August 31st

Matt seawatched at the Towers from 0630 and we joined him a bit later. Highlight of the morning was an adult Sabine's Gull flying W past the Towers close inshore at 0710 (181st). Other birds we counted included 3 Arctic Skuas, 14 Common Terns, 23 Sandwich Terns, 66 Teal W, 31 Common Scoter, 7 Dunlin, 1 large auk E, 2 Curlew, 74 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 7 Gannets W and 11 Wigeon W. 

We moved on to Chamber's Wall at 0830 and walked up to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 26 Linnets, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Reed Warbler, 6 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Arctic Skuas flying W, 20 Sandwich Terns, 1 Curlew, 6 Common Terns, 1 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 3 Corn Buntings and 1 Kestrel.

Sandwich Tern on the beach at Coldharbour

August 30th

With the fresh northerly wind still blowing we spent three hours seawatching at Reculver from 0610. It was relatively slow but we did manage to count 1 Arctic Skua W, 16 Teal W, 35 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar, 14 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 69 Oystercatchers E, 10 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kittiwake W, 1 adult dark phase Pomarine Skua W (179th), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 4 Common Scoter, 10 Wigeon W, 1 Gannet E and 8 Redshank. Just after we left Richard Collins saw 2 Curlew Sandpipers flying E close inshore (180th). 

This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment and saw 160 Ringed Plovers, 20 Sanderling, 21 Sandwich Terns, 27 Dunlin, 60 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 56 Lapwings, 70 Mallard and 2 Teal.

Jersey Tiger at Hillborough - David Elliott

August 29th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we recorded 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Nightingale (178th), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobbies, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Bullfinch and 1 Long-tailed Tit.

Birds ringed 14: Willow Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 7, Blackcap 1, Nightingale 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1.

Nightingale

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0630 and 1030 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall. He recorded 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Whimbrel W, 3 Kestrels, 1 Snipe S, 1 Turtle Dove at Shuart Drove, 3 Yellow Wagtail E, 1 Common Redstart, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps and 1 Willow Warbler.

August 28th

On an unpleasant morning with a very fresh and cool northerly wind blowing in off the sea we walked from Chamber's all to Coldharbour and around the bushes but only managed to count 3 Whitethroats, 35 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 16 Goldfinches, 14 Swallows, 18 Mallard, 11 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Stonechat and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Male Linnet

August 27th

Although the wind had dropped significantly overnight it was still chilly and overcast as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back this morning. It was very quiet and all we recorded was 16 Dunlin, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Fulmar flying E, 1 Snipe, 17 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Turnstone, 10 Redshank, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Sanderling, 2 Oystercatchers and 6 Little Egrets.

August 26th

It was cooler and cloudy with a fresh northerly breeze blowing as we walked at Shuart and Netherhale this morning. Birds we saw included 8 Chaffinches, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 17 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 45 newly released Red-legged Partridges, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Linnets and 1 Ring-necked Parakeet.

August 25th

On a less windy morning we completed our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagooons. We counted 16 Swallows, 64 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 17 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin, 21 Linnets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kestrel.

August 24th

We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back around the Green Wall. The best bird of the morning was a female/immature Garganey (177th) that was disturbed from a pool out on the Marshes by a tractor together with 45 Mallard. Other birds we saw included 1 Wheatear, 17 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 18 Swallows, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Greenshank, 12 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Dunlin, 45 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 43 Goldfinches and 1 Willow Warbler.

Matt birded at Reculver this morning and saw 23 Sandwich Tern flying E, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Common Scoter E, 2 Common Terns W, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Sand Martins and 3 Whinchats.

This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and recorded 4 Wheatears, 1 Peregrine, 30 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling, 80 Ringed Plovers and 1 female Common Redstart.

August 23rd

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back, then seawatched at the Towers for half an hour before ending up looking at Reculver Bushes. We saw 2 Little Terns flying W then back E, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank, 1 Kestrel, 4 Swallows W, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Little Egrets, 12 Linnets, 12 Teal W, 21 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Wheatears, 1 Curlew and 3 Turnstone. 

At the Towers we counted 11 Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Scoter, 2 adult Arctic Skuas W (175th), and 4 Gannets. 

Reculver bushes produced 1 Pied Flycatcher (176th), 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Walll to Coldharbour and sat on the beach for an hour. We saw 1 female Common Redstart at Chamber's Wall, 25 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Scoter, 1 juvenile Kittiwake E, 2 Wheatears, 7 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Terns, 36 Turnstone, 10 Golden Plover and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

August 22nd

We were woken at 0500 by a violent thunder storm and torrential rain with 33mm falling in the next two hours. We eventually left home at 0815 when the risk of lightning had diminished and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Our walk didn't live up to expectations but we did see 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Kestrels, 4 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 9 Redshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 12 Dunlin, 12 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 300 Black-headed Gulls at Coldharbour, 2 Coot, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Turnstone and 1 Golden Plover.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour via Plumpudding and recorded 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 400 House Sparrows, 2 Sparrowhawks, 37 Sandwich Terns, 16 Common Terns, 1 Ruff, 14 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Curlew, 24 Whimbrel, 6 Sanderling, 45 Turnstone, 80 Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlin, 11 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Wheatears, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Gannets, 17 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 80 Oystercatchers, 55 Common Scoter, 1 Hobby, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Ruff - Matt Hindle

Common Sandpiper - Matt Hindle

Sandwich Tern - Matt Hindle

 

August 21st

This morning was spent ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Moorhens, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Shoveler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Jays.

Birds ringed 27: Willow Warbler 1, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 10, Sedge Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 4, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackbird 2.

First year Lesser Whitethroat

August 20th

We spent another morning ringing at Shuart where it appeared the majority of yesterday's birds had moved on overnight. We saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Whitethroats, 10 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Ravens, 14 Swallows, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 150 Black-headed Gulls flying SW.

 Birds ringed 26: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 2, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 6, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackbird 2.

This evening Matt and Marion walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 12 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatears, 1 female Mallard with 8 very small ducklings and 8 Yellow Wagtails.

August 19th

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 30 Swallows, 12 Whitethroats, 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Greenfinches, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Hobby, 40 Goldfinches, 16 Sedge Warblers, 35 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Ringed Plover flying over, 2 Ravens, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Jay, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 93: Wren 3, Willow Warbler 4, Cetti's Warbler 4, Blackcap 2, Reed Warbler 30, Blue Tit 3, Goldfinch 15, Whitethroat 8, Sedge Warbler 19, Garden Warbler 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1, Blackbird 1. We also controlled a French ringed Reed Warbler.

Grasshopper Warbler

August 18th

Although the morning began quietly, the north westerly breeze brought in drizzle and showers and a few birds so we ended up seeing a good variety of species. We met Matt at Chamber's Wall and then walked up to Coldharbour before making our way along the seawall to Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we counted included 2 Kestrels, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Willow Warbler, 66 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 4 Stonechats, 2 Golden Plovers W and 2 Ruff, a male flying SW and a juvenile female that spent twenty minutes in Coldharbour with the Redshank (174th). We also recorded 6 Little Egrets, 17 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpipers, 24 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Sandwich Terns, 25 Oystercatchers, 49 Mallard, 7 Turnstone, 11 Common Terns W, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling, 2 Gannets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wheatears, 1 Great Skua W,  3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Swifts and 2 Whinchats.

Dunlin

August 17th

It was cool again as we spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Jay, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Hobby, 4 Moorhens, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Greenshank flying W and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 19: Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Reed Warbler 7, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1

Moorhens