Monday 31 August 2020

 August 31st

It certainly felt autumnal this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and railway embankment. We saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Mute Swans, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Buntings, 18 Swallows feeding over the fields, 4 Goldfinches, 31 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 5 Corn Buntings, 3 Redshank, 1 Pied Wagtail, 27 Mallard, 9 Oystercatchers, 12 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plovers, 24 Sanderling, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W and 56 Golden Plovers.

The White Poplars

Corn Bunting

During the afternoon Dave Smith found 3 Whinchats and 1 Clouded Yellow south of the Towers.

Sunday 30 August 2020

 August 30th

With the gale force north wind still blowing Anne and I decided to have a walk along the seawall from Reculver. The first bird we saw was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua flying W quite close to the car park together with 4 Arctic Skuas for comparison. Other birds we saw during our battering from the wind were 13 Arctic Skuas, 1 Great Skua, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Gannets, 1 Curlew, 6 Dunlin W, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Guillemot W, 1 Teal, 3 Knot W and 7 WigeonW.

During their seawatch at the Towers between 0715 and 0945 Alex and Julian Perry recorded 33 Wigeon, 25 Common Scoter, 16 Teal, 23 Gannets, 1 Sooty Shearwater E, 2 Fulmars, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Kittiwakes, 25 Knot W, 27 Arctic Skuas W, 2 Long-tailed Skuas W, 21 Great Skuas W,  and 1 Guillemot W.

Marc Heath was at Minnis Bay between 0630 and 1000 and recorded 38 Arctic Skuas, 25 Sandwich Terns, 19 Great Skuas, 1 Common Tern, 17 Wigeon, 1 Sooty Shearwater E (182nd), 45 Gannets E, 1 Kittiwake, 11 Oystercatchers, 12 Common Scoter and 1 Fulmar.

Chris Tedder also saw 6 Pintail (183rd).

Saturday 29 August 2020

 August 29th

We arrived at the Towers at 0530 in heavy drizzle which luckily cleared away soon on the strong northerly wind. We had an excellent five hour seawatch with nine other birders and counted birds mostly flying west but with some returning back east later in the morning. Birds we saw included 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Oystercatchers, 41 Arctic Skuas, 54 Sandwich Terns, 29 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns (176th), 21 Kittiwakes, 13 Common Scoter, 113 Gannets, 31 Great Skuas, 1 Grey Plover, 58 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Balearic Shearwaters (177th), 5 Teal, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 1W and 2E, (178th), 13 Fulmars, 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas (179th), 1 large auk E, 29 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling, 1 Black Tern and 1 Little Tern.


Arctic Skuas

After Matt and I had left Marc Heath stayed there until midday and added another 11 Great Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 8 Teal, 1 Fulmar, 7 Gannets and 4 summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits flying W (180th).

In the afternoon Chris Tedder saw 1 Ruff (181st) at Coldharbour.

Ruff - Chris Tedder


Friday 28 August 2020

 August 28th

After an early morning shower the morning was dry with sunny periods as we ringed near Reculver. Birds we saw included 1 Hobby, 1 Sand Martin 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Jays, 16 Blackcaps, 10 Reed Warblers, 70 Cormorants flying N, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Tree Pipits flying W, 3 Swallows, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow Wagtail,1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Whimbrel W.

Birds ringed 35: Long-tailed Tit 1, Willow Warbler 2, Wren 2, Blackcap 12, Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 1, Whitethroat 2, Robin 2, Garden Warbler 1, Dunnock 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 1.

A migrant Robin

During the day Chris Tedder found and photographed a Shag at Coldharbour.

Shag - Chris Tedder


Thursday 27 August 2020

 August 27th

The morning began cloudy but the sun soon came out as we completed a ringing session on the Marsh south of the railway. Birds we saw included 1 Tree Pipit flying W, 59 Golden Plover, 1 Dotterel flying W and calling, 19 Ringed Plover flying SW, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Curlew, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Mallard, 1 male Peregrine, 25 Reed Warblers, 16 Sedge Warblers, 2 Dunlin and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 44: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 19, Sedge Warbler 12, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Whitethroat 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackbird 1.

First year Sedge Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

While we were ringing Marc Heath was out between 0600 and 0900 walking from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. He counted 2 Grey Herons, 9 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Redshank, 13 Turnstone, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Whimbrel, 6 Sandwich Terns, 8 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plovers, 21 Mallard, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Corn Buntings, 4 Reed Buntings, 56 Sanderling, 8 Linnets, 2 Pheasants, 3 Curlew, 51 Golden Plovers, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Kingfisher and 1 juvenile Shag.

Matt and Marion were out in the rain this afternoon and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 18 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Whimbrel flying W, 6 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plovers, 13 Sanderling, 1 Spotted Redshank (175th) on beach then flying W calling, 4 Swift flying E and 3 Black Terns flying W.

Wednesday 26 August 2020

 August 26th

On another blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall, along the raiway embankment and back via the Green Wall and Coldharbour. We saw 1 Grey Partridge, 7 Swallows, 6 Little Egrets, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Coot, 6 Goldfinches, 41 Linnets, 18 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Mallard, 22 Common Terns, 6 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Osprey flying in off the sea at Coldharbour before flying south towards the Stour Valley and 1 Kestrel.

Marc Heath and Chris Tedder watched from the Towers between 0630 and 1015 and counted 2 Arctic Skuas W, 8 Common Scoter E, 33 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Shoveler W, 1 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 98 Oystercatchers, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 13 "Commic" Terns E, 1 Osprey in off the sea at Coldharbour flying S and 3 Common Terns.

Tuesday 25 August 2020

 August 25th

The morning was a washout with heavy showers and a gale force south westerly wind blowing so we didn't venture out until after lunch. We visited Minnis Bay where we had a seawatch from 1400 to 1630 and counted the following birds mainly flying west: 12 Sandwich Terns, 42 Common Scoter, 61 Grey Plovers, 163 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Little Egret, 32 Common Terns, 25 Sanderling, 127 Ringed Plovers, 23 Turnstone, 19 Whimbrel, 1 Arctic Skua flying E, 70 Oystercatchers, 303 Knot, 4 Black Terns (173rd), 4 Redshank and 1 immature Little Gull (174th).

Monday 24 August 2020

 August 24th

We spent this morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Snipe flying W, 6 Willow Warblers, 16 Sedge Warblers, 40 Reed Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Hobbies, 2 Whinchats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Jay, 4 Whitethroats, 17 Swallows, 2 Mallard, 14 Goldfinches and 24 Linnets.

Birds ringed 51: Willow Warbler 5, Blackcap 1, Reed Warbler 22, Sedge Warbler 12, Goldfinch 4, Reed Bunting 1, Whinchat 2, Whitethroat 3, Dunnock 1.

First year Whinchat


Sunday 23 August 2020

 August 23rd

We spent a breezy morning ringing at our more sheltered site at Reculver and saw 2 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 12 Whitetroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Birds ringed 26: Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap 7, Whitethroat 7, Garden Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Reed Warbler 2, Goldfinch 1, Robin 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1.

Garden Warbler


This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and sat on the beach for a couple of hours. We counted 6 Yellow Wagtails, 57 Sandwich Terns, 3 Dunlin, 45 Sanderling, 75 Ringed Plovers, 16 Turnstone, 18 Knot W, 2 Gannets W, 48 Swallows W, 120 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Wheatear, 3 Common Terns, 14 Whimbrel W and 2 Cetti's Warblers.




Little Tern

Juvenile Turnstone


Saturday 22 August 2020

 August 22nd

The gale force southerly wind of yesterday had moderated overnight but the remaining brisk south west wind was blowing frequent showers along the Channel just south of us.. We walked from Chamber's Wall along the Green Wall and back via Coldharbour and managed to keep dry. We counted 23 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Goldfinches, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Golden Plover, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Corn Buntings, 6 Reed Buntings, 2 Sedge Warblers, 6 Meadow Pipits, 5 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Coot and 1 Grey Heron.

A heavy shower moving along the Channel


Friday 21 August 2020

 August 21st

On a thoroughly unpleasant morning with a southerly gale blowing, viewing conditions were difficult and we didn't see a great deal. Matt walked in from Shuart and we walked in from Chamber's Wall and between us we recorded 10 Swallows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Meadow Pipits, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 9 Knot flying W, 2 Stonechats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Thursday 20 August 2020

 August 20th

We spent the morning ringing at an increasingly warm and windy Reculver. A lot of the warblers appeared to have moved on but we did see 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 24 Sand Martins, 1 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Swift, 6 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 13: Great Tit 1, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 5, Robin 1.

Wednesday 19 August 2020

 August 19th

This morning we went ringing at Shuart before the threatened rain and gusty winds arrived. We counted 50 Lapwings, 25 Swallows, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Red-legged Partridges, 105 Goldfinches, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 18 Whitethroats, 2 Turtle Doves flying over, 25 Greenfinches, 4 Grey Herons, 16 Cormorants flying S, 60 Reed Warblers, 16 Sedge Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Mallard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 15 Linnets, 3 Kestrels, 3 Common Buzzards and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 93: Willow Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 39, Sedge Warbler 12, Whitethroat 12, Cetti's Warbler 2, Blackcap 4, Reed Bunting 6, Blue Tit 1, Goldfinch 5, Dunnock 2, Greenfinch 6, Blackbird 1.

Goldfinches feeding on Chicory seeds


Tuesday 18 August 2020

 August 18th

On a breezy morning we had a good ringing session at Reculver where the highlight was having a Dotterel (172nd) flying E and calling repeatedly. Other birds we saw included 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Reed Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 23 Sand Martins, 8 Whimbrel flying NW, 12 Swallows, 1 Snipe flying NW, 2 Stonechats, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Birds ringed 35: Long-tailed Tit 6, Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 5, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 6, Blackbird 2.

Lesser Whitethroat


Monday 17 August 2020

 August 17th

It was sunny and a bit cooler this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 8 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 52 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 13 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrels, 31 Swallows, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Coot, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 41 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 1 juvenile Knot, 18 Turnstone, 1 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Wheatear, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Whinchat.

Juvenile Goldfinch


Sunday 16 August 2020

August 16th

On another humid and overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 32 Mallard, 33 Linnets, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 9 Swallows, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 13 Turnstone, 33 Ringed Plovers, 62 Sanderling, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Buzzard, 18 Gannets E, 9 Common Scoter W, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, 16 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 3 Whinchats.

Whinchat

 

Derek Smith visited Shuart this morning but found it very quiet except for a Pied Flycatcher.

 

Pied Flycatcher - Derek Smith


Saturday 15 August 2020

 August 15th

On an overcast and humid morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour avoiding any rain yet again. We saw 21 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Wheatear, 12 Cormorants, 31 Swallows W, 5 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Whitethroats, 17 Ringed Plovers, 8 Golden Plovers, 3 Gannets, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 juvenile Knot feeding in Coldharbour lagoon, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Turnstone and 6 Sand Martins.



Juvenile Knot

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0600 and 0930 and walked from Shuart, along the embankment to Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour before returning via Plumpudding. He counted 3 Little Egrets, 6 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Pied Flycatchers on the embankment east of the Chamber's Wall crossing. He also saw 2 Yellow Wagtails, 34 Reed Warblers, 28 Sedge Warblers, 36 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Chiffchaff.

Friday 14 August 2020

 August 14th

On an overcast and cooler morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wansum outflow and recorded 4 Reed Warblers, 8 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Coot, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Redshank, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Sandwich Terns, 70 Ringed Plovers, 10 Turnstone, 24 Sanderling, 6 Oystecatchers, 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpipers, 1 Golden Plover, 5 Mute Swan, 1 Raven calling repeatedly and flying W along the railway embankment, 2 Sedge Warblers, 12 Goldfinches and 1 Green Woodpecker.

As we were walking back Anne found a dead Water Shrew on the path below the seawall. There seems to be a decent population of these attractive animals in the Wantsum area. Although we have only seen live shrews once or twice we regularly find dead ones on the path between Chamber's Wall crossing and Coldharbour.

Water Shrew
 

Thursday 13 August 2020

 August 13th

We had considered having another ringing sesson at Reculver this morning but when we woke up the weather looked too threatening so Anne and I went for an early morning walk instead. Between Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour we counted 5 Goldfinches, 16 Linnets, 1 Pied Flycatcher in bushes by the crossing, 3 Swallows, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Golden Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Coot, 8 Redshank, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Reed Warblers, 11 Mallard, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 72 Ringed Plovers, 26 Sanderling, 2 Teal, 18 Turnstone, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Sandwich Terns, 6 Gannets W, 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Whitethroats and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Ringed Plover at Coldharbour


Wednesday 12 August 2020

 August 12th

We spent another morning ringing on the Marshes, this time south of the railway. We saw 1 Greenshank flying W, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Willow Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Whitethroats, 8 Reed Buntings, 1 female Common Redstart, 11 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 34: Willow Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 13, Sedge Warbler 4, Reed Bunting 2, Whitethroat 11, Robin1 , Dunnock 1.

This afternoon Matt and Marion walked to Coldharbour and saw a pale phase Arctic Skua flying W (171st),  3 Stonechats, 1 adult male and 2 juveniles, 1 Whinchat, 4 Whitethroats, 20 Swallows, 40 Ringed Plovers, 28 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 1 Gannet flying E, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Grey Herons in high off the sea from the NE.

Tuesday 11 August 2020

 August 11th

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where luckily the thundery rain held off until we arrived home. Birds we saw included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzards, 50 Reed Warblers, 60 Sedge Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Corn Bunting, 10 Goldfinches and 2 Willow Warblers.

Birds ringed 99: Wren 1, Willow Warbler 1, Whitethroat 6, Reed Warbler 28, Sedge Warbler 41, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 2, Blackcap 7, Cetti's Warbler 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 3, Blackbird 5.


Grasshopper Warbler


Monday 10 August 2020

 August 10th

We spent a warm and sunny morning, with a pleasant cooling northerly breeze blowing, ringing at Reculver. We had a very good morning and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Lapwings flying W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Green Sandpipers flying W, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Bullfinches, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Greenshank flying W, 45 Reed Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 20 Sand Martins, 15 Whitethroats, 17 Swallow, 2 Pied Flycatchers (170th), 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Common Buzzards. We also saw 1 Brown Hawker.

Birds ringed 62: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 2, Reed Warbler 24, Cetti's Warbler 4, Whitethroat 8, Blackcap 7, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 2, Robin 1, Pied Flycatcher 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 5, Woodpigeon 1.

 

First year Pied Flycatcher

Migrant Robin


This evening Matt and Marion walked out from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where they sat on the beach. Birds they counted included 50 Sanderling, 20 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 6 Sandwich Terns,  3 Gannets E, 3 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Scoter E, 3  Common Sandpipers, 1 juvenile Kittiwake E, 1 Common Tern E, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Gull E, 50 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Flycatcher and 4 Whitethroats. 4



Sunday 9 August 2020

 August 9th

On a surprisingly humid morning there was quite a northerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall up to the Oyster Farm. We saw 3 Reed Warblers, 21 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 14 Little Egrets, 14 Redshank, 1 Mallard, 1 Wood Sandpiper flying over Coldharbour calling and then inland, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 16 Turnsone, 13 Ringed Plovers, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Sandwich Terns flying E, 1 Gannet flying E, 1 Mediterranean Gull flying E, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 1 juvenile Kittiwake flying E, 1 Grey Heron, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Swallows and 4 Mute Swans.

Woodpigeon collecting nesting material


Saturday 8 August 2020

 August 8th

We were out early again to avoid the hot temperatures and humidity. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 12 Swallows, 24 Goldfinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Mute Swans, 8 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 21 Linnets, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Sandwich Terns, 24 Mallard, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Whimbrel, 13 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 29 Ringed Plovers, 10 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Kestrel with a vole


Friday 7 August 2020

 August 7th

We arrived at Chamber's Wall early this morning in order to avoid the very hot weather that had been forecast. It was, however, still very warm as we walked up to the Wantsum outflow where the tide was on the way out. Birds we saw included 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 24 Reed Warblers, 8 Mute Swans, 11 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Whitethroats, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Reed Buntings, 8 Little Egrets, 4 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatchers, 10 Skylarks, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 5 Golden Plover, 11 Goldfinches, 1 Corn Bunting and 1 Gadwall.  

We also found a Clouded Yellow at Coldharbour.

Clouded Yellow
 

Thursday 6 August 2020

August 6th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 2 Common Sandpipers, 28 Linnets, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 12 Redshank, 13 Little Egrets, 12 Cormorants, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Stonechats, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Swallows W, 1 Whimbrel W, 1 adult Hobby and 1 Turnstone.

Little Egret

Reculver seawall

Wednesday 5 August 2020

August 5th
On a sunny but breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where the tide was out and on to the Oyster Farm lagoons. We counted 4 Willow Warblers, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches, 18 Linnets, 2 Mute Swans, 6 House Martins, 7 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sedge Warblers, 9 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Buzzard, the first 15 Golden Plover of the autumn, 1 Greenshank and 1 Coot.
This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding lagoon and counted 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Sandpiper, 21 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern, 220 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Whimbrel and 2 Whitethroats.

Tuesday 4 August 2020

August 4th
We spent another sunny morning ringing at Reculver this time on the Marsh south of the railway line. Birds we saw during the morning included 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Mallard, 6 Willow Warblers, 18 Whitethroats, 24 Sedge Warblers, 30 Reed Warblers, 9 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 73: Willow Warbler 6, Wren 3, Sedge Warbler 18, Reed Warbler 25, Whitethroat 14, Robin 1, Great Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1 , Reed Bunting 3, Dunnock 1.

Willow Warbler

Monday 3 August 2020

August 3rd
This morning we had an exellent ringing session at Shuart where the undoubted highlight was catching a first year Marsh Warbler (169th). This is an interesting identification problem in the autumn but we took a lot of measurements and all confirmed Matt's initial identificationt.


First year Marsh Warbler

During the morning we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 5 Willow Warblers, 32 Sedge Warblers, 45 Reed Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 20 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 6 Swallows.

Birds ringed 96: Willow Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 38, Sedge Warbler 24, Goldfinch 2, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 16, Cetti's Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Greenfinch 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

We also caught Reed Warbler that had been ringed at Iclesham, East Sussex on July 28th  and had flown 66km NE to reach Shuart.

Sunday 2 August 2020

August 2nd
We spent a sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Whimbrel W, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Sand Martins, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 16 Blackcaps, 20 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Goldfinches, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Chaffinches and 1 Garden Warbler.

Birds ringed 55: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Blackcap 13, Goldfinch 3, Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 1, Whitethroat 14, Cetti's Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 2, Robin 1, Chaffinch 3, Garden Warbler 1, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 1.

First year Lesser Whitethroat


This afternoon Marc Heath found a Southern Migrant Hawker along one of the dykes by the Oyster Farm lagoons.

Saturday 1 August 2020

August 1st
After yesterday's very hot weather today was more pleasant with warm sunshine and a cooling westerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We saw 18 Linnets, 3 Kestrels, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Fulmar, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flying W, 20 Ringed Plovers, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtaiils, 7 Swallows flying W, 17 Sanderling, 18 Turnstone, 6 Whimbrel flying W, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Chiffchaff.