Rye Harbour

I grew up in Hastings, and Rye Harbour was the place where I saw my 'firsts' of many species. My parents didn't drive, so we were limited in where we could get to, but Rye Harbour was reachable via a train ride and a bus ride (or, occasionally, a train ride and a very long walk). On Sunday, I convinced Rob that it would be a good idea for us to go there after aikido, and for him to then drop me off in Hastings to visit my dad. It was another glorious day and he didn't take much persuading.

We arrived just before 4pm - nowhere near enough daylight left to explore the whole of this huge reserve. Instead we walked a short loop around the beach reserve, a swathe of unspoilt and well-vegetated shingle with assorted lakes.

A medley of Med Gulls. The gorgeous Mediterranean Gull has bred at Rye for some years now, among the long-standing Black-headed Gull colony, and today there were hundreds of them here. Easy to pick up in flight with their white wings and quizzical Frankie Howerd-esque call, they were commuting between their nests on the Ternery Pool and some smaller and shallower pools nearby where they were loafing and bathing.

Another unmistakeably loud little beauty - Sandwich Tern. Rye is a bit of a tern mecca, though its real speciality - Little Tern - doesn't breed here every year and is not very numerous. Lots of Sandwiches though.

Another recent colonist here is Avocet, taking the place by storm as it is doing up and down the country. We watched a pair on a small pool near Ternery Pool - they were showing distinct signs of friskiness, as well as ferocious territorial aggression towards a hapless Redshank.

Another species that was very much in evidence, both in the air and on the deck, was Oystercatcher. This species nests on the undisturbed (and protected against ground predators by electric fencing) shingle. We saw loads, including many flocks of a dozen birds doing their piping display.

This weird-looking beast is a Curlew, the only one we saw, flying off a new scrape opposite the Ternery Pool. This scrape also sheltered Avocets, Redshanks and Common and Sandwich Terns.

From the hide at the eastern end of Ternery Pool, you can enjoy great views of the nesting Black-headed Gulls as they go about their daily business of feeding, nest-building, copulating, fighting, bathing and snoozing. The noise is unbelievable.

After our look at the Ternery Pool, we went to the beach, which was very quiet (human-wise) and looked like this.

We sat near the sea and waited to see what came along. What came along included some feeding Common Terns, who provided a stern test of photographic skill/luck, as they energetically fished in the shallows.

We swapped lenses before continuing our walk as Rob wanted a play with the 300mm (but WITHOUT the new teleconverter - is he mad?), which left me to get reaquainted with my old frenemy, the 150-500mm 'Bigmos'.

 Those extra 80mm helped bring these distant Golden Plovers (part of a large flock resting on the shingle near the Wader hide) a tiny bit closer.

Another plover - one of several Ringed Plovers on the muddy bank of the river Brede, that separates Rye Harbour from Camber Sands (and East Sussex from Kent). We only went to look at the river because I thought I'd seen a Kingfisher zipping along it towards the sea.

Small birds were not much in evidence today. The main path is usually a good bet for Wheatear at this time of year but we made do with a handful of Linnets.

Light from the hide overlooking the shallow Wader Pool was all wrong. Or was it? The Shelduck looks nice, at least, though a little soft. Out in the worst-lit bit was a solitary Bar-tailed Godwit, creating a nice moody silhouette.

On the last stretch of path I heard yet more Oyks piping overhead, and nearly ignored them, but since the calls were coming from a direction where the light should be good I did swing the Bigmos around and found myself looking at something completely different. A wonderful juvenile-plumaged Peregrine powered by, looking magnificent in the low sunlight.

We left the car park at 7.30pm, when the sun was almost gone. It had been the most fantastic afternoon. Rob took me to my dad's and left me there. He took my camera too (at my request) - I had cause to regret this later when that very night I found a Twenty-plume moth on my dad's kitchen window. On Tuesday morning I had another 'damn, no camera' moment when I spotted a Raven riding a thermal right over dad's house, being mobbed by a Herring Gull.

Bee-flies, big lenses and baffling birds

All were on show today at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. I failed to get up at the crack of dawn but managed to get underway before 8am (just). It was shaping up to be a bit of a scorcher for early April, no clouds (except the ubiquitous con-trails) and just a very light breeze. Walking down Lambarde Road I paused by the lakes, where I'd taken bad photos of a Coal Tit last time, and instead this time I took some bad photos of a Goldcrest. Nothing very interesting overhead, except a vanishingly distant Sparrowhawk. Then on to the reserve.

The trees are coming into leaf, big time. I spent a little while failing to find Lesser Spotted Woodpecker among the car park trees, then down the track locked onto the song of this year's first Willow Warbler. I managed some treetop photos, and while I was taking them I was surprised to hear the warbler change song mid-phrase to a distinctively Chiffchaff-like refrain. It was a perfect blend of the two species' songs (and no, there wasn't a Chiffchaff there as well). Peculiar. After doing this hybrid song a couple of times it switched back to conventional Willow Warbler song.

I continued to Tyler hide and immediately had a go at photographing this young Herring Gull with something in its bill. No idea what the something is, but the gull seemed happy to risk dropping it in midair so maybe it's nothing very exciting.

There were a couple of dozen subadult Herring Gulls present when I arrived, but they were restless and presently took off, circled around and drifted off in various directions, to wherever they spend the day (probably the rubbish dump).

There were four LRPs around. Even when they were on the nearest island their tiny size made them virtually unphotographable. They came closer when chasing each other around in extremely fast and twisty circuits of the lake, and I attempted some flight shots. This is the best of a bad bunch. There were also Lapwings flying about, one of which flushed a Snipe from very near the hide. It was all over too quickly for me to capture.

A pair of Egyptian Geese with four small goslings came swimming in from the east. The female (I presume - the one that kept closest to the little ones) was almost white-headed. The family came out on the shore of the Serengeti and began to systematically crop the already short grass.

I walked down to the far end and visited all three hides. Not much to show for it, apart from this handsome mason wasp which was investigating a bank of bare earth next to the Tower hide.

 There are some bee-flies about. Bombylius major, probably, feeding from Self-heal (I think). I hope to get better photos of these little critters, ones that show off their monster probosces would be good.

As usual, I parked my chair by Long Lake and waited around a bit to see what came along. This time, what came along was a succession of Orange-tips, some of which stopped for a feed on the Cuckoo-flowers. Besides these beauties, I also saw a Peacock, a Brimstone and, on the way home, a Holly Blue.

Continuing alongside Long Lake, I was stopped in my tracks by a song which, under normal circumstances, I'd have had no hesitation in IDing as a Sedge Warbler. However, I've never had Sedge Warbler at the reserve (though they do get reported), and the song seemed to be coming from halfway up a large, ivy-clad tree - not a typical song perch for a Sedgie. I couldn't see the singer, and it soon shut up anyway, so it will for now be a mystery - hopefully I'll hear it again and be able to confirm it (or not).

I had another sit-down further along Long Lake, at the end of a concrete walkway. I disturbed a small mammal along the way but didn't get to see what it was, just a brief impression of fur and scuttliness at my feet. The path ended at a small bay, in which were sunbathing numerous small fish. I think they were Roach, but all my photos were terrible.

The Long Lake Mutes drifted into the bay and scared off all the fish. Unlike the pair on Snipe Bog Lake, the female of which is on eggs, they don't appear to have a nest. I waited til the swans had finished feeding and drifted off again before picking up my stuff and setting off. Then I looked back and saw that the swans were mating.

It was a more tender affair that the brief and nasty grapple that passes for sex among Mallards, and afterward the pair shared what looked like the swan version of a loving embrace. Ahhh.

I know we've 'done' Wrens a lot lately, but I can't resist showing off this gobby little fellow, who was very considerate and hopped out into full view as I was searching the foliage for him.

It was about lunchtime by now and very warm. I was going along the small loop of a path around the reedy bits by Willow hide when I spotted this sunbathing Robin on the path ahead, who let me get very close (this is almost full-frame). Being the sentimental pie-brain that I am, I then prepared to retrace my steps and go the other way so as not to disturb the bird, but when I turned round it flew off. Well, the thought was there.

I could have stayed all day. On the other hand, I'm still a bit poorly, and with the heat and no breakfast was beginning to feel quite lousy. So I headed home, making just one brief stop to get a shot of this cute young Rabbit on the way.

Oh, the big lenses? There was some seriously heavy glass being carted around the reserve today by various people, not me though. Much as I long for more reach than 420mm at times, I can't imagine coping with an un-handholdable lens. Maybe some time down the line I'll have changed my tune ;)

The car's the star

We both woke up feeling poorly today, with a coldy, fluey thing, and missed aikido accordingly. Later on I persuaded Rob to drive to Elmley - not to walk about but just to take photos from the car along the access track. For those who don't know, this track traverses about two miles of grazing marsh and often gives really close views of whatever birds happen to be around.

This is about 10% of a very big Curlew flock, sadly they didn't come any closer than this. But it was encouraging to see a bit of birdlife from the off.

As usual, there were many Lapwings pottering about in the fields, some very near the track. This one is showing us that it was really quite a windy day.

Some of the Lapwings were doing their territorial tumbling displays. This photo is notable because I took it while the car was still moving - who needs VR?

A Kestrel wheeled about and hovered near the car. Sadly the light was against us and all I got were silhouettes - a bit of digital contrast adjustment was needed to reveal its pretty face.

While we were watching the Kestrel, this Grey Heron came lumbering over. It was one of about six seen during the drive.

Check all the gateposts for resting raptors if you ever come here. I did so, and found a very distant Buzzard. Less exciting, but slightly more attainable distance-wise, was this Stock Dove.

There are very few bushes along the track. I was really delighted to hear a familar key-jangling song coming from two of them. This was the closer of the two Corn Buntings. It was surprising to see the two singing males so close together. This species always (as far as I know) sings from elevated perches - could this actually be a limiting factor on population density.

When we reached the reserve car park, I went for a short stroll around while Rob sorted out his camera stuff. I found this female House Sparrow resting atop a nice-looking nestbox, apparently paralysed with indecision about which entrance hole to use.

And overhead - my first Swallow, and indeed first hirundine, of 2011. Lovely. Though to see Swallow before Sand Martin in any given year surely suggests I'm a lazy birder. Especially as Sandies breed on my local patch. Never mind, it was wonderful to see a Swallow, and astounding to get an almost in-focus flight shot of it as well.

We'd just begun the return trip when I spotted something pointy and dark among the long grass. A bit of car-shuffling later and we were enjoying quite close views of two lovely Brown Hares. Where were you last autumn when I needed a hare photo for my latest book, eh? Never mind. We hoped to see some shenanigans between them but they were more interested in munching grass.

The other hare was a richer, foxier red-brown than the first. It was also more restless, and after a while scampered off down the slope.

While we were hare-watching, this Shelduck pair flew by. Not a great shot but it does show nicely the differences between the sexes. Note the male (bringing up the rear) has a broader chestband, and (for want of a more elegant term) a big red knob. On his bill.

A bit further on, a stunning male Marsh Harrier flew across the track. We'd seen several others, but all impossibly distant. This one was way ahead of us, but we drove to the point he'd crossed and waited in case he came back. Much to our surprise, he did, and crossed back at close quarters. He seemed to have a tiny something in his talons, and was calling constantly. When he was some way away we saw there was a female following him.

Amid this excitement, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew by, faster than my reflexes could cope with. I hope it's IDable from this shot, anyway.

A couple more waders to end with. There were plenty of Redshanks around, but none were very close. I also saw two Ruffs, which were both distant and quick to scarper.

Oystercatchers, doing their piping thing. A lovely sound, even though they look completely ridiculous while they do it.

Just a couple more hare pics, just because :)

Hey, TC!

Last week my new 1.4x teleconverter arrived. Having had two different Kenko ones with the same fault, I've paid the extra dosh for a Nikon. This morning's forecast was good (well, sunny, but also windy) so after a vain attempt to coax Rob out of bed I set off alone to SWR.

A new species for the blog! This Rook was flying over Lambarde Road. Not sure where our nearest rookery is, and that's the kind of thing I really ought to know.

Passing Bradbourne Lakes, I noticed this female Mallard, sporting a green speculum. While a drake Mallard's head changes colour with the light, I haven't ever noticed a Mallard speculum looking green like this before. Her all-dark bill is puzzling too, there's normally at least a little orange. Aberrant, hybrid or a touch of the barnyard?

I paused a while in Greenfinch Zone, hoping to have another chance for some flight shots, but no males were doing their display flights (though plenty were around). By way of a change from last time, here's a female.

In the Wildlife Garden I saw this Robin carrying food - first evidence of a passerine with chicks that I've seen this year.

Lots of Primroses out. These ones were in the wildlife garden.

I decided to go to the Tyler hide first, and admired a fine show of daffodils lining the shady trail.

This year I've made an intense but so far fruitless search for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker every time I've gone to the reserve. One of the upsides of this is that I've seen a lot more Treecreepers than usual. A Blue Tit kept chasing this one away just as I was about to photograph it.

There are now several Little Ringed Plovers on the reserve. Getting photos from Tyler hide is, as ever, a challenge.

While I was photographing the LRP, a Lapwing came sprinting past, and jumped on the back of another Lapwing to share a passionate moment, right in front of a rather startled Moorhen.

I went up towards Willow Hide after that, and found a showy (though very high up) Chiffchaff - one of at least a dozen singing males on the reserve.

I counted four singing Blackcaps too, though this was the only one I actually saw. Very nice to hear that lovely song again. It doesn't make up for the fact that we seem to have lost Cetti's Warbler from the reserve, probably because of the harsh winter - hopefully they will return sometime.

A Goldfinch, risking horrible puncture wounds as it feeds from a Teasel. This could be the same bird I watched singing from the nearby densely ivy-clad tree the other day, or its mate.

Heading back, I received a stern telling-off from this Great Tit. Presumably I was close to its nest.

I went back via the small lake and noticed that the Grey Herons are again nesting on the island (which isn't really an island, just a row of trees growing out of the shallow water). I also just managed a couple of shots of this male Sparrowhawk before he wheeled out of view behind the trees.

Back in the wildlife garden, I was packing away my things when it dawned on me that the small bare tree in front of me was a different shape than usual. The strange protrusion on the trunk was in fact a Green Woodpecker, which posed and yaffled for a minute before bounding away.

On the walk home I saw a male Brimstone, only my second butterfly of the year (the first being a Peacock in Pembury last Wednesday).