Sunday 23 June 2013

A Wet Weekend!

Having missed a few sessions at Reculver of late I was keen to walk the circuit and hopefully pick up a bird or two. I arrived on Saturday to cloudy skies and a strong wind, this soon got worse while walking along the seawall when the heavens opened and I received a thorough soaking for the next 30 minutes. It eased off eventually but the odd shower still moved through throughout the session. How I would love a few sessions with little wind and sunshine! I walked out to Chambers Wall before returning but not that much had been seen. Birds included 11 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Green Woodpecker, 17 Sandwich Tern, 18 Swift west, 13 Oystercatcher, 1 Hobby, 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 Linnet, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greenshank was heard calling and 2 Curlew were out on the mud. There were 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Reed Warbler, 8 Shelduck, 2 Skylark, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Tern, 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Tufted Duck, 10 Mallard, 1 Swallow and 8 Gannet flew east.

Sandwich Tern

Surely this morning I would arrive to a lovely sunrise with clear skies, no not at all! I pulled up with the wind still howling and soon after the rain arrived giving me another multiple soaking as I walked down the seawall. After doing its job well in soaking all of my equipment it blew over and the clouds parted for a while. Fed up with the weather I only walked as far as Coldharbour before walking back along the seawall to the car. Another quiet morning with the following noted: 2 Curlew, 5 Sandwich Tern, 7 Gannet, 7 Meadow Pipit, 4 Ringed Plover, 11 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck, 36 Mallard, a few singing Reed and Sedge Warbler and 2 Turnstone.

Turnstone

There were 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 1 Skylark, 2 Shelduck, 1 Common Tern and 2 Swift flying west. June can be a testing month I find at Reculver with not a lot of birds moving but hopefully rich pickings will soon be upon us in he next few weeks. Hopefully a session in the week if the weather allows and I may even get the camera back if i'm lucky!



6 comments:

  1. June is a testing month, as you say Marc, made even more testing when the weather prevents you finding pleasures in the insect life!

    Everything will soon be on the move again, exciting times will be back, even Pittswood gets the odd passage Migrant bird :-)

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  2. Fingers crossed for your camera and the weather Marc. You' re right about June being a difficult month but usually you can turn attention to smaller winged beasts, but even they are pretty much non existent. Never thought I would hear myself say 'roll on autumn' but.........

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  3. The Sandwich Tern and the Turnstone are two beautiful beings, and you made them photographize, if the word exists.

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  4. Marc.
    Considering the weather conditions you did very well. You managed to see some really good species of birds.
    It may have been a grotty day but your wonderful photo of the Turnstone is enough to brighten any day.

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  5. Here's hoping for the return of your camera, and the return of the summer....how many years has it been gone!

    The Turnstone must have one of the most attractive plumages of all the waders, stunning image Marc.

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