I awoke this morning to another dull and drizzly morning where after a drive around I drove over to Reculver and parked up at the towers. After warming up I then walked on down to Coldharbour before walking inland to Chambers Wall and back along the embankment to the seawall. It seems that most sessions are done nowadays in dull non photographic weather or when I arrive home the sun makes its appearance, it can only get better! Birds noted this morning included 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Rock Pipit was seen again with an orange ring on its right leg reading AHP and a silver ring on its left leg but I could not read this, hopefully this might be enough to find out some information on the bird. There were 2 Great crested Grebe, c10 Oystercatcher, 8 Mute Swan, 12 Turnstone, 4 Snow Bunting were c300 yards east of the towers on the shingle ridge and on my return I found them in the same area but with people and dogs on the beach they soon flew off and I watched them fly high west past the towers calling. Also seen today were c30 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Stonechat, 1 Marsh Harrier, c25 Linnet, 1 Shelduck and 5 Reed Bunting. I was just thinking it was not the best session when along the embankment I could see a flock of c70 Corn Bunting, quite a number for the area I suspect. They soon flew into some bushes and as I scanned I could see what looked like yellow Christmas balls in the bushes. Unbelievably there were 16+ Yellowhammer, what a result. Believe it or not, the Yellowhammer is a scarce bird in the area but maybe they are making a comeback as they can be seen outside the area in good numbers. With the dull light I tried for a few shots but I couldn't get near enough for anything decent. Normally this shot would not have made it off the camera but its the best shot of a Yellowhammer I have at the moment from the Reculver area, I can only improve I think!
Yellowhammer
This site alone watching the Yellowhammers made my morning and made the walk worthwhile. The only other birds of noted were 1 Green Woodpecker and a year tick in the form of a single Golden Plover. I'm not out tomorrow and looking at the forecast It might be a good decision, hopefully next weekend will deliver some sunshine and maybe a shot or two.
Its hard work for the camera Marc, as you say the only light comes later in the day - too late then! Nice to see all those Yellowhammers though, wouldn't mind a few of them coming back here :-)
ReplyDeleteI need to invest in a throw up hide or something that I can put over me and stick a lens through. There has got to be something out there that would do the trick. A simple bit of camo gear that I can just throw over me sounds good.
DeleteOh yes, a Yellowhammer. I have only met one, in the Isle of Islay, and was badly photographed. Yours are brilliant.
ReplyDeleteYellowhammer very rare in our recording area and scarce outside it on the Fylde and would imagine to find 16 might prove difficult. Excellent record being as you say scarce to you too Marc.
ReplyDeletecute yellowhammer
ReplyDelete