And to part 2 of 2020. Bird wise, it was probably more memorable
than the first six months with a few interesting birds turning up of which two
being "firsts" for Kent.
July was all about the two returning
"Yanks" to the Oare marsh reserve and I caught up with both of them
through the month, the rather smart looking Bonaparte's Gull, seen in its full summer refinery and a Lesser Yellowlegs that always remained distant
making it a little difficult with the camera.
Once again I was lucky enough to be able to photograph a young
Peregrine family along the coast and not too far from my home. Four youngsters
fledged and over a few visits I was able to get some photos as they showed off their aerial mastery. I also was able to get a few images of the parent
birds as they patrolled along the cliff face and right past my vantage point.
I
came across a pair of Jays with a small chick that had only just fledged the
nest whilst photographing the Peregrines.
The
young Peregrines make for a memorable experience both with watching and
photographing them as they learn the sufficient skills required to succeed in
the forthcoming months when they leave the safety of their nesting site.
August
was my quietest month of the year with hardly any trips out at all. I did
manage a few waders at Minnis Bay but that was all. Below, a Turnstone in
summer plumage, a Dunlin and a Ringed Plover.
September
was hugely better, departing Wheatears were in abundance along my local stretch of coastline, refuelling before their onward journey back to their wintering grounds.
A
showy Wryneck turned up at Swalecliffe, staying for a week and performed well
for the camera. It was nice to get a showy individual, they are normally quite
shy.
Another
two American waders were found at Worth, a pair of Pectoral Sandpipers which I
saw during September. They were always distant on one of the newly dug scrapes
on the RSPB reserve but I did manage a couple of record shots to mark the
occasion.
Returning
Waders were also plentiful during September and I visited Minnis Bay and
Reculver frequently during the month. There were several species of Wader
taking advantage of the flies attracted by the washed up sea weed that was
strewn along the beach from Minnis Bay to the lagoon at Cold harbour. Below, a
Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and a
Little Stint. September was probably the best month of the year for variety
with the camera.
October
was a month for Shrikes. The most memorable with the camera was an extremely showy
juvenile Red-backed Shrike that stayed a week around bushes and gorse on the
Northern perimeter of Littlestone golf course. I visited firstly on a grey
dreary morning and returned on a much better day weather wise later in the
week. The bird was an absolute star and must have liked the sound of the
shutter.
As
easy as the Red-backed Shrike was to photograph, the second Shrike of the
month, a juvenile Masked Shrike seen at Reculver, proved to be as difficult.
Although the bird mostly remained distant, the enormity of the sighting, a
first record for Kent and only a few miles from home, made this the bird for me
of 2020. I have seen them before in Cyprus, both youngsters and adults but
never thought I would have the privilege of seeing one on my doorstep. Dodgy images hugely cropped and
wrongly positioned but a record no less.
October was a month of quality over quantity.
November and when you can take photos whilst
working then it makes working just that bit easier. Visiting the concrete plant
at the Ramsgate harbour complex I have had some joy with a family of Foxes that
have a den behind the plant. Sometimes I can get very close to them as they
play on the sand piles.
I
was not expecting to get another 1st for Kent but that is exactly what happened
when a Crag Martin was found at Kingsdown. I missed the news on the first
afternoon it was seen but arrived in the dark the next morning and soon had
another tick for Kent in the bag. (U.K tick as well)
The
bird stayed a week but on most days it would commute about a dozen miles south
to Samphire Hoe to spend the day, returning to Kingsdown to roost each
afternoon. I saw the bird at Samphire Hoe as well, in much better conditions
than my previous encounters at Kingsdown.
December and the close to a year
that has been trying to say the least. A new lock down disguised under the term
of tier 4 was issued by our rather sorrowful government, so outings have been
curtailed somewhat. I have restricted my outings to local, mostly between
Reculver and Minnis Bay. A Black Redstart and Kestrel have been photographed by
the towers at Reculver during December
And
Snow Buntings have been seen and photographed on the beach close to the Wantsum
outflow at Cold harbour
Lastly,
one of the many Brent Geese seen between the towers and Minnis Bay.
That brings a close to 2020 with the
camera, a peculiar year where travel has been severely restricted but still managing a few images and two new Kent ticks was a nice result. Hopefully
next year will see a return to some sort of normality but I fear we have a way
to go yet. Anyway, here's to a better New Year and above all, stay safe.
Happy New Year.
