When I arrived at Reculver this morning the local Robin was in its usual spot on the rocks by the car park and just as intolerant, as always, towards other birds, seeing off a White Wagtail that landed briefly nearby. As I came past the towers I was idly scanning round when I suddenly picked up a Spoonbill coming in high over the sea and heading south south west. Now that really was a welcome sight. In the second photo the Spoonbill has twisted its head to look up at a Little Egret which then dropped down and tucked itself in behind the Spoonbill. The photos are heavily cropped as the Spoonbill was quite a distance away so they have not come out well but they do at least make some nice memory shots. It appeared to be a juvenile as it had some black in its wingtips and seeing it certainly made my day. A very welcome surprise indeed.
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Spoonbill and Little Egret |
A Common Sandpiper was working its way along a muddy edge of a lagoon on the oyster farm and above small numbers of Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin and a few House Martins were heading west. The weather was very changeable with good patches of blue sky quickly replaced by threatening rain clouds and then blue patches again.
Out to sea remained quiet and the tide was steadily coming in. The air was alive with a good mix of song and Sedge Warblers together with Whitethroats were were definitely giving it everything they had. I could hear a distant Cuckoo and above me a female/immature Marsh Harrier flew out to sea. A flock of 28 Turnstone flew in with a Dunlin and a couple of Sanderling tucked in with them.
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| Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling |
Both Sanderling were attractively plumaged but one was particularly striking with its strong rufous tones. A real little beauty. There is a lovely mix of plumages amongst the Sanderling at present and I really enjoy seeing them.
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| Sanderling |
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| Sanderling and Turnstone |
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| Sanderling and Turnstone |
While watching the Sanderling I looked up to see a Common Tern coming in off the sea. It flew directly overhead as it moved inland and its inner primaries were translucent as the light shone through them.
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| Common Tern |
Out to sea a flock of 115 Sanderling and a couple of Dunlin had been flushed from the beach by dog walkers and flashed light and then dark as they banked and turned while bunched together. Once the coast was clear they came back into land again, their wing bars gleaming as they flew in.
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| Sanderling and a Dunlin |
When I had first arrived this morning a couple of Mute Swan had been quite a long way out to sea and now they gave a masterclass on landing on water as they came closer in. I love watching them come into land on water and for such large and heavy birds they have superb control as they land with feet out and water ski on the surface momentarily before settling down into the water.
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| Mute Swans |
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| Mute Swans |
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| Mute Swans |
A couple of Sandwich Tern were off shore heading east and as I carried on along the sea wall there was a noticeable drop in temperature with a lot of cloud and a strengthening wind. I was really surprised, therefore, when a dragonfly lifted off the sea wall, a little way ahead of me, and flew across before going straight down on the other side of the concrete slope. I had a scan for it when I reached the slope and couldn't believe my luck when I was able to pick it up tucked down at the base of the reed stems at the bottom of the slope. Initially its wings were partially open but then it folded them closed, presumably to conserve heat. It was a beautiful female Hairy Dragonfly and was a very welcome sight indeed, being my first dragonfly of the year, something which is always just that bit extra special.
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| female Hairy Dragonfly |
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| female Hairy Dragonfly |
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| female Hairy Dragonfly |
Well chuffed, I carried on towards Coldharbour. Another Common Tern came in off the sea while on the shingle a smart White Wagtail was searching for insects.
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| White Wagtail |
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| White Wagtail |
I had a sit on the sea wall before heading round Coldharbour and it turned out to be a good decision as a couple of minutes later I heard Little Tern call and two flew east, pausing to fish and then moving on to fish behind Coldharbour. They are gorgeous terns and always a joy to watch.
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| Little Tern |
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| Little Tern |
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| Little Terns |
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| Little Tern |
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| Little Tern |
They came into land behind Coldharbour before continuing east. What little beauties. A couple of Shelduck flew up from Coldharbour, as a dog walker came along the shingle bank, and gave a close flypast before flying in a large loop, passing an increasingly busy Reculver, and eventually coming to settle back onto Coldharbour once the coast was clear.
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| Shelduck |
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| Shelduck |
I headed round Coldharbour and saw a Wheatear briefly by one of the fields. Carrying on towards Plumpudding 6 Grey Plover flew in to roost. A little further along a couple of Oystercatchers were fairly close to the sea wall and as one turned to watch me its eye glowed in the light.
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| Oystercatcher |
A Cetti's Warbler was making its presence known on the other side of the sea wall at Plumpudding while the only inhabitants of Plumpudding appeared to be 3 Mallard and a couple of Linnet and 4 Pied Wagtail. A pair of Tufted Duck were in one of the dykes as I carried on.
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| Tufted Duck |
While having another sit on the sea wall a couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew over and headed out to sea. I thought they were both adults but the one I photographed has some black in its primaries and appears to be a second summer.
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| second summer Mediterranean Gull |
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| second summer Mediterranean Gull |
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| second summer Mediterranean Gull |
Another Cetti's Warbler was singing at the stables as were 2 Lesser Whitethroat. Goldfinch and Linnet were flitting around and 4 Pied Wagtail were in the paddocks. There were a couple of very distant Wheatear in a far paddock.
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| Wheatear |
I had a wander along the embankment and once again I could hear lots of Sedge Warblers. I have heard good numbers of them today. A Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier were up at various points along and another Cuckcoo was calling from the direction of Shuart. Another distant Wheatear was making the most of the lookout provided by a manmade raised area.
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| Wheatear |
As I got nearer to Chambers Wall a skulky Cuckoo was tucked in a tree. A Painted Lady Butterfly flew up from the path while a Peacock Butterfly was making the most of some blossom flowers. A patch of Sainfoin in flower caught my eye with its colourful and pretty flowers. A couple more Lesser Whitethroat were calling and another Cetti's Warbler burst into song.
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| Cuckoo |
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| Peacock Butterfly |
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| Sainfoin |
Another Cetti's Warbler greeted me as I made my way up the track at Chambers Wall. 2 Spotted Flycatchers were in the hedgerow and were a welcome sight. They are lovely birds and full of character.
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
A Willow Warbler was singing sweetly and once again the air was alive with song with Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge, Reed, Blackcap and a couple of very loud Cetti's Warblers all represented. I was pleased to catch up with a Garden Warbler, again, always a welcome sight and it was then kind enough to sing. It made a very nice end to a thoroughly enjoyable and productive visit.
Birds seen this visit included: 3 Robin, 3 White Wagtail, 21 Mute Swan, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 32 Sand Martin west , 97 Swallows west, 1 juvenile Spoonbill, 2 Little Egret, 10 Blackbird, 15 Swift, 7 House Martin, House Sparrows, 4 Wren, 21 Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 Sedge Warbler, 8 Meadow Pipit, 17 Mallard, 18 Linnet, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Stonechat, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Reed Warbler, 12 Reed Bunting, 11 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 3 Sandwich Tern, 10 Pied Wagtail, 18 Ringed Plover, 7 Lapwing, 7 Magpie, 1 Song Thrush, 35 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 137 Sanderling, 4 Cuckoo, 2 Common Tern, 4 Wheatear, 4 Shelduck, 6 Kestrel, 21 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 15 Chaffinch, 11 Goldfinch, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits,
