Snowfall at Reculver!

What a week its been, work always in the way of birding with some good quality birds turning up in the Reculver area. Throughout the week Iv'e received various texts from Matt Hindle, Derek Smith and Julian Perry to birds such as Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Shorelark, Great Grey Shrike to name a few. How frustrating this can be to know you can do nothing about it until later in the week and just hope the birds stay around. I had a brief look for 30 minutes earlier in the week for the Great Grey Shrike Matt found in the caravan park but it seemed to have moved on, I did see 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 ring tail Hen Harrier and 2 Green Sandpiper. There have been some showy Snow Buntings the last few days on the beach at Plumpudding and with the sun shining I was hopeful for a visit myself. With the added bonus of 2 Shorelark nearby I was at last able to make a brief visit after work tonight. I arrived with the sun shining and soon found others photographing the 2 Snow Buntings from very close range and set about grabbing a few imaged myself. After a while the others moved off and I settled in for some of the best views I have ever had of these birds. They were literally walking around my feet and at times I had to walk back to get them in the view finder, not that I am complaining. They allowed many shots and before I knew it I had taken over 100 shots, a few of which are below. I left them in peace where I had a brief look for the Shorelarks which proved unsuccessful but I did see c20 Brent Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 11 Wigeon, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron as well as a few Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Turnstone. It was nice to get out and achieve some pleasing shots of this cracking species. Last day at work tomorrow and then 2 weeks off. Hopefully a few good birds will turn up at Reculver for me!

Snow Bunting