Reculver & Swalecliffe 09/01/23

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A blustery day though dry with sunny intervals.

Starting at Reculver I first checked around the perimeter of the caravan park where a fair number of Chaffinch were nice to see.

Then along the seawall the reported flock of Snow Bunting had increased by one to eight, though the birds were very flighty, not settling for long in any particular spot on the beach.  They ranged from 0.5-1 mile east of the towers. One or two pairs of Stonechat were typically showy though I couldn't find the Black Redstart near the towers that others had seen.

In the afternoon at Swalecliffe I was keen to try again to photograph Pallas's Warbler though the bird had not been reported that day. However, 30 minutes after arrival there was a major distraction when a nearby birder pointed out a woodpecker in the upper branches of a dead tree, albeit about 100 yards away. The bird was very small with white barring on the back, key features of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Unfortunately it didn't hang around and after a minute or so flew south over the nearby housing estate.

Returning to look for Pallas's the bird was fortunately then found in the same clump of brambles as last week, and proceeded to show in nearby bushes for the next ten minutes. Still no photographic opportunities but great to see it again. Also there was one Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrest.

Reculver



Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat



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