Saturday 22 February 2014

A Sunny Saturday

I was up and out of the house this morning at 5.30am where once again I drove over to Shuart to see if I could see any Woodcock flying into roost and this time proved lucky as 1 Woodcock was seen flying into the wood at dawn. Once again a lovely sound listening to the dawn chorus added by 1 Red legged and 1 Grey Partridge calling as well. I met up with Julian Perry here and after seeing 1 Common Buzzard we drove over to Chambers Wall where we walked along the embankment and down to Coldharbour and witnessed a lovely sunrise.

Sunrise over Reculver

Not the most exciting of bird day but just a joy to be out in the sunshine and hear the reed beds slowing coming to life with the sound of Reed Buntings. Birds we noted included 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, c300 Cormorant, 1 Yellowhammer was heard and then see flying off south, c15 Reed Bunting, 4 Stonechat, 2 Skylark, c20 Linnet, c20 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck and a few singing Dunnock providing a few photo opportunities.

Dunnock

After returning to the car I drove over to the towers where I had a quick unsuccessful look for the Black Redstart but I spent some time watching c8 Skylark singing and showing in the grass, yet another excuse for a photo.

Skylark

At this point a barking dog come my way, the owners calling it back but the dog completely ignoring them. Its barking turned to growling as it got near me and it started to rush at my legs. I was at this point shouting to the owners to sort it out but I might as well saved my breath for how good they were. As I turned away the dog made a go for my leg and bit me on the calf, thankfully missing my skin but pulling my trousers pretty hard. The owners soon arrived not before I had given the dog a bit of its own medicine. They received a bit of a moan from me before we went out separate ways. A quick look out at sea produced c300 Brent Geese, 1 Curlew, 6 Sanderling, 8 Redshank and 1 Grey Plover. I then spent the next hour at Shuart again raptor watching where I noted 3 Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel and 1 Sparrowhawk. A lovely morning except for the dog incident, I hope there are a few more days like this to come soon, preferably when I am able to get out!

Starling

6 comments:

  1. Sumptuous sunny images today Marc - shame the dogs and their owners have to ruin it all, it's the same here, It's not worth going out between 09:30 and 11:30hrs, bloody dogs and noisy owners all off the footpaths, no respect for anything or anyone, bring on the dog flu virus :-)

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  3. Marc's experience with the dog was unfortunate and even as a dog owner myself, I would of probably reacted just as he did. However, the remarks from the other person, re. "bring on the dog virus", were regretable, what's next on the wish list, some nasty disease for the owners?

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  4. Lovely picture of the sun, and the birds, fantastic.

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  5. Again superb shots!
    Wish I could get close the Starlings!!

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