July 2nd

This morning we completed the second count of our square TR2667 for the KOS Turtle Dove Survey. This square includes Shuart Lane and Shuart Farm but unfortuantely we did not see or hear any Turtle Doves. Birds we did record, however, included 2 Goldfinches, 7 Chaffinches, 1 Greenfinch, 17 Swallows, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Linnets, 4 Skylarks, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Moorhens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoos and 1 Song Thrush. We also saw our first Marbled White butterfly of the year.

On our way home we dropped in to Reculver and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

I counted a total of 72 Sand Martin holes in use at Bishopstone colony last month. Today a count of holes at the other part of the colony on the headland between Bishopstone and Reculver resulted in 110 holes in use. This makes a total of approximately 182 holes for 2021.