REELIN' IN THE EARS.

Have you seen what I have done here?  What a clever play on words I reckon I could get a job writing headlines for the" Sun".  Arriving at Reculver today just before 9.30 expectations were extremely low even after having phoned Heathy who had moved onto Grove, but informed me there was a year tick for me in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler which was reeling by Cold Harbour.  The stroll down there was extremely uneventful with a single Common Tern and three Sandwich Terns being the highlight ... honestly.  The Gropper was eventually located along with Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap.  The Oyster Farm did not hold very much and it was obviously too windy for the Short-eared Owls to put in an appearance.  At this rate I think I will have to take more interest in butterflies, moths and plants.

BLUE IS THE COLOUR

With reasonable weather forecast for today, I arrived at Reculver this morning just before six a.m. .The sun was shining and Marc and myself were joined in our stroll to Cold Harbour and back by Julian Perry. Expectations were not that great but there were a few pleasant surprises .The Oyster Farm held Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Shelduck. Three Mediterranean Gulls added to my year list and a bonus came in the form of a BLACK -TAILED GODWIT,which is a very tricky bird to get and was the first of the year for the recording area.The lonely Eider was again in its usual place although a little closer in to shore. A short coffee break at Cold Harbour allowed us to add Common and Sandwich Tern and a fairly uneventful walk back to the Towers was enlivened by 2 Cuckoos and an obliging Yellow Wagtail more intent on its breakfast than us, allowing some photographs.With Marc on a tight schedule we popped into Brook and a few pictures of Common Blue Damoseille were taken. The only addition to the notebook was Sand Martin .

AN ABSURD LITTLE BIRD KEEPS POPPING OUT TO SAY ................

With the last few Saturdays employed elsewhere it was nice to get out with Marc this morning for a few hours.  We parked at the Towers just before 9.30 a.m. and our walk to Cold Harbour gave me an opportunity to add a few species to my year list.  We saw the first of 6 Shelduck and a summer plumage Dunlin before noting an unseasonal Eider sitting happily offshore.  Marc had already had close encounters with a Cuckoo and by the Green Wall we managed to get the closet I have ever been to this usually secretive species.  We managed between us to take some pleasing images.  It certainly was a special moment for both of us.  I added Greenshank to my year list and another addition came in the form of a Razorbill  flying East.  Shoveler, Turfted Duck and Grey Heron were added to the notebook and whilst drinking our obligatory cup of coffee a nice surprise came in the form of an unseasonal Guillemot, once again flying East.  3 relatively close Gannets joined the Guillemot flying East.  We found 2 distant Common Buzzard and 2 Peregrine Falcons were  added on our return walk.  A single Grey Partridge was sighted by the Roman Galley and our last hour was spent trying to find a Red Kite, unsuccessfully although we did find a rather impressive display from the Red ....Arrows. 

However, it was not totally wasted as a single Ring-necked Parakeet was an addition to the year list.

A STROLL IN THE SUNSHINE !

A very enjoyable wander around Chamber's Wall over  a two hour period this morning gave me the opportunity to add another five year ticks although nothing too exciting.Starting from the fisherman's car park two Yellow Wagtails were sitting nicely at the top of two bushes and Whitethroat,Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler all made their presence felt. For once, a Whitethroat stayed still long enough for a few pleasing photographs to be taken. Sedge Warblers were chattering away on the whole of the walk and I estimated there are maybe 20-25 different  birds on site. On reaching the seawall two House Martins whizzed past in company with six Swallows giving a welcome year tick. Cold Harbour was birdless but a single Common Tern was flying up and down the channel by the outflow. Walking back inland a Reed Warbler was soon added and the final tick came in the form of a Hobby. Couldn't find yesterday's Gropper or the Ring Ouzel that Chris had earlier, but it was nice to be out in the sunshine and not gloom and persistent rain . It did at least feel like May.

YOU LITTLE BUNTING!

Marc ,you are quite correct that I would nick a picture of a Little Bunting.

Sometimes there are birds that perhaps you feel you are never destined to see!  Little Bunting was always one of those birds. You have probably noticed that my icon is of the elusive  little fella really as an ironic statement.About two years ago Dylan found one in the field next to my house and I couldn't even find that. When news broke on Monday of the bird at Sandwich Bay I rushed over to hopefully see it and you can guess the outcome.Two hours spent fruitlessly staring into bushes.Once again I thought another opportunity was missed.I looked jealously at Steve Ashton's pictures and dreamed. Yesterday when news came of the bird being re-found I allowed myself a glimmer of hope. Meeting up with Marc just after 6.00 a.m. I had already paid a successful visit to May Street for the solitary Nightingale on the Reculver patch.We watched from the towers for a couple of hours and saw the following; 15 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Guillemot, 12,Gannet,1 Swallow, 12 Swift and a single Sparrowhawk. With news of the Bunting on the pager we arrived at 8.20 a.m and spent the next one and a half hours on site .Marc heard the bird call initially in the trapping area and we had a brief flight view. Mark Chidwick arrived after his Kentish Plover expedition and as we rounded the corner by the white house the Bunting was calling incessently and flew from the trees into the gardens of the trapping area.It was only 15-20 seconds but it was  the Little chap. No further sightings were had in the next 25 minutes but conditions were obviously not ideal. However , I will be e-mailing Geoff Burton today to update my Kent list!