Shoveler, Longhorn and Variable Damselflies - Reculver to Shuart 28/05/21

I started out from Reculver on a cloudier and cooler day than yesterday with a south easterly wind that was keeping it on the chilly side but with it due to get warmer as the morning went on. The tide was well out and still falling. House Sparrows were busily collecting food around the towers and a Sparrowhawk scattered Starlings and Wood Pigeons as it shot through. A Hobby was moving out to sea in the distance as I made my way to Coldharbour and small numbers of Sand Martin were hawking for insects over the oyster farm. The song of a Lesser Whitethroat carried well from the oyster farm. I enjoyed watching a young Stonechat while on the sea ward side it was surprisingly quiet with the exposed shore having few occupants.

A Cuckoo was calling away and a Great Black-backed Gull made its way east. An Oystercatcher was tucked down amongst the shingle and did not seem too bothered by any passers by on the sea wall, only calling when a group of cyclists came past before settling again.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Coldharbour was very quiet apart from the usual Rock Pipit and a few Mallard. I still failed miserably at being able to either hear or see a Grasshopper Warbler but the nice thing with bird watching is you never know when you might just finally catch up with something and often it's when you least expect to. I came across a patch of Salsify that was a beautifully rich purple compared to the paler flowers I had seen up until now.

Salsify

Salsify

A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song and above a few more Swift moved west. A single Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar was on one of the bushes.

Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar

A Common Tern was out to sea and a Common Sandpiper on the rocks as I made my way to Plumpudding. Another Cetti's Warbler was singing at Plumpudding and a pair of Yellow Wagtails and 4 Pied Wagtails were active at the back of the lagoons on Plumpudding itself. A couple of Mallard were on the water and 2 Shoveler were resting up on one of the islands with the male keeping a watchful eye.

male and female Shoveler

A male Marsh Harrier was starting to thermal higher as I carried on along and a Common Buzzard joined some Herring Gulls thermalling high above. As I approached the turn off for the stables a Herring Gull was persistently pursuing a couple of Sanderling along the length of the outflow pipe, each time they settled it would lift off to intercept them, chasing them from concrete block to concrete block.

Herring Gull and Sanderling

The male Marsh Harrier flew past carrying prey and another Common Buzzard was up over the fields. A Longhorn micro moth landed on an umbellifer and had impressively long antennae. I looked it up when I got home and I think it is a Adela reaumurella.

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Reed and Sedge Warbler song filled the air as I made my way to Shuart with more Reed Warbler than Sedge singing today. A beetle was making its way up a grass stem but I do not know which it is at present.

A male Tufted Duck was down the usual dyke and a Lesser Whitethroat's song carried well. I was keeping my eyes open for damslflies and once I reached the sheltered areas at the base of the hedgerow there were several Azure Damselflies making the most of the sunshine that had broken through and the air was already feeling much warmer.

Azure Damselfly

Several Variable Damselflies were also on the wing.

female Variable Damselfly

I caught sight of a teneral damselfly that from first glance I thought was going to be a Blue-tailed but it turned out to be a Variable.

teneral Variable Damselfly

The only butterflies that I could see were several Holly Blue's and an active Orange-tip butterfly. One of the Holly Blue settled on an Ivy leaf and as it partially opened its wings to take advantage of the warmth from the sun its underwing was lit beautifully as the light shone through.

Holly Blue

A Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler were filling the air with song and above a Lapwing swooped, twisted and turned as it did its display flight breaking off to chase a Carrion Crow that invaded its space. As yesterday, I came across another damselfly that had broken antehumeral stripes but no post ocular bar. Apart from the lack of post ocular bar all other features suggested male Variable Damselfly. One wing was badly crumpled but it he seemed to be able to fly and manoeuvre well despite that.

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest male Variable Damselfly

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest male Variable Damselfly

As I made my way to the pick up point I was struck with how the cloud formations appeared to be reflecting the pattern of the furrows in the field, all radiating to a central vanishing point.

I finished with watching pairs of Swifts. Each pair would stay close to each other as they swooped and dived after insects at breakneck speed. I enjoyed trying to grab a photo as they came past but did pretty badly with it, most of the time not even managing to keep them in frame. Keeping my balance and tracking a fast moving object turned out not to be a strong point but it didn't affect my enjoyment during the time spent watching these masters of the air.

Swift

Swift

Swift

Birds seen this visit included: House Sparrows, 12 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 5 Pied Wagtail, 15 Mute Swan including 3 cygnats , 5 Swallow, Starlings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Whitethroat, 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Collared Dove, 15 Sand Martin, 14 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Meadow Pipit, 6 Stonechat, 16 Linnet, 8 Sedge Warbler, 13 Reed Bunting, 2 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 14 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Wren, 15 Reed Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Sanderling, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Lapwing

Red Kites, Damselflies and Spotted Flycatchers - Shuart to Chambers Wall 27/05/21

I arrived at Shuart on a beautifully sunny morning with all of the usual resident birds in good voice. That is apart from a Ring-necked Parakeet whose strident calls cut through the air, and drowned out the melodic song of a Blackcap, as it flew round calling loudly. Several Dock Bugs were soaking up the welcome early morning warmth from the sun and a pair appeared to be mating.

Dock Bugs

I couldn't hear a Turtle Dove today but tractors were working in the fields which was resulting in a lot of background noise. Blackcap song followed me along and above a Common Buzzard was gradually gaining height. Good numbers of Holly Blue were on the wing and one looked as if it was probably newly emerged as its wings were still fairly rumpled.

Holly Blue Butterfly

As I neared the end of the hedgerow my first Orange-tip butterfly of the year was patrolling and covering a large distance in a surprisingly short space of time before flying back and beginning again. Reed and Sedge Warbler song filled the air and the the Lesser Whitethroat, I had passed earlier, his song was carrying well despite being a fair distance away now. Two pairs of Tufted Duck were in the dyke at opposite ends as well as a single male. I was pleased to see my first damselfly of the year as I neared the railway line and was expecting it to be an Azure but it was actually a Variable and made a nice start to the season.

Variable Damselfly

Variable Damselfly

In the same little patch of sheltered vegetation there was also a single Blue-tailed Damselfly as well as several Red-and-black Froghoppers Cercopis vulnerata and a Rhopalid bug Corizuz hyoscyami. I couldn't manage to get a photo of the Rhopalid without the light reflecting badly off it but it was nice to see a good mixture of insects in this one little sheltered patch.

Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Corizuz hyoscyami

I was pleased to also catch sight of a Common Lizard resting up amongst the vegetation as it sunned itself. Normally I would have seen one well before now but the long spell of cold weather has meant that this is the first one for the year for me.

Common Lizard

Coming up onto the embankment I could see another Orange-tip butterfly patrolling and was pleased to catch up with my first Common Blue butterfly of the year. It was a smart blue form female.

blue form female Common Blue Butterfly

blue form female Common Blue Butterfly

At the stables the air was stuffed full with the begging calls of young Starlings who appeared to be everywhere and were certainly making their presence known. I made my up to the sea wall but soon turned back as it was packed with people and decided to have a wander along the embankment instead. A Fulmar flew inland then west as I came off the sea wall. Coming back past the stables a Spotted Flycatcher flew up to perch at the top of one of the bushes and almost instantly a Goldfinch flew straight at it and drove it off. It perched again briefly lower down but the same thing happened again and the last I saw of it was as it headed west along the embankment. I hoped with a bit of luck that I might pick it up again further along. I came across another Variable Damselfly and also a Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug Aelia acuminata.

Variable Damselfly

Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug Aelia acuminata

Common Broomrape was in flower and the Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130J C4 I had seen on a previous visit came in off the sea and headed inland.

Common Broomrape

Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130J C4

I could see a couple of distant Red Kite heading west and they were followed shortly after with a group of 6 distant Red Kite spiralling round as they moved west as well.

Red Kite

Red Kites

I could see another first for the year ahead as a Small Heath butterfly flitted up ahead before moving further along. Another Common Blue butterfly settled near me on an Ox-eye Daisy and delicately probed the individual florets with its proboscis.

Common Blue Butterfly

I carried on having a wander along and was idly watching an Azure Damselfly when I glanced up and caught sight of another Red Kite coming through, nearer this time, which although it gave the overall impression of a Red Kite it also did not look quite right. I grabbed a few shots before it disappeared behind the hedge for me and when I looked at them at home I was increasingly puzzled. Characteristically it looked like a Red Kite but some aspects, particularly of plumage, seemed almost suggestive of Black Kite and the more I looked at any information I could find the more puzzled I became. With absolutely no experience with Black Kite I sent the photos to see what Chris thought and I am very grateful for his very helpful reply and for the photos of a Black Kite he sent which enabled me to compare my bird with one in a similar stance. Instantly I could see that, despite the puzzling aspects, my bird's character was still strongly suggestive of Red Kite in comparison to Matt's Black Kite in the photos. Its been an interesting bird for me and plumage wise unlike other Red Kites I have seen.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

Single Red Kites continued to trickle through and a distant group of 5 Common Buzzards were also spiralling west. I caught sight of another damselfly. It was a smart male  but though it had broken antehumeral stripes it did not have a post ocular bar, not even the suggestion of one. Pronotum and markings however all suggested Variable. Nearby there was a handy male Azure Damselfly for comparison.

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest it is a male Variable Damselfly

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest it is a male Variable Damselfly

male Azure Damselfly

Skylarks were bursting with song and Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers were all in good voice. 2 Oystercatchers were on a bare patch of mud in one of the fields and one reacted each time to any Carrion Crow that came near. An Orange-tip Butterfly which had been actively patrolling helpfully settled to feed on the nearby Sainfoin and gave the chance to try for a few photos. The male is a very attractive butterfly.

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip Butterfly

Both a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier were up over the back fields. A Corn Bunting flew over calling as I made my way along. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing away and I continued to come across small numbers of both Variable and Azure Damselfly including 2 blue form female Variable Damselflies. 

blue form female Variable Damselfly

blue form female Variable Damselfly

Out of the wind the sun had some real warmth to it and it made a change to feel pleasantly warm as I wandered along. A Carrion Crow taking off from the top of a bush spread wings and tail to give as much lift as possible as with a deep downstroke it took to the air.

Carrion Crow

I had, what turned out to be my last Red Kite west and though I kept my eyes open I did not see anymore for the rest of the visit. They had all come through in just under a 50 minute window. A couple of smart male Common Blue butterflies were on the wing, blue flashes of colour as they flitted about. I had another damselfly, a female this time also with broken antehumeral stripes but no post ocular bar. The pronotum this time suggested Azure rather than Variable but did not look quite right for either. I obviously have a lot to learn with these. It will also be interesting to look up and see if hybrids occur or not.

Despite broken antehumeral stripe would pronotum and lack of post ocular bar suggest female Azure Damselfly?

I could hear a Cuckoo calling and above a few Swift were heading west in small numbers together with some Swallows. A Lacewing fluttered across and on landing I could see that it was a Chrysopa perla. 

Chrysopa perla

Chrysopa perla

I came off the embankment at Chambers Wall came across another couple of Variable Damselflies, 2 Blue-tailed Damselflies and an Azure Damselfly.

male Variable Damselfly

A little further on I also saw a couple of newly emerged teneral Red-eyed Damselflies.

teneral Red-eyed Damselfly

teneral Red-eyed Damselfly

I'd rather hoped for a flycatcher and was well chuffed when a Spotted Flycatcher flicked out from the hedgerow as I made my way up the track before flying up and disappearing to the other side of the hedge. I could see through a small gap that it was flycatching from the hedgerow on the other side of the field. I wondered if it could be the same one that I had seen at Shuart flying west along the embankment.

Spotted Flycatcher

I could still see it when I came up to the gap in the hedgerow and could also see another 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the bushes by the car park. Now that I wasn't expecting.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

It was about to get even better though. I left them fly catching away and started up the exit road. I was surprised when ahead I could see another 2 Spotted Flycatchers near the end of the hedgerow. I had only just turned the corner so it seemed unlikely they were the same birds from the car park but I did have a peep back just in case and no, they were still there. The five Spotted Flycatchers made a very nice end to an enjoyable visit.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Pheasant, 5 Chaffinch, Jackdaws, 8 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 9 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Wren, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Skylarks, 4 Magpie, Carrion Crows, 16 Goldfinch, 1 House Martin, 3 Moorhen, 9 Common Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, Sedge Warblers, 17 Whitethroat, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Mistle Thrush, Reed Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Swift, 2 Swallow, Herring Gulls, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Reed Bunting, 2 Dunnock, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, Starlings, 4 Swallow, 6 Linnet, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gulls, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat, 9 Sanderling, 3 Mute Swan, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Fulmar, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 11 Red kite, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Corn Bunting,  Cuckoo, 1 Kestrel, 5 Spotted Flycatcher