Saturday 23 February 2013

A Struggle in the Wind

I awoke this morning to the wind battering the windows and the forecast was for snow flurries for the morning. With the hope of no Owls probably flying in this I had a brief lay in before getting ready and then driving over to Reculver where I parked up at the towers. The wind was pretty strong and coming from the north east and with temperatures just above freezing this was not going to be a pleasant walk. The morning brightened up a bit later but walking down the seawall in the cold wind was an experience in itself, my face being totally numb at most points. I had hoped to be rewarded with maybe a Gannet or Kittiwake for my troubles but it was not to be. Birds noted this morning were c160 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, c180 Brent Geese, 8 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harrier, c40 Linnet, 4 Grey Plover, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Red throated Diver, 13 Redshank, 25 Dunlin were in Coldharbour, 62 Golden Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 4 Turnstone.

Ringed Plover

Walking back I met a cold Julian Perry which made me feel I wasn't the only idiot out in this weather. We walked inland and managed to see 2 Grey Heron, 5 Teal, 33 Fieldfare, 8 Skylark, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Egret, 12 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 19 Teal, 4 Mute Swan and a walk through the fields produced 11 Snipe and 8 Redshank. No birding tomorrow and back to work Monday so hopefully if the weather allows I will try to make a visit in the week. Maybe that Little Owl will call at dusk somewhere in the area, hopefully within my earshot!

6 comments:

  1. The Ringed Plover is so beautiful, it's the way you captured it, the camera work is excellent.

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  2. What a gorgeous shot! The feather detail is fantastic!

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  3. Sounds like a lovely day if it weren't for the weather - at least you have birds! Soon it will be warmer!

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  4. Sounds like a nice day out~ The photo is superb.

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  5. I was cold here marc, so god knows how it felt in the coastal wind!

    I'll send one of my Little Owls over your way, there are 3 pairs here, so I can spare them :-)

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  6. Beautiful bird, beautiful picture, beautiful composition, beautiful light, beautiful.... everything!
    Congratulations, Marc!

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