Sunday 13 April 2014

Save The Best Till Last!

I was up early again this morning and after getting ready was out of the house at 4.50am where once again I spent some time driving around trying to get a Nightingale but like yesterday I drew a blank on this front. There was a nice dawn chorus forming as I carried on driving round where I heard 1 Little Owl calling before I arrived at a dark Chambers Wall. Chris Hindle had a Nightingale here yesterday so I hoped that it would still be calling early on. As the light picked up I wandered on down the track to the railway line and along the embankment to the poplars. Unfortunately despite my ears working overtime I could not hear the Nightingale and suspect it moved on overnight. All was not lost though as I wandered on down to the sea and west towards Reculver where I was joined by Chidders for a while before I wandered back inland. There were a good number of birds seen again today including 3 Blackcap, 7 Skylark, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, c40 Cormorant, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Shoveler, 8 Reed Bunting, 5 Redshank and I spent some time again with the Wren who was showing nicely and singing which allowed me to continue to try for some shots, I'm slowly getting there! Apologies for the shots but I just love photographing these little beauties, full of character.


Wren

Whilst here I received a call from Chris alerting me that a Fulmar was coming my way and a quick run to the seawall proved a good decision as I had good views as it passed. There were 6 Mute Swan, 4 Curlew, 11 Oystercatcher, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Shelduck, 1 Dark bellied Brent Goose, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Little Egret and among the 17 Swallows flying west was 1 House Martin, another year tick.


Wren

As I moved inland I noted 12 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Grey Partridge and fortune was on my side for as I neared the car I checked the hedges that run north from the car park and on the sunny side was a superb male Common Redstart sitting out. I tried for a few shots but it was quite distant as the photo shows but what a good bird to end the session on. 

Common Redstart

Reculver seems to be waking up nicely now and I can't wait for the next session already, when ever that will be!

6 comments:

  1. Nice to see the Wrens photographed that well marc, no apologies needed :-)

    I had a hope of finding a Redstart just as you pictured it today, but no luck :-)

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  2. It's all exciting stuff at the moment Marc. Wren shots look great to me!

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  3. Great Wren shots again, nice male Redstart always a pleasure to see.

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  4. Photogenius you are, especially on the Wren, fantastic.

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