I was very pleased to see a Snow Bunting on the shore. It was a fair way away to begin with but gradually moved closer and closer and ended up giving some simply stunning views. To say it lifted my spirits would be putting it mildly.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

It then moved up onto the sea wall and, again, I really couldn't have asked for nicer views. What an absolute beauty.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Well chuffed I carried on towards Reculver. I could hear another singing Sedge Warbler but this one stayed more in cover. A flock of 44 Corn Bunting were atop the bushes before flying up and heading towards the oyster farm. At the back a male Marsh Harrier was hunting along the field edge.

Corn Buntings

Corn Buntings

A male Reed Bunting was hassling a pair of Stonechats as I neared the green wall. A couple of Pied Wagtail were active along the shingle and Meadow Pipits flitted from the sea wall to the lower track. A Dunnock was singing away and I couldn't tell if it was blind in one eye or whether perhaps the eye was just in deep shadow. A Wren was also belting out its song a little further along.

Dunnock

Over on the oyster farm a Kestrel was hovering and sent up a small flock of 10 Linnet. While on the shore side a pair of Oystercatchers eyes glowed in the light and their bills and legs shone against the blue reflecting sea. As I neared the towers a single Swallow flew west. It brought a very enjoyable mornings birdwatching to a close.

Oystercatchers

In the afternoon, on the way back from an appointment, we had a short drive through Marshside and finished the day being treated to some nice views of a pair of Little Owls. 

Little Owl

Little Owls

Snow and Snipe - Broomfield Track 11/02/21

On a beautifully fine early afternoon I had a wander along a very snowy and picturesque Broomfield track. There were already a lot of footprints in the snow as it is a very popular venue with dog walkers but in places the snow was surprisingly deep.

Broomfield Track

A Little Owl called as I made my way down the track and a few Blue and Great Tits were busily searching through the hedgerow as was a small flock of Chaffinches. The trees stood out starkly against the snow and the bright sky and along field edges the snow had been sculpted by the wind.

A small flock of Lapwing flew over with the birds looking amazingly evenly spaced out.  

Lapwing

A Grey Heron also flew across and a Sparrowhawk made its way over towards the wood. It sent some Snipe up in panic and as they appeared to go down again I hoped I would get a chance to catch up with them. A Robin was searching for insects in amongst where the snow had started to melt.

Robin

A female Kestrel looked stunning against the blue sky and the warmth from the sun had been sufficient to melt the snow from the branches of the hedgerow.

female Kestrel

The Snipe had settled back down on one of the fields and were a welcome sight and there appeared to be seven of them. 

Snipe

They were quite flighty as dog walkers passed by but after wheeling round tended to return to the same field.

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

Snipe

I headed for home and on the way back came across another couple of Snipe tucked into a nearer furrow in the same field. It had been good to be out and an enjoyable visit.

Snipe

Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Supporting Cast - East Blean Wood 07/02/21

I haven't been able to get birdwatching for quite a while so it was very nice to be able to pay a short visit to East Blean Wood. It was a beautifully fine afternoon and in sheltered areas the sun had some real warmth to it. I could hear Nuthatch calling and could see one in the tree above me checking out crevices in the trunk for food items. They are lovely birds and it was very active as it made its way from trunk to trunk.

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

I could hear a mixed flock of tits calling with Blue, Great and Long-tailed all moving rapidly through. A couple of Goldcrest were keeping company with them, never still for a moment in their search for food.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

I heard what I was sure was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and was really chuffed when I caught sight of it a little way ahead, but high above. Unfortunately that was the last I saw of it as a large dog appeared from nowhere and then proceeded to go absolutely loopy on seeing me, scaring the life out of me. and probably every bird in a ten mile radius. When the owner eventually turned up and managed at last to get hold of it I was told the dog doesn't like people wearing caps!! Not surprisingly there was no sign of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, once the dog and its owner had moved off, but I felt very lucky to have seen it at all. 

All was very quiet for a while until multiple alarm calls sounded out from Blackbirds, Blue and Great Tits and Wren. They were still a way ahead of me and I couldn't see what had caused their alarm but the mystery was solved when a Common Buzzard suddenly flew from one of the trees before disappearing deeper into the wood. Peace reigned once more and while looking round I caught sight of a Treecreeper working its way up one of the tree trunks.

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

It was time to head for home but it had been great to be out for a little while. As I made my way back a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across and settled in the upper branches of a tree. It looked striking against the blue sky and though the photo does not do it justice I was pleased to be able to take it.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I finished an enjoyable visit watching the antics of a Long-tailed Tit. I can never resist stopping to watch them, they are beautiful little birds and so full of character.

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Firecrest Gem and a Confiding Great Spotted Woodpecker - Broomfield Track 09/01/21

A short walk along Broomfield track turned up a few nice surprises this afternoon. It started well with both Bullfinch and Coal Tit calling and giving tantalisingly brief views. A little further on I caught sight of a Firecrest making its way through the various patches of ivy in the hedgerow. It was a real little gem but extremely active, moving rapidly through and from ivy patch to ivy patch. I tried for some photos and was lucky enough to be able to grab a couple of memory shots of a beautiful little bird.

Firecrest

Firecrest

I paused for a rest and a few moments later a very smart male Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and proceeded to treat me to some great views as it checked around the trunk.   

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I headed for home and on the way passed 5 Redwing and a couple of Fieldfare in the horse paddock bringing a short but enjoyable visit to a close.

Redwing