Chambers Wall Delivers the Goods!

With a week off work I was able to get out early this morning for a visit to Reculver. I left home at 6am where upon opening the door I was greeted by a Hedgehog on the doorstep. I was soon driving around the lanes where once again I was unable to connect with any Owls but it was nice after parking up at Shuart to hear the dawn chorus unfold. With no Woodcock seen I took the drive back towards Reculver noting 1 Red legged Partridge, 1 Common Buzzard and 5 Fieldfare. I decided to park up at Chambers Wall and complete the embankmant, seawall and Coldharbour loop which takes in a variety of habitats. After arriving the light was starting to pick up and a Robin was in fine song which gave me my first photo opportunity of the morning.

Robin

For the first hour or so the sun was nicely shining but around 9am the cloud rolled in making for a cloudy but dry session. Walking towards the railway line I could hear some Corn Buntings singing, I thought they had moved on but a closer inspection revealed c50 Corn Buntings sitting on tops of various bushes carrying out their 'jingling' song. A check of the bushes here also revealed 8 Yellowhammer and some chirping could also be heard from within the bushes. A few minutes later and it was nice to see 3 Tree Sparrow moving around calling and eventually one moved into a position where I could try for a photo, although there always happens to be a branch in the way! It only stayed a few seconds before moving off deeper into cover but nonetheless a lovely sight to see on the patch.

Tree Sparrow

I moved on west along the embankment where I was able to grab a shot of a Yellowhammer that landed briefly nearby.

Yellowhammer

Moving on I noted 11 Mute Swan, 7 Skylark singing, 3 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pheasant, 10 Mallard, 17 Reed Bunting, 1 Siskin flew over calling, a year tick at last, c50 Golden Plover where in fields, 4 Shelduck, 5 Linnet and 2 Little Grebe. Walking along the seawall towards Coldharbour produced 2 Stonechat, 19 Redshank, 38 Oystercatcher, 7 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Marsh Harrier in the air together, c500 Dark bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale bellied Brent Goose, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 1 Grey Heron. Back at the car I had an hour left so I had a quick drive over to Brooksend on the far eastern edge of the boundary and saw 1 Ring necked Parakeet, c40 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Grey Wagtail. A quick look inland of Reculver on the way home only delivered 10 Tufted Duck and 1 Marsh Harrier. Another very nice and dry session with a few nice birds in the area and a bit of action for the camera. Hopefully another visit later in the day tomorrow weather permitting.

Brent Geese Flying Over Reculver Towers