July 13th

It was cooler and overcast this morning as we walked at Reculver and recorded 14 Sand Martins, 36 Coot, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Lapwing, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Ravens, 4 Pied Wagtails, 12 Linnets, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Gadwall, 15 Mallard, 3 Shoveler and 1 Kestrel.

 July 12th

There was a pleasant easterly breeze blowing this morning as we had walked at Reculver. Birds we saw included 8 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 14 Sand Martins, 22 Mallard, 3 Lapwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, 20 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Black-tailed Godwit (169th), 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Egret and 6 Mediterranean Gulls flying E.

Black-tailed Godwit

 July 11th

We spent a warm morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 40 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Crossbills flying W, 12 Sedge Warblers, 30 Reed Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Mediterranean Gulls drifting E, 1 Siskin and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 61: Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Reed Warbler 21, Whitethroat 6, Cetti's Warbler 6, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 2, Blackcap 2, Reed Bunting 4, Robin 2, Sedge Warbler 10, Goldfinch 2, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

 July 10th

On another hot morning we walked along the seawall at Reculver and recorded 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Oystercatchers, 18 Sand Matins, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Stonechats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Ringed Plovers, 28 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 4 Linnets, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets and 4 Swallows W.

Derek Smith was out at 0500 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and on to Coldharbour. He counted 6 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 81 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Firecrest singing at Shuart.

 July 9th

We spent a sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 18 Blackcaps, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 17 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Chiffchaffs, 18 Whitethroats, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Sand Martins, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Whimbrel W, 2 Red Kites W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Crossbills NW and 1 Greenfinch.

Birds ringed 78: Wren 3, Long-tailed Tits 1, Chiffchaff 12, Linnet 6, Whitethroat 10, Reed Bunting 1, Goldfinch 6, Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 3, Robin 4, Chaffinch 1, Cetti's Warbler 4, Great Tit 3, Blue Tit 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 15, Dunnock 5. 

 July 8th

There was still a chilly NW breeze blowing this morning as we walked at Reculver and saw 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Cormorants, 4 Goldfinches, 29 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swans, 10 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Whimbrel W.

 July 7th

On a cooler morning with a fresh northerly wind blowing in occasional drizzle we spent and hour at Reculver. All we counted was 14 Black-headed Gulls, 37 Herring Gulls, 16 Gannets E, 16 Mediterranean Gulls E, 7 Cormorants, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls and 1 Curlew. 

Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 27 Gannets E, 28 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Stonechat, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Little Egrets, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Redshank, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 1 Hobby and 1 Swift. 

July 6th

As the overnight rain cleared away to the east at 0800 we had a walk along the seawall at Reculver. We saw 19 Mediterranean Gulls mainly flying E, 2 Pied Wagtails, 19 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 1 Sedge Warbler, Grey Heron and 1 Blackcap.

Wall Brown on the Roman Wall

 

The Duke of Argyll's Tea Plant

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. He counted 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 71 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 1 Gannet, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Swifts and 1 Common Buzzard. 

 July 5th

It was cloudy this morning on our walk at Reculver where we recorded 2 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail, 6 Little Egrets, 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Mute Swans, 16 Coot, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron and 13 Mallard. 

This afternoon Dave Smith counted 30 Swifts moving W at Reculver.

July 4th

This morning we walked inland at Reculver and counted 4 Reed Warblers, 6 Mute Swans, 25 Jackdaw, 27 Mallard, 4 Little Grebes, 16 Coot, 4 Tufted Duck, 9 Sand Martins, 4 Blackcap, 15 Linnets, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Grey Herons, 7 Little Egrets, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Tern, 1 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

 July 3rd

On a sunny morning with a cool northerly breeze blowing we had a walk along the seawall from Reculver. We recorded 6 Golfinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Linnets, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Cormorants and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Herring Gull family

 July 2nd

After yesterday's very hot temperature of 32.2℃ this morning was much cooler as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He counted 200 Starlings, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 18 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern, 5 Swifts, 1 Grey Heron, 1 male Pochard and 1 Hobby.

Migrant Hawker

 July 1st

It was very hot as we walked at Reculver this morning and recorded 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Mute Swans, 11 Greylag Geese, 4 Little Egret, 28 Mallard,  1 Corn Bunting, 2 Whitethroats, 32 Coot, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Sand Martins, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 40 Jackdaws.

Pyramidal Orchids at Chamber's Wall

June 30th

On what is threatened to be the hottest day of the year so far, with the temperature over 30℃, we were out early and walked inland at Reculver. We saw 2 Kestrels, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Greylag Geese, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Lapwings, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Grebes, 14 Sand Martins, 24 Coot, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Shelduck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Ravens, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 40 Jackdaws and 11 Mallard.

Derek was also out very early and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back. He counted 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Egrets, 4 adult Mute Swans on the sea, 26 Mediterranean Gulls E, 44 Black-headed Gulls E, 7 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Redshank, 2 Curlew W, 9 Swifts E, 1 Stonechat and 3 Whitethroats.

June 29th

On a hot and sunny morning we ringed at Shaurt where we saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Tern, 20 Whitethroats, 12 Linnets, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Swallows, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Crossbill flying W and calling (168th), 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Birds ringed 28: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 12, Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 3, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Linnet 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2.

During the morning Marc Heath found 7 Ringlet butterflies on the cliffs below the Bishopstone Lane Car Park. This is the first time this species had been noted in the recording area.

Ringlet - Marc Heath