An Unexpected Outing

The plan was not to go out today, the girls having friends staying over last night and I was on breakfast, drink and snack duty or so it felt this morning. However due to my excellent service including washing up and keeping the house tidy I was rewarded with a few hours out, I must have been a good boy! I didn't leave home until 11.30am where I drove down to Reculver and was greeted with the sight I don't often see when I go out early morning, a full up car park with dogs, cyclists, fisherman and runners etc all going about their business. Luckily my 'special' parking space was free and I set about walking down the seawall to Coldharbour and back. Chris Hindle had found a Shorelark earlier in the day but it had flown off towards Reculver so I kept my eyes peeled for this which kept me focused from the crowds. No sooner had I reached the towers when I was greeted with the first of 5 Swallows today, a year tick and always an anticipated sight for the summer. Moving on I noted 11 Linnet, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, 13 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Little Egret, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Mallard and 4 Shelduck were sheltering from the brisk wind. 

Pied Wagtail

There were 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Turnstone, 12 Mute Swan, 1 Gannet east, 2 Gadwall and 1 Chiffchaff. I never did find the Shorelark which I suspect has moved on now out of the area but you never know. The wife is working until Wednesday so with kids at home with me until early afternoon I may not get much birding in although I'm hopeful for maybe an afternoon visit somewhere between now and Wednesday, we shall wait and see!

Oystercatchers