Wednesday 10 April 2013

Black Magic!

I was awake just after 5am this morning and after getting ready I was out of the house soon after. I had a drive around the lanes hoping for some Owl action but despite good conditions I did not see or hear any. I spent the next 7 hours walking from the towers down the seawall and inland to Chambers Wall where I then walked through next to the Thanet Way to Shuart. From here I walked down to the sea before walking west all the way back to the towers. At first this morning it was quite misty but thankfully the clouds parted to a beautiful sunny day which in the sheltered spots was quite nice. Birds noted today were 5 Grey Partridge, 3 Red legged Partridge, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Pied Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, 17 Oystercatcher, c80 Grey Plover, 23 Redshank, 4 Mallard, 8 Reed Bunting, 2 Sandwich Tern east, c25 Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, 13 Ringed Plover and 5 Black Redstart were noted with 3 seen around the towers and 2 near the stables at Shuart. My last few posts have featured a number of shots of this species but this morning I encountered a male bird which showed brilliantly down to a few metres. Other than a male Whinchat, these have got to be one of our best looking migrants and it was a pleasure to be able to photograph and study the bird from close range. Luckily despite dogs and walkers going by it returned to a favoured area where I was able to get a number of pleasing shots, without doubt my best shots of this species.


Black Redstart

 Moving on I noted c40 Brent Geese, 2 Red throated Diver with one bird seemingly oiled badly, 19 Bar tailed Godwit, 15 Turnstone, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Swallow (125) were seen flying south, 2 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harrier, c200 Golden Plover, 7 Skylark, 2 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Fieldfare and 2 singing Corn Bunting. 


Black Redstart

There were 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Brambling, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler (126) singing, 1 Stonechat, c90 Sanderling and 4 Common Buzzard. It was also very pleasing to see 2 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, my first of the year which gave me the excuse to fire off a few more shots.


Black Redstart

 A great session in lovely weather with signs that the migrants are slowly arriving. I will probably not be out now until Saturday and then it will only be a brief session but hopefully the notebook will be kept busy. 


 Black Redstart

Small Tortoiseshell



9 comments:

  1. What a little stunner! Great shots Marc :o)

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  2. Totally unfair Marc - very little sun here, just a few bright spells!

    Bet it felt good getting the Black Redstart in decent light, as you say, your best yet ;-)

    That Tortoiseshell made me jump as I scrolled down though!

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  3. This is handsome bird.. great pictures.. Cheers!!!

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  4. They are very good shots Marc and so close too!

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  5. He is, without doubt, a little beauty. Wish we'd get one locally I could get as close to

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  6. Many thanks all for the comments. A tricky bird to get a decent shot of as these are always wary but this bird gave me that chance. Probably have to wait years again for this opportunity but it was worth it.

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  7. I have only just started following your blog and am fairly new to bird watching. Your photos are fantastic and I am interested in getting a camera. Would you mind suggesting what would be a good one that would not be too costly. Thankyou. mea54

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