September 6th - A New Species for Reculver

Matt was out early this morning and his highlight was finding a new species for Reculver Marshes - a LITTLE BUNTING. This is the 310th species for the area and the 179th for the year. He found it at 0810 by the Green Wall, seeing it well and hearing it call repeatedly from an elderberry bush before it flew north for fifty metres and dropped into bushes. He could not re-find it, but after lunch we went back with him and he found it again at 1255 calling from the top of a willow tree before flying back to where he originally found it. 

Other birds he saw included 10 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Mallard, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Tree Sparrow W (178th), 1 Snipe, 1 Pied Flycatcher at Coldharbour, 4 Sandwich Terns, 7 Redshank, 9 Shoveler, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 5 Kestrels, 1 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Gadwall, 3 Lapwings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Gannets and 8 House Martins. He also good numbers of Red Admirals.

It was overcast and murky as Anne and I walked inland at Reculver this morning and saw 20 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow, 42 Mallard, 4 Common Sandpipers, 8 Gadwall, 53 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler,  6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Common Tern W and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W.

 

Dave Smith was birding as well this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and on to the Green Wall. He recorded 7 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 6 Coot, 63 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone,  3 Sandwich Terns, 10 Gannets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels,  Reed Warblers, 28 Swallows, 3 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Meadow Pipits and 1 Tree Pipit flying over.

 

Later this afternoon Matt also saw 1 Curlew, 6 Sandwich Terns, 12 Gannets, 1 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 1 Wheatear, 1 Guillemot, 30 Swallows, 5 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 female Common Redstart, 1 Greenshank, 2 Tree Pipits and 1 Water Rail.