I headed to Seaford this morning with a view to spotting a bit of migration, a very patchy day with periods of nothing followed by a few minutes of intense activity!! Would say if you don't like pictures of Wheatears, probably best to stop reading although I've tried to create a bit of variety with poses and backgrounds etc!! 😀Also it's not all Wheatears there are a few other goodies, although not Bill Oddie which would have been cool!!
I arrived at about 6.30, I'd seen the sunrise from the car on the journey but there was a bit left on arrival, a Black Cat had crossed my path on the road leading to the barn turning, but I couldn't remember if it was supposed to be bad or good luck!!🐈 I'm not superstitious anyway, although not averse to offering up a prayer to the birding gods occasionally!!😀 First Wheatear was on the Barn roof and posed quite nicely in the rays of the rising Sun!
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| Sunrise last knockings! |
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| Wheatear on roof (rear view)! |
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| Wheatear on roof (Front View) |
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| Rabbit |
So good luck then, or maybe not!! Walked all the way down Hope Gap, very quiet, Blackcap, couple of Robins, and a few Blackbirds, not even much moving in the scrub!! Things improved slightly in Hope Bottom with a nice Redstart sat out in the open, though I messed up the pics!
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| Nice bright I think 1st winter male Common Redstart |
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| Can't believe this was the best pic I got posed quite well for ages, but most pics are blurred!! |
I wandered about the area, up the west side, scanned the fence line, Nada! So gave up and set course for the Cuckmere, coming out of Hope Bottom, things improved immediately with several birds flitting about the Bramble scrub, best was a Whinchat, several Stonechats, a Lesser Whitethroat, several Common Whitethroat and a few Chiffchaffs, great fun was had following them about as they lead me a dance down to the Cottages!!
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| Whinchat |
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| Stonechat |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
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| Whinchat |
A big flock of Goldfinches as I headed out on to the shingle and out onto the beach, this started as a bit of a Pipitfest which soon turned into a Wheatearfest as I headed up the path next to the river, I reckon there were about 11 along the path difficult to tell as they were flying about a lot but as I headed inland they went ahead of me before one at a time flying out into the river then back behind me, counted at least 7 doing this and some went inland as well!!! A few other bits as well, I've interspersed the pics in with the Wheatear ones!😀
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| Curlew, several about |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Two Wheatears |
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| Wheatear on Pebbles |
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| Wheatear on concrete |
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| Wheatear on angled concrete |
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| Wheatear on Bramble |
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| Wheatear in flight |
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| Wheatear , Kestrel impression |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Wheatear on Dirt |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Wheatear on Thistle |
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| Mute Swan, missed several good photo ops as this washed and preened, but thought this was amusing |
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| Very light Pied Wagtail? |
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| Knot, with a couple of Ringed Plovers on the far bank, saw a couple of Greenshank in flight as well. |
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| Little Egret |
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| Wheatear on thistle |
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| Oystercatcher did a couple of circuits |
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| Heron, tried for the reflection shot but the water wouldn't play ball😢 |
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| Scruffy Meadow Pipit |
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| Nearly sharp😢 |
So leaving the Cuckmere I headed along the bottom path and up past Harry's Bush another quiet period, lots of walking not many birds😢
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| Goldfinch/Linnet Combo |
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| Goldfinch scratching, Linnet not amused! |
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| Kestrel |
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| Sparrowhawk being escorted of the premises by Corvids |
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| Misty at times today! |
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| Having dealt with the Sprawk the Corvids turned on the Kestrel! |
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| Off you go son! |
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| Common Whitethroats at the Buffet! |
As I headed back to the Car Park I was pleased to see the herd of cows right up against the fence, I'd heard several flyover Yellow Wagtails in and around the area, but the Cows were sadly unaccompanied, then I heard the call, looked up, 3 Yellow Wags flying straight towards the Cows, then straight over the Cows and over the Barn!!!! Denied!! 😂 However as I headed into the Carpark the 3 were on the concrete and in the adjacent grass where they posed ok, before heading towards the dung-heap! I followed them round, where there were at least 20 Yellow Wagtails in with the sheep in the field adjoining the path. There were also 5 Wheatears in and around the Dung-heap and nearby fence line!
Which posed quite well!!
Brace Yourselves 😂😂😂😂 😂
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| You seen any Wheatears?? |
It disappeared high and away, and that was about that, dogs were now outnumbering birds so I headed home, mixed day but highly enjoyable!!
I love reading your posts. Looks like a fantastic day. So many different species together. I wish l had the gumption to get up that early when lm not working!
ReplyDeleteYes unfortunately getting up early is fairly essential, especially on the coast,before the hoards arrive!
DeleteSo enjoyable-especially the Wheatear fest at the end! 😂
ReplyDelete