September 2nd
We had intended to have a ringing session on the Marsh this morning but it was too breezy so we decided to go for a birdwatch instead. We arrived at Chamber's Wall at 0645 and walked up to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and railway embankment. We found an excellent array of species including 80 House Sparrows, 2 Kestrels, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Teal, 1 Wheatear, 31 Sandwich Terns, 73 Mallard, 2 Reed Warblers, 8 Redshank, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Golden Plover, 33 Common Terns, 6 Corn Buntings, 3 Oystercatchers, 15 Goldfinches, 5 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Little Terns, 1 adult Little Gull, 5 Common Scoter, 42 Ringed Plover, 1 Great Skua, 2 Turnstone, 1 adult Knot, 32 Carrion Crows, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greenshank, 1 Tree Pipit, 6 adult Great Black-backed Gulls flying W, 6 Blackcaps and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

First year Wheatear

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0600 and 1000 and covered the eastern end of the Marsh from Shuart, along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 20 Sandwich Terns, 14 Lapwings, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit E, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 7 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.