An 80 Species Day!

With some nice sunshine forecast for today with light winds, I had two sessions at Reculver today totaling about 8 hours of birding. The first session was from 5.15am - 9.30am where I drove around the lanes in the dark and then walked from the towers to Chambers Wall and back and the second session was from 10.30am- 2pm where I walked down to the sea from Shuart. Without much hassle and not breaking into a sweat, I managed to see or hear a creditable 80 species in the area. For most of the time thew sun was out but occasionally during the morning, it clouded over for sometime. It did however, become quite warm during the afternoon. Birds noted today included 1 Long eared Owl at Shuart, 3 Kestrel, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Partridge, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker and whilst at Coldharbour, I spent some time taking a few photos of 1 of the 3 male Wheatear present.

Wheatear (male)

Moving off inland I soon found 1 male Ring Ouzel which was 'chacking' away in the bushes before flying into the fields and also seen were 2 Sedge Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Owl, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier, c15 Sand Martin, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Yellowhammer landed in bushes along the seawall briefly before flying off west, 2 Mediterranean Gull were heard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 6 Swallow and 1 Rock Pipit. One of today's tasks and one which shall continue was to try to capture some photos of the Wren. I just love these birds and can watch and listen to them for ages. I am after the ultimate photo of one, preferably sideways on, singing with beak wide open and a nice clean background and lots of detail. I did pretty well today with a few efforts but this is most definitely unfinished business. 

Wren

Other birds of noted today included 2 Black Redstart, 1 still singing at the towers and 1 at Shuart stables which was in the company of a stunning male Common Redstart. Although very wary, I managed a brief couple of photos before it moved deeper into cover. 

Common Redstart (male)

There were 3 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Red legged Partridge, 1 Great crested Grebe and 1 Sandwich Tern was heard calling. A brilliant session with lots to see and some real quality in there too as well as some action for the camera. Hopefully a few more good birds will turn up in the next few days and weeks, preferably when I can get out with the camera. The Wren project will continue and I shall post a few more of these smart birds in the next few days.