May 31st

A very dry May ended warm and sunny as I completed my morning walk at Reculver. I counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 24 Sand Martins, 18 Tufted Duck, 22 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Little Grebes, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 10 Coot, 9 Greylag Geese, 2 Grey Partridges and 1 Jay.

Derek Smith was out this morning at 0545 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back by way of Brooksend. He saw 7 Little Egrets, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Lapwing, 4 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Swifts W, 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 1 male Stonechat with 3 young, 1 singing Firecrest and 3 Corn Buntings.

May 30th

On a cloudy and breezy morning I walked at Reculver and recorded 3 Blackcaps, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Cuckoos, 15 Reed Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 pairs of Little Grebes calling, 14 Mallard, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Coot, 14 Tufted Duck, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Gadwall, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Swallow.

Between 0530 and 0900 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour returning along the embankment. He counted 3 Canada Geese flying S, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Marsh Harriers, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Swifts W and 2 Stonechats with young. He also found our first Bee Orchid of the year at Shuart.

Bee Orchid - Derek Smith

May 28th

Matt was out early and walked along the seawall to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 2 Grey Herons, 4 Stonechats, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Terns, 25 Swifts flying W, 35 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Swallows, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Lapwing, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 House Martins, 212 Rooks, 23 Mallard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

As Matt had walked along the seawall I walked inland at Reculver and recorded 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Sand Martins, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 23 Coot, 18 Tufted Duck, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Reed Warblers,  1 Little Grebe, 1 Hobby, 2 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Grey Heron.

Adult Hobby resting in the sunshine and out of the wind

 May 27th

My walk this morning at a breezy Reculver produced 1 Cuckoo, 14 Sand Martins, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Mute Swans, 11 Goldfinches, 17 Mallard, 13 Reed Warblers, 12 Coot, 4 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Wagtails, 7 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Gadwall and 4 Sandwich Terns flying W. 

Male and female Tufted Ducks

Today I received information concerning two Reed Warblers that we ringed and were subsequently controlled by the East Kent Wildlife Group at Richborough a distance of 9 km from Reculver. One was a first year bird we ringed at one of our sites at Shuart on 12th September 2022 and was controlled at Richborough on 19th May 2025 and the next was ringed on Reculver Marshes south of the railway as a juvenile on 24th July 2024 and controlled at Richborough on 13th May 2025.

 May 26th

Dave Smith was out at Shuart this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. He counted 2 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Cuckoos, 105 Swifts flying W, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwings, 1 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 4 Common Terns, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sand Martins W, 21 House Martins W, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Shuart Drove (166th), 2 Stonechats and 4 Yellow Wagtails.

On another bright and breezy morning I walked inland at Reculver and saw 5 Blackcaps, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 20 Sand Martins, 24 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Gadwall, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroats, 18 Tufted Duck, 12 Coot, 7 Mute Swans, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Swallows flying W and 2 Swifts flying W.

May 25th

On a bright and breezy morning with showers passing by, I had and hour's walk at Reculver. I counted 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 15 Sand Martins, 12 Coot, 6 Whitethroats, 22 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Gadwall, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Great Crested Grebe on the sea. 

Male Orange Tip

 May 24th

On a very wet morning Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and saw 2 Gadwall, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Cuckoo, 17 Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 6 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 6 Little Egrets.

May 23rd

Matt spent a sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw 2 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Sedge Warblers and 8 Reed Warblers. 

Birds ringed 14: Wren 1, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 3, Cetti's Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 3.

On a warmer afternoon I walked at Reculver and saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 22 Sand Martins, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 13 Coot, 1 female Cuckoo calling, 2 Whitethroats, 7 Reed Warblers, 3 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Lapwings, 8 Greylag Geese and 1 Kestrel.

Male Shelduck

May 22nd

On a chilly and overcast afternoon I had a walk at Reculver where I saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 26 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Gadwall, 8 Goldfinches, 16 Sand Martins, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 female Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 9 Coot, 2 Blackcaps and 8 Mute Swans. 

 May 21st

This afternoon I had a walk at Reculver and counted 1 Whitethroat, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Buzzard, 40 Sand Martins, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 1 Corn Bunting, 18 Tufted Duck, 15 Coot, 24 Mallard, 2 Lapwings, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 female Shoveler with the male Mallard, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Little Grebe.

Coot chicks

May 20th

Matt spent the morning ringing at Reculver where he saw 3 Cuckoos, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Sandpipers, 40 Sand Martins, 8 Greylag Geese, 9 Tufted Duck, 28 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Coot, 3 Gadwall, 3 House Martins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 singing Firecrest, 5 Whitethroats, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Shelduck, 7 Lapwings, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 34: Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 8, Blackcap 5, Robin 2, Cetti's Warbler 3, Whitethroat 2, Great Tit 1, Reed Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 4, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

This afternoon I walked out onto the Marsh and counted 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 7 Mute Swans, 28 Sand Martins, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Mallard, 3 Lapwings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Skylarks, 17 Linnets, 9 Goldfinches and 15 Stock Doves.

Mute Swan family

May 19th

It was warm and sunny but with a chilly easterly breeze blowing as I had an hour's walk at Reculver this afternoon. I counted 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 26 Sand Martins, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 18 Tufted Duck, 8 Greylag Geese, 26 Mallard, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Coot, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Gadwall and 1 Grey Heron.

May 18th

On an overcast and chilly morning Matt walked at Reculver and counted 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 Tufted Ducks, 4 Lapwings, 2 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Greylag Geese, 80 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Mute Swans with 5 young, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel and 1 Chiffchaff. 

Male Mallard - Matt Hindle

Male Tufted Duck - Matt Hindle

Greylag Goose family - Matt Hindle

Male Mute Swan - Matt Hindle

Lapwing - Matt Hindle

May 16th

Marc Heath saw 2 Red Kites flying W at Hillborough at 1350. 

 May 15th

Matt was out early on a cool and breezy morning and walked at Reculver where he counted 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Shelduck, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Avocets, 80 Sand Martins, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Pochard, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Sparrowhawk.  After this he walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Stonechats, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Terns, 2 Avocets, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.

Whimbrel - Matt Hindle

Oystercatcher - Matt Hindle

Avocet - Matt Hindle

 I managed an hour's walk late this morning at Reculver and saw 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 35 Sand Martins, 6 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gadwall, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Shelduck, 8 Greylag Geese, 17 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 8 Mallard, 2 Lapwings, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Green Woodpecker.

May 14th

This morning Amanda Lynch heard a male Golden Oriole singing at Shuart (165th).