Sparrowhawk on a Roman Wall - Reculver 18/11/18

I paid a very brief visit to Reculver this afternoon but found walking very difficult today so did not stay long. I headed back to the car as the light was failing and saw a bird fly up onto the Roman wall. I expected it to be a Little Owl, as I have often seen one in this area but it turned out to be a Sparrowhawk. It was a shame that the light was so poor as it would have made a very nice photo otherwise. Still, I was pleased that I was able to get a shot at all. They are stunning birds.

Sparrowhawk

Mist at Reculver - 16/11/18

The weather remained very misty and damp all day today. I had hoped it might brighten but as it made no sign of doing so I headed down to Reculver in the afternoon and had a short walk along the sea wall. Once again I got some very nice views of the Black Redstart from the car park. It is a beautiful little bird. The Robin was also there but, like yesterday, it really did not want its photo taken. This is one very shy Robin.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I carried on along the sea wall but it was not easy with the mist getting ever thicker. Now and then a clearer patch would come in but only last for a minute or so before the mist came down again. It was nice to see 2 Little Grebes on one of the oyster farm lagoons. I saw a Pied Wagtail and heard a few others. Out to sea there were 8 Mallard on the water, with another 2 resting on the shore and one flying in from the west. A Grey Plover was on the shore, presumably the same one that I often see around. They are very handsome birds.

Grey Plover

A Robin popped up on the sea wall and allowed a quick photo. It is a poor photo but a nice memory shot.

Robin

It was very quiet walking through. I saw 3 Redshank and 18 Ringed Plover. There was not any sign of any Stonechats but the odd Meadow Pipit was batting around. I walked up to the green bank and then turned round. It was very very quiet overall. I got a nice surprise as I headed back as a ring-tailed Hen Harrier appeared out of the mist. I grabbed a few shots and though none of them came out well I am pleased that I have a memory shot. I did not see any Short-eared Owls today.

Hen Harrier

On the way back there was a Dunlin amongst the Ringed Plovers.  A couple of Dunnock were near the sea wall and a couple of Blue Tit were also feeding nearby. As I came up to the pumping station I disturbed a Kingfisher. They are always a pleasure to see.  The Common Gull was in its usual spot paddling the ground for worms while the towers enjoyed a short spell without very much mist.

Reculver Towers in the mist

Birds I saw this visit included: 1 Black Redstart, 3 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 11 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 18 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 1 Common Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crows, Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls

Black Restart - Reculver 15/11/18

I had a walk along the sea wall this afternoon. It was sunny with a light wind to begin with. Later on it became very misty and cool. There was a far bit of activity around the rocks by the car park. A Pied Wagtail posed very nicely while a Robin was surprisingly shy and definitely did not want its photo taken. 

Pied Wagtail

A Peacock butterfly was sunning itself on one of the rocks.

Peacock Butterfly

A Wren was also in the same area and though a little distant it did allow some photos.

Wren singing

Wren

I was really pleased when a Black Redstart popped up onto the rocks and allowed me to take some photos. At one point it caught a Large Yellow Underwing moth. I was well chuffed to see the Black Redstart. I have been looking out for one, without any luck, for a while now.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

I finished off with nice views of a House Sparrow and then carried on past the towers and onto the sea wall. It appeared to be pretty quiet overall and that proved to be the case. There were a few Herring Gulls on the sea but nothing else. 12 Brent Geese flew west. A Meadow Pipit was feeding along the shore line.

Meadow Pipit

 A Dunnock popped up on some brambles and looked very handsome in sunlight.

Dunnock

Some Stonechats were also making the most of the sunshine and insects available. I saw 5 in total during the afternoon. On several occasions they were close to the sea wall but at that point there was always a dog walker or cyclist coming along before I could get a photo. As I neared Coldharbour I could see a bank of mist coming in from the east and within a short space of time it had blocked out the sun and the temperature rapidly dropped. There was a pair of Mute Swan on Coldharbour but apart from them and the odd Meadow Pipit it was deserted. 

Mute Swans

120 Oystercatcher were roosting on the shore near to Coldharbour and as I headed back I came across a group of Ringed Plover. There was a juvenile with very dull legs and who looked smaller and it gave me pause for a moment. I think though that it is a juvenile Ringed Plover. Still, it was nice watching them. I saw 25 in total during the afternoon.

Ringed Plovers

I carried on with visibility getting worse quite rapidly. I had hoped for an owl or harrier but was decidedly out of luck. A Meadow Pipit gave some nice close views.

Meadow Pipit

As I walked past the towers a Common Gull was paddling for worms on the grass. It managed to catch quite a large one and swallowed it in one.

Common Gull

The best bird of the day was without doubt the Black Redstart, as otherwise it was pretty quiet but it was nice to be out.

Birds I saw included: 1 Robin, 4 Wren, 1 Black Redstart, 4 Mute Swan, Carrion Crows, 5 Redshank, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 15 Goldfinch, 12 Meadow Pipit, 5 Reed Bunting, 121 Oystercatcher, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 5 Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, House Sparrows, Starling, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Common Gull

A Merlin Fly Through - Reculver 10/11/18

We paid a short visit to Reculver on a cold but fine afternoon. I had very little time but it was nice to be there, even if only for a little while. I was watching the Pied Wagtails on the rocks by the car park when suddenly there were multiple alarm calls and next second a female Merlin shot through, right in front of me. I just was not quick enough to be able to get a worthwhile photo but I felt really lucky to have seen it and though the photo does not really show anything useful, it does make a nice memory shot.

Merlin

I enjoyed watching the Pied Wagtails and got some very nice views indeed.

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

I had a walk up to the towers and saw a sweet female House Sparrow enjoying the sunshine.

Female House Sparrow

I headed along the sea wall for a short distance but it was very quiet indeed. My highlight was an extremely brief view of a Short-eared Owl. As I was frozen by this time, and needed to be somewhere else shortly, I called it a day.

Short-eared Owls - Reculver 08/11/18

I had a walk along the sea wall to Coldharbour and back this afternoon. There was a fairly brisk South westerly wind but it was sunny. On the whole it appeared to be very quiet. There was nothing out at sea apart from some Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. I had really hoped that the White-billed Diver might be around but no luck. I would love to see it. I saw a total of 7 Pied Wagtail with a smart male posing nicely.

Pied Wagtail

I saw very little on the walk up to Coldharbour. There were 25 Redshank roosting on Coldharbour itself and a few Meadow Pipits zipping about. I had a little more luck on the walk back. I saw 3 Stonechat with one giving nice views. 

Stonechat

A Grey Plover was on the beach with a Turnstone.

Grey Plover and Turnstone

I was really pleased to see the Ring-tailed Hen Harrier. It is the first time I have managed to catch up with it. It was hunting at the back of the oyster farm and though I tried for a photo it wasn’t really usable apart from showing the white ring. Hopefully I may be able to get a decent photo at some point. I had a little more luck with a Short-eared Owl. I saw 2 altogether during the visit. One came fairly close and though I had to use a high ISO it did at least allow me to be able to get some photos. I love watching owls.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

As the sun started to set it gave a spectacular sky. I headed for home as dusk came in.

Birds I saw this visit included: 7 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Cormorants, Carrion Crows, 10 Turnstone,5 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 25 Redshank, 36 Mallard, 3 Stonechat, 130 Linnet, 12 Meadow Pipit, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Wren, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Ring-tailed Hen Harrier

Common Buzzard - Broomfield 28/10/18

While we were out we saw the Common Buzzard sitting in the same field we had seen it sitting in before. The light was better than the last time we saw it so I tried for some photos. It seemed totally unfazed by the cars whizzing by and in between sitting and watching what was going on it would shoot forward and appeared to be eating either insects or worms. I think that it is a juvenile bird. We felt really lucky to get such lovely views and it made a nice finish to the day.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

An Unpopular Grey Heron - Shuart to Reculver 25/10/18

I decided to try and walk from Shuart to Reculver today after my appointment this morning. It was going to be a little tight for time but it was nice to be able to give it a go. It was a beautifully sunny day but with a brisk cool north westerly wind. I started off with a Buzzard thermaling and also a Kestrel. There were lots of the usual little jobs around and a flock of Chaffinches were busily feeding away. 8 Fieldfare flew over but I was not quick enough to get any photos of them. I had a walk up to the bridleway but it was very quiet. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called and gave brief views and a pair of Jays were in the tree canopy.

As I headed along the main path I saw 8 Redwing in the trees with a few Blue Tits and Great Tits feeding away busily. The Redwing were a little distant but I tried for some photos as they are the first I’ve seen close enough to try for a photograph. 

Redwing

Further along a Migrant Hawker perched very nicely for me and allowed a close photo. They are always a pleasure to see.

Migrant Hawker

I carried on down and could hear the odd Skylark passing overhead. 14 Fieldfare flew over going west and a little while later I had 12 Siskin fly west which was very nice. Another 9 Fieldfare flew over going west once again, followed shortly after by another 12. Several Red Admiral butterflies were on the wing but did not want to be photographed at all but a Reed Bunting did perch nicely for me. They are lovely little birds.

Reed Bunting

I headed along the embankment for a little while but it was very quiet on the whole so I worked my way back towards the sea wall as at least I could sit down along there and keep an eye on anything that might go past. There was a very smart Speckled Wood butterfly sunning itself and a Common Darter doing the same thing.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

Common Darter

On my way back I saw a very smart Magpie that was feeding along the embankment. I love how the different colours reflect in the black plummage as the sun catches it. 

Magpie

A Common Blue Butterfly gave nice views as it sunned itself and a small Hoverfly also gave good views. I will really miss dragonflies, butterflies and insects. It was sad to see the butterfly looking so worn.

Common Blue Butterfly

Hoverfly

Once I reached the sea wall I headed towards Reculver. There was a group of waders roosting on the beach and it included 11 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 160 Oystercatchers, 25 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 8 Ringed Plover. 

Curlew and Whimbrel

A little further along a Cetti’s Warbler called from beside the dyke but I didn’t manage to catch sight of it. 3 Stonechat gave some nice views and a couple of Redshank were on Plumpudding Island. I like the refections in the water.

Redshank

It was a quiet walk to Coldharbour. 16 Redshank flew up from there having been disturbed by a couple of cyclists who were yelling at each other. A family of Pheasant were at the back of one of the fields next to the green bank with a few Fieldfare. There were a couple of late flowers on a Horned Poppy and though they were closed I thought it was worth a shot. 

Horned Poppy

A highlight was seeing a Merlin coming in off the sea, with a Black-headed Gull in hot pursuit. The Merlin kept going while the gull got bored and headed back out to sea. I grabbed a shot of the Merlin but it didn’t come out. Lovely to see though. I saw a large bunting that had me puzzled for a moment until I realised it was a Corn Bunting. They are amazing birds and far from plain in reality. There were several singing a sub song and in total I saw 8. 

The clouds were spectacular by this time and I tried for a photo.

Sky Formation

Further along a Grey Heron flew in and landed on some newly exposed rocks. A Black-headed Gull took grave exception and repeatedly flew at and around it alarm calling like mad. The Grey Heron clearly was not very keen on this.

Grey Heron and Black-headed Gull

Grey Heron and Black-headed Gull

Grey Heron and Black-headed Gull

Grey Heron and Black-headed Gull

The tide was falling as I walked back and 3 Grey Herons were gathered on some exposed rocks while another was further down.

Grey Herons

There was a very nice sunset as I neared Reculver. We are very lucky as we get some really beautiful ones in this part of the world.

Sunset

As I walked round to the towers a Little Owl flew up and looked at me from a telegraph pole. It was a shame that the light was so poor by this time as it meant I could not get a decent photo but it makes a good memory shot. Hopefully, perhaps, it might do it again when the light is better. Seeing the Little Owl was a very nice finish to the day.

Little Owl

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 63 Fieldfare west, 11 Redwing, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Skylark, 12 Siskin west, Magpie, 5 Reed Bunting, 4 Pied Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, House Sparrow, Starling, 12 Turnstone, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 11 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 25 Redshank,  2 Dunlin, 162 Oystercatcher, 5 Stonechat, 8 Corn Bunting, 2 Mute Swan, 25 Goldfinches, Mallard, 1 Merlin, 7 Grey Heron, 5 Pheasant (2 adults and 3 youngsters), 1 Little Owl.