September 30th

On another beautiful morning, but with a gradually increasing SW wind, we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm. We had a good variety of species including 44 Chaffinches W, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 27 Skylarks W, 4 Goldcrests, 10 Chiffchaffs, 29 Golden Plovers, 2 Peregrines, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Greenfinch, 7 Lapwings, 2 Ravens, 1 Little Egret, 29 Goldfinches, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 27 Reed Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 26 House Martins W, 2 Teal, 4 Stonechats, 1 Snipe, 3 Sandwich Terns, 13 Swallows W, 9 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Wheatear, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 11 Linnets and 4 Bearded Tits, including two in a blackthorn bush.

Dave Smith spent an hour at Reculver and saw 1 Eider, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Warbler, 15 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 60 Starlings W, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Grey Wagtails W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 41 Meadow Pipits W, 14 Goldfinches and 1 Siskin W.

During the morning, Anthea Skiffington and Bob Dewire saw a Short-eared Owl at the Oyster Farm and several Sandwich Terns moving through.

We have just received the ringing information of a Blackcap we controlled at Reculver on September 28th. It had originally been ringed at Sandwich Bay on September 20th.