Waders in the sunshine

Sunday 19th February 2012
Cold N/W wind (F4), dry and bright sunshine.

In glorious sunshine I spent a couple of hours at Reculver towers this morning. I decided against walking in the cold wind, instead choosing a bit of a sea-watch. Wrapped up against the cold, I sheltered on the east side of the towers and set up the scope, with the camera ready to snap any passing gulls. I've decided it's about time I spent more time looking at gulls, and there's always a few hanging about at Reculver.

Soon I noticed a steady trickle of divers flying east. I counted 185 in the time I was looking, and all that were close enough to allow i.d were Red-throated Divers. A single Guillemot also flew east, and there were about 15-20 Great Crested Grebes knocking about. A mixed flock of Wigeon and Gadwall flew west, but otherwise there was little to see. I took a few gull photos, but they weren't great.

I then drove over to Minnis Bay, arriving as the tide was just starting to drop, exposing a few rocks and mud. The waders were very obliging, and I was surprised how many people (casual birders) wandered down to enjoy them, binoculars and cameras in hand, as well as a small number of Brent close inshore.

Apart from the odd dog-walker letting their dogs run along the beach scaring everything off, it was a relaxing time enjoyed by many.

Waders seen were: Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Sanderling, Dunlin.

Gulls seen were only the common stuff: Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed.

Smew for the area list

Sunday 12th February
Cold, dull, light easterly breeze, snow turning to light rain.

I was quite excited about getting out for a long walk today, hoping for a crisp bright winter's day, so I was slightly disappointed when I realised how dull the day was. I spent a little while feeding the garden birds, during which time Marc Heath rang to say a Smew was on Brook. I headed straight there, and a few minutes later I was watching my first red-head Smew at Reculver. It's been a long time coming. Also on Brook were well over 100 Teal and Gadwall, among a huge number of duck. A few Snipe were feeding in the ditches near the reservoir, and I watched a Wren carefully dipping into the water to drink.

About 10 o'clock I drove to the car park at the towers, wrapped up warm and walked east almost reaching Coldharbour. I really believe there will be a white-winged gull seen there this winter, and I spent time looking at all the large gulls, but the vast majority were Herring Gulls, with a few Great and Lesser Black-backed.

On the beach near the towers were 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, which is rather unusual. They kept well away from the huge numbers of Dark-bellied birds.

Apart from the usual waders, I did see 5 Bar-tailed Godwits and 8 Curlew, plus 2 Eider just offshore.

This evening near Shuart there was a Barn Owl out hunting, a Chiffchaff near the farm, 12 Grey Partridges in a field east of Shuart, and walking back at dusk 2 Woodcock flew over.

All in all, a fun weekend.

A cold afternoon in the sun

Saturday 11th Feb
Very cold - below freezing, calm, sunny and dry.

All week I've been reading about the cracking cold-weather birds being seen locally so I was dead-keen to get out this weekend. I finished work at 1 o'clock, and after a quick change into thermals and jumpers I picked Patrick up from his mum's in Faversham, and we headed to the towers at Reculver. Already there were Kerry and Alex, searching the sea for duck.

We saw a large flock of over 200 Wigeon offshore, plus 5 Shoveler, a couple of Gadwall and 2 Eider. Golden Plover could be heard calling, and one or two were flying over. As we walked past the towers we enjoyed close views of goldies and Lapwings on the grass areas. Shortly after, a Merlin flashed past heading west, then up over the towers and away.

We walked slowly east past the oyster farm, noting several Snipe, Redshank, a Pintail flew off one of the back pools, and there were 2 Shelduck on some open water. The enormous Brent flock was on the fields near Chambers Wall, and when the whole flock went up we picked out a Peregrine circling high over the geese. The flock went up several times while we were out, quite spectacular.

We chose to walk inland and follow the path round the back of the oyster farm on the return to the towers. A couple of waders flew overhead, a Dunlin and a Spotted Redshank, and a second Merlin flew east, terrorising the waders on the beach. Several Snipe later, we at last had a Woodcock fly past and land in the field a little way ahead. It obligingly stayed out in the open feeding, so we all enjoyed nice views of a bird seldom seen during the day.

Patrick spotted a male Marsh harrier over the fields, and there were 2 Kestrels in the area. While I was taking the Woodcock photos, the others had a second bird drop in a ditch nearby. At the sluice a Kingfisher flew out and away inland. A bit frustrating, because we could have had good views if we had taken a little more care not to disturb it.

Two and a half hours birding and we were back at the car park having had a really enjoyable walk, with several good birds.

Snow and Iceland

Saturday 4th February
Very cold, easterly breeze, dry.

I was really looking forward to the weekend, not having been out birding for a couple of weeks, and I was just getting ready to leave the house Saturday morning when the phone rang - the lad at work had taken ill. I managed to get some cover until 1pm, then I would have to go in for the rest of the day. Just to make matters worse, around this time I received a text from Chris Hindle letting me know there was a red-head Smew near Cold Harbour, a rare bird in the area. I decided to visit Reculver for an hour, even though it was a bit of a rush, and offshore I saw 85 Wigeon fly west, 14 Gadwall east, about 400 Brent flew east, including the Pale-bellied Brent. Other bits seen were 4 Snipe east, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit east, and all the usual waders. The cold weather made them less nervous than usual, so I managed a couple of photos.

Walking back to the car the Black Redstart was flitting about on the rocks west of the towers.


Sunday 5th February
Deep snow, cold, calm and overcast.

I was keen to get some birding in today, having had my time cut short Saturday. I didn't set off too early, instead waiting to let the roads clear a bit. I cleaned a patch of the garden and put plenty food and water out. Late morning I had a call from Tim to say he was looking at an adult Iceland Gull at St Mildred's Bay in Westgate. It's been a few years since i've seen an Iceland Gull, so an easy choice where to go today.

I spent a couple of hours searching but couldn't locate the gull, though I enjoyed seeing plenty of waders, including a Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew and Golden and Grey Plovers. Offshore were a few rafts of Great Crested Grebes, 3 Shelduck flew west, and a couple of Rock Pipits were on the rocks.

I had just rung Tim to say the gull had gone, when I picked it out sitting on the most distant rocks at the edge of the tide. Either it had dropped in while I wasn't looking, or maybe I had walked past it. Anyway, it didn't stay long, a minute later it flew up and away out to sea.

This Common Gull also posed nicely....

Ibis and owls

Sunday 8th January 2012
Westerly breeze F3-4 easing off, dry, overcast and mild.

With the day to myself today, late morning I headed over to Stodmarsh for a wander with the camera hoping for a few photo opportunities. The day was very dull, and the stiff breeze meant most birds were keeping a bit quiet, but I had a really enjoyable walk round to the water meadows, where one Glossy Ibis was busy feeding at the back of the pool. I was just in time because after only a couple of minutes trying for a few distant snaps, the ibis took off and flew to the pools out of sight.

On route to the ibis I had a rather nice encouter with a flock of 7 Bullfinches. I can't remember the last time I saw so many Bullfinches together. I also counted 12 Cett's Warblers calling or singing on the walk round. Out on the main lake there were over 150 Shoveler, and 50+ Pochard. Without a scope it was impossible to be accurate as many duck were tucked in the reeds. I only saw a single Marsh Harrier all trip. With little to photograph, I have below the first entry of a Coot in this diary.

Late afternoon I headed to the eastern end of Reculver, where I met up with Chris and Ann Hindle and Marc Heath. We enjoyed lovely views of a Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl, plus a Peregrine flew through at great speed. At dusk we all saw at least one Long-eared Owl out hunting. On the fields were about 400 Brent geese, which all took off in the fading light, heading out to sea perhaps?

The start of a new year

January 2nd
Breezy, cool westerly winds, bright sunshine.

I rarely get out on Jan 1st as the family expect to spend the day together, so I read a few blogs last night of the birds seen by others. Today my wife was working all day, so I had the chance to get out for some fresh air. However, as the years go by I enjoy less and less the crowds of people that gather at Reculver. I understand everyone wants to get out and excercise and enjoy the outdoors, but I still remember the days when I was a lad, hardly anyone walked there in the cold of winter. Now, weekends and bank holidays in particular, the car park is full and there's no chance of peace and quiet. And if the sun is shining...

I squeezed into one of the few spaces available at the towers car park, and remaining calm and chilled I set off east past the towers. Quite a few gulls were flying west, mostly 'immature' Herring Gulls, and little else. Not a single passerine or wader on the shore, unsurprising as many dogs were running along the beach. Cormorants and a single large auk were seen distantly, and a few Brent flew west. Before i even reached the end of the oyster farm I gave up and walked quickly back to the car. Even the many cyclists out today were struggling to make good headway, with so many families out walking, as well as dogs and joggers weaving between the crowds. Aaargh.

I drove inland and found somewhere of my own for a while. Quietly I crept up to where 2 Bewick's Swans have been seen, and trying not to disturb the birds I pointed my lens through some hawthorns and took a few photos.

Feeling very relaxed I headed home. As I walked in the garden gate I noticed a Blue Tit fly up from the pond, where it had obviously been bathing by the look of it's feathers. It spent ages preening and fluffing itself up, presumably trying to dry out as quick as possible. I have quite a bit of food out every day, and I would guess this Blue Tit nust have been well fed already, or surely it would have been making the most of the last hor or so to be feeding actively with all the other birds?

Late in the day I noticed 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the garden, and one of them hung around long enough for a couple of pictures.

A summary of December 2011

I didn't have much time for birding during December, with no time off work and weekends seemingly too busy to get out.

Disappointingly i didn't even take notes on the few occasions I went out, but my memory recalls a couple of late afternoon trips to Shuart to look for owls, finding a Long-eared Owl on each visit.

On Christmas eve I had an afternoon walk in Church Woods, which my garden backs onto. It was lovely to stroll round listening to the Nuthatches calling, and watch the Treecreepers among the various tits working through the trees. Around 4:30pm several Tawny Owls were calling, and I was lucky enough to see them flying not far ahead of the path.

On Tuesday 27th I had a trip to Stodmarsh with Patrick Giles, and we walked round to the water meadows, where we located the colour-ringed Glossy Ibis feeding at the back of the pool. Really nice to see were 3 Water Pipits as well. Waiting on the Lampen Wall for dusk to arrive we had probably about 20 Marsh Harriers drifting back and forth across the reed beds, but we found it impossible to count them accurately as they seemed to drop into the reeds, and every so often more would appear, but were they different birds, or the same birds re-emerging from the roost?

Rather nice to see were 2 ring-tail Hen Harriers, plus stacks of Fieldfares gathering to roost. The 2nd Glossy Ibis flew over our heads, but we failed to see where it landed, perhaps it circled and returned to the meadows. Walking back in near-dark I saw 2 Woodcocks flying over.

New Year's eve I went for another stroll through Church Woods. I set off at 3:15pm, a bit later than planned, and set myself the target of finding 30 birds. Although a purely arbitary target, it sounded fairly easy and I soon found over 20 birds, including a pair of Mallard, 2 Redpolls, and a flock of Goldcrests, but I struggled to get near 30, failing to get Nuthatch or Treecreeper. Around 4:30pm the Tawny Owls were calling, at least 4 birds in one small area, and I had some nice views as the big lumbering birds flapped around the trees. Last birds (no. 27 for the walk) were a pair of Woodcocks low over the trees.

I talked myself into thinking it would be easier for a morning walk to see more birds, so on New Year's Day I went out early for a couple of hours before the family woke up, covering much more woodland than the previous evening, but surprisingly I still failed to reach 30 birds. In fact I managed 1 less than the previous day, the 26th species being a flock of Redwings.

No sign of any Marsh Tits or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on the walks I've had over the last few weeks, a bit worrying as I used to see both birds regularly not so many years ago.