September 25th

The forecast gale force NW wind and showers arrived this morning and although it was very slow at times there were occasions when pulses of birds moved through. Between 0615 and 1810 the following were counted mainly flying west: 23 Great Skuas (20W 3E), 8 Common Terns, 2 Wigeon, 1 Mediterranean Gull flying E, 2 Pintail, 22 Sandwich Terns, 4 Gannets, 1 Shelduck, 26 Arctic Skuas, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Gull, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Snipe, 240 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Curlew, 79 Oystercatchers flying E, 1 Little Egret and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits.

September 23rd

On a showey morning with a moderate SW wind blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. As we arrived there was a surge of House Martins flying W and we counted 630 in half an hour. Other birds we saw included 2 Kestrels, 11 Chiffchaffs, 5 Robins, 5 Mute Swans, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Linnets, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Siskins S, 28 Swallows W, 57 Mallard, 3 Stonechats, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull E, 2 Oystercatchers, 10 Goldfinches, 3 Coot and 1 Golden Plover.

On our way home we dropped in at Reculver bushes which was very quiet with the only migrants being 2 Chiffchaffs.

Redshank

September 22nd

As well as being a beautiful early autumn morning it was also excellent for ringing and migration. We arrived at our ringing site at Reculver at 0600 and remained there until 1500. Birds we saw included 80 Chiffchaffs, 60 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 605 Siskins flying W, 4 Redpoll W, 6 Goldcrests, 3 Jays, 6 Robins, 7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers W, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wagtails W, 3 Sparrowhawks, 5 Common Buzzards, 1,450 Swallows W, 1,800 House Martins W, 3 Kestrels, 30 Meadow Pipits W, 40 Linnets, 3 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Grey Plover calling and flying over, 2 Coot, 8 Song Thrushes, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 first year Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 8 Mute Swans, 3 Moorhens and 1 Willow Warbler. 

Birds ringed 99: Chiffchaff 38, Goldcrest 2, Wren 3, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 45, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 4, Dunnock 2, Kingfisher 1, Song Thrush 1.

Moulting adult Kingfisher

September 21st

We had an excellent morning's ringing at Shuart where the highlight was catching and ringing a Yellow-browed Warbler (188th). Other birds we saw included 16 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 24 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 34 Siskins flying W, 2 Snipe, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Grey Wagtails, 10 Robins, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Jay, 20 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 8 Song Thrushes, 1 Ringed Plover flying over, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Yellowhammer, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Brambling, 1 Little Owl, 1 Stonechat and 2 Goldcrests.

Birds ringed 43: Chiffchaff 14, Wren 3, Willow Warbler 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 1, Goldcrest 1, Blackcap 13, Robin 4, Reed Warbler 1, Blue Tit 2, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1.

Yellow-browed Warbler

 

This afternoon Matt walked along the railway embankment from Chamber's Wall to Plumpudding and back along the seawall via Coldharbour. He counted 12 Robins, 26 Chiffchaffs, 37 Siskins flying W, 4 Common Buzzards, 4 Corn Buntings, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 50 Swallows, 7 Stonechats, 31 Lapwings, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin, 40 Turnstone, 27 alba Wagtails,  59 Sandwich Terns, 1 Merlin, 3 Curlew, 1 Barnacle Goose on the beach at Coldharbour, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Knot, 1 Avocet on the beach at Coldharbour, 110 Oystercatchers, 7 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Flycatcher and 1 Redstart.

 September 20th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 5 Jays, 18 Chiffchaffs, 18 Swallows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby hunting dragonflies, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Siskin W, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sand Martins and 1 first year male Redstart.

Birds ringed 23: Chiffchaff 9, Wren 1, Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 1, Chaffinch 2, Robin 1, Redstart 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 3.

First year male Redstart

 

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0715 and 1130 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment and back via Chamber's Wall and Plumpudding. He counted 14 Wigeon flying S, 3 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Sparrowhawks, 5 Kestrels, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtails S, 1 Whinchat, 1 Redstart, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Brambling (186th), 5 Siskin W, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 7 Reed Warblers, 78 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler and 67 Corn Buntings.

This evening Matt and Marion walked from Shuart to Brooksend and out to the coast before returning via Plumpudding. They saw 2 Pied Flycatchers, 1 Rock Pipit, 20 Teal,  1 Barnacle Goose (187th) on the beach at Minnis Bay before it flew E, 80 Sanderling, 50 Turnstone, 15 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 120 Swallows, 1 female Redstart and 6 Chiffchaffs.

September 19th

This morning Matt visited Reculver and then walked from Chamber's Wall out on to the Marsh. We met him on his way back at Coldharbour and between us recorded 8 Mute Swans, 24 Chiffchaffs, 8 Chaffinches, 4 Coot, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Corn Buntings, 3 Stonechats, 9 Reed Buntings, 1 Whinchat, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Rock Pipits, 8 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Herons, 14 Swallows, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 51 Mallard, 9 Sandwich Terns, 1 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 13 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Kestrel.

Male Chaffinch

September 18th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 78 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Chaffinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mute Swans, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Robins, 7 Goldfinches and 4 Golden Plovers. We also counted 114 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 6 Reed Buntings, 8 Redshank, 3 Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Wigeon, 4 Dunlin, 25 Sandwich Terns in one flock sitting on the mussel beds before flying out to sea, 6 Oystercatchers, 68 Ringed Plovers, 38 Turnstone, 31 Sanderling, 1 Coot and 1 Merlin.

Newly fledged juvenile Woodpigeon