October 17th - A new species for Kent

It's not often you find a new bird for Kent and also Reculver, but that's what Derek Smith managed to do today when he found the UK's fifth MASKED SHRIKE in bushes at the end of Shuart drove. There is quite a story behind this bird because on the 15th October, Dave Smith met Peter Tyler who said he had found a very pale shrike at the end of Shuart drove but couldn't identify it. Both Dave and Derek Smith who were in the area tried to find the bird but with no luck, but this was obviously the same bird that Derek found today. Derek phoned the locals and sent them photos he had taken and after considering Woodchat Shrike he came to the conclusion it was a Masked Shrike and the news was circulated more widely. This is the 199th species for Reculver this year and 307th altogether.  

Juvenile Masked Shrike - Derek Smith

Juvenile Masked Shrike

 

Before we received Derek's call we were walking from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and had seen 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Chiffchaffs, 34 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Skylarks, 10 Goldcrests, 10 Redwings, 1 Brambling, 4 Mute Swans, 6 Goldfinches, 39 Mallard, 5 Robins, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Golden Plovers, 1 Teal, 6 Reed Buntings, 8 Swallows W, 2 Stonechats, 10 Meadow Pipits, 1 Oystercatchers, 13 Turnstone and 3 Redshank. We also saw a Redstart by the road near Brook Farm.

As usually happens when a rare bird is found, with an influx of birders into the area, a number of interesting sightings are made. Today Marc Heath refound the Pallas's Warbler at Reculver and Jim Bloor found another one at Chamber's Wall fishermans' car park. In addition Dusky Warblers (200th) were reported from Reculver and Chamber's Wall where another Yellow-browed Warbler was seen.

In addition, Stephen Message spotted a White-tailed Eagle (201st) flying over the sea off the Towers before it flew inland and was last seen over Manston. This is another new bird for Reculver bringing the total for the area to 308 species. It was considered that this birds was not from the Isle of Wight reintroduction scheme.

White-tailed Eagle at Reculver