September 2nd

On a sunny morning we walked along the sea wall and then looked at Reculver bushes on our return. We saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Redshank, 10 Swallows W, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 62 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Stonechats, 6 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Chiffchaffs.

This afternoon Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Swift flying in off the sea, 2 Little Egrets, 160 Common Terns, 16 Sandwich Terns, 7 Gannets E, 1 Common Gull, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 500 Black-headed Gulls.

 September 1st

On a breezy and sunny morning we had a walk at Reculver and counted 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 juvenile Sparrowhawk, 1 Greenshank, 90 Coot, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Little Grebes, 3 Common Sandpipers, 18 Gadwall, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Tufted Duck, 46 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Teal, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swallow and 1 Grey Heron.

This afternoon after a particularly squally shower we spent 45 minutes at Reculver where we saw five groups of Common Terns, totalling 324 birds, battling their way west against the wind. We also saw Sandwich Terns and 1 Shag (180th).

Brendan Ryan visited the area this morning arriving at Shuart at 0545 and walking to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall. He counted 5 Mute Swans, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 24 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 13 Coot, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 60 Lapwings, 1 Redshank, 130 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Little Grebes, 9 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 15 Carrion Crows, 30 Blue Tits, 1 Sand Martin, 32 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 8 Chiffchaffs, 11 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Firecrests, 5 Robins, 3 Wheatears, 7 Grey Wagtails, including a group of 5 flying W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinches, 22 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Corn Bunting and 5 Reed Buntings.

Wheatear - Brendan Ryan

 August 31st

This morning we walked along the seawall to the Wantsum outflow and saw 1 Wheatear, 4 Little Egret, 12 Sandwich Terns, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Mallard, 4 Teal, 4 Grey Herons, 9 Meadow Pipits, 37 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 21 Ringed Plovers, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Common Tern, 1 Marsh Harrier, 74 Golden Plovers, 2 Redshank, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Chiffchaff.

August 30th

We spent a sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 4 Ravens, 1 Firecrest, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Common Buzzards,  3 Reed Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whinchat, 6 Swallows W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 39: Long-tailed Tit 13, Blackcap 8, Whitethroat 7, Reed Warbler 3, Robin 1, Blue Tit 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 1.

 August 29th

This morning there was a fresh southerly wind driving in heavy showers so we decided to spent three hours seawatching at Reculver. We counted 2 Whimbrel flying E, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Swallows, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Swift flying in off the sea and spending an hour in the rain feeding around the Towers, 1 Peregrine, 17 Cormorants, 6 Oystercatchers, 13 Sandwich Terns, 89 Common Terns W, 1 Greenshank E, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Arctic Skua W, 1 Gannet E and 1 Wheatear in off the sea.

Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back and recorded 285 Common Terns W, 6 Black Terns W (179th), 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Wood Sandpiper in off the sea, 11 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Greenshank, 19 Oystercatchers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Whitethroats, 101 Mallard, 4 Syonechats, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Ringed Plovers, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit E, 1 Turnstone, 5 Swallows, 60 Golden Plovers, 1 Arctic Skua W and 1 Gannet.

 August 28th

After some welcome overnight rain we spent the morning ring at Reculver where we counted 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 28 Gadwall, 15 Mallard, 8 Little Grebes, 8 Tufted Ducks, 92 Coot, 1 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine and 2 Grey Wagtails.

Birds ringed 25: Wren 5, Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 9, Reed Warbler 5, Garden Warbler 1.

Garden Warbler

 August 27th 

On a humid and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Grey Herons, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Swallow, 8 Linnets, 62 Golden Plovers, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 1 female Marsh Harrier and 1 Chiffchaff.

Part of the flock of 62 Golden Plovers on the fields near Coldharbour

 August 26th

Although it was warm this morning there was fresh westerly breeze blowing as we walked at Reculver. We counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 11 Gadwall, 65 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Little Grebes, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 84 Coot, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Kingfisher, 1 female Marsh Harriers flying W out at sea and 1 Swallow.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to the Green Wall and Coldharbour. He recorded 2 Grey Herons, 2 Whinchats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Swallows, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 3 Kestrels, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Common Buzzards.

Whinchat - Matt Hindle

 August 25th

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Kestrels, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Mallard, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Hobby hunting dragonflies, 2 Jays and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Birds ringed 48: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 16, Whitethroat 9, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Reed Warbler 9, Goldfinch 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Dunnock 1.

 August 24th

It was very quiet at Reculver this morning with nothing new to be seen. We recorded 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Goldfinches, 6 Mute Swans, 82 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 1 Whitethroat 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Little Grebes, 51 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Mandarin, 11 Gadwall, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Sand Martins and 1 Little Egret.

Painted Lady

 Derek Smith was also out at 0630 and walked from Shuart along the embankment a back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He counted 1 Shelduck, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Lapwings, 66 Golden Plover, 16 Turnstone, 2 Kestrels, 2 Hobbies, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Sandwich Terns, 40 Swallows, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Whitethroats, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 14 Chiffchaffs and 1 Firecrest.

Matt was out on the Marsh this afternoon and found a juvenile Purple Heron beside the River Wantsum near Chamber's Wall. 

 

 August 23rd

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we counted 4 Common Sandpipers, 82 Coot, 11 Little Grebes, 10 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 60 Mallard, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Buzzards, 42 Swallows, 2 Jays, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 House Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldfinches and 3 Sand Martins. We also found a Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Birds ringed 17: Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Goldfinch 2, Blue Tit 2, Reed Warbler 2, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Great Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

August 22nd 

At last the wind had dropped so we were able to spent the morning ringing at Shuart. We counted 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 14 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 24 Linnets, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Whinchat (178th), 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel and 1 Hobby.

Birds ringed 63: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Reed Warbler 16, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 7, Cetti's Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 11, Reed Bunting 3, Robin 1, Linnet 2, Whinchat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 4, Greenfinch 2, Blackbird 3.

First year Whinchat

 August 21st

Matt had a seawatch at Reculver from 0600 to 0930 and we joined him for an hour before we had a walk inland. Matt's final totals were 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Common Terns, 169 Sandwich Terns E, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern E (176th), 6 Arctic Skuas, 4W and 2 E, 43 Teal W, 2 Guillemots, 14 Gannets, 1 juvenile Little Gull W (177th), 2 Great Crested Grebes and 8 Common Sandpipers.

Anne and my walk inland produced 1 Song Thrush, 4 Common Sandpipers, 58 Coot, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Mandarin Ducks, 11 Little Grebes, 22 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

August  20th

We arrived at Reculver at 0730 where Matt had been seawatching since 0545 and we birded with him until 0945. Matt's final totals were 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Whimbrel, 51 Sandwich Terns, 28 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua E, 2 Kittiwakes, 14 Gannets, 1 Fulmar E, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E, 9 Common Terns, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Teal W, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Skua E (175th), 1 Peregrine, 1 Garganey flying E with 11 Common Scoter, 1 Little Egret and 1 juvenile Guillemot close in on the sea.

 August 19th

On another breezy morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Wheatear sitting on a barn roof, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Whitethroats, 26 Mallard, 82 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Little Grebes, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Swallows, 6 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 1 female Mandarin, 2 Jay, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 19 Common Scoter, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and 1 Mediterranean Gull E.