August 16th

This morning we walked at Reculver and counted 1 Hobby, 3 Chiffchaffs, 122 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 6 Little Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 4 Swallows, 5 Lapwings, 2 Whinchats (171st), 1 Teal, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Sand Martins, 68 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 14 Greylag Geese, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Redshank.

A distant Whinchat

 

 August 15th

We awoke to a light shower of rain, the first measurable amount in our garden at Bishopstone since June 27th, although it was only one millimetre! 

We arrived at Reculver at 0730 where the tide was going out and walked along the seawall as well as having a look at Reculver bushes. We counted 1 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Kestrel, 11 Golden Plover flying W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 juvenile Stonechats, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 62 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 14 Linnets, 7 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 4 Corn Buntings, 6 Goldfinches, 8 Sand Martins and 1 Willow Warbler.

Nick Hando was our during the day at Minnis Bay and recorded 1 Arctic Skua (170th), 15 Whimbrel, 16 Sandwich Terns E, 10 Gannets E and 1 Common Sandpiper W.

 

 

 

 

 August 14th 

On an even hotter morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a half hour look at the sea where the tide was out. We saw 1 Raven, 1 Marsh Harrier with red wing tags, 101 Coot, 3 Tufted Duck, 8 Little Grebes, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Buzzards. 3 Meadow Pipits, 5 juvenile Grey Partridges, 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Sand Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 162 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Curlew E, 1 Little Egret, 1 Shelduck and 2 Sandwich Terns W.

 August 13th

It was unpleasntly hot and humid this morning as we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Shelduck, 3 Mute Swans, 102 Coot, 6 Little Grebes, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 28 Greylag Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 88 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Gadwall, 12 Reed Warblers, 3 Kestrels and 1 Greenfinch.

August 12th

Although there was a pleasant easterly breeze blowing it became increasingly hot as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We did not see a great deal, just 2 Swallows, 18 Linnets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Egrets, 7 Cormorants, 6 Stonechats, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 35 Mallard, 4 Kestrels, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Ringed Plovers and 2 Whitethroats.

Juvenile Stonechat

This morning Jim Bloor found a Pied Flycatcher (169th) in the bushes on the railway embankment at Shuart. 

 August 11th 

There was a pleasant easterly breeze blowing as we walked at Reculver this morning.We counted 1 Kestrel, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Egret, 79 Mallard, 7 Little Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 101 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Redshank, 3 Gadwall, 4 Cormorants and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Common Sandpiper

 August 10th

Although it was hot and sunny again this morning there was a refreshing westerly breeze blowing as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We counted 14 Whitethroats, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Stonechats, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 21 Mallard, 26 Linnets, 2 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern W, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Cormorants, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 16 Goldfinches and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Turnstone

Newly arrived Wheatear

 August 9th

It was another warm morning as we walked out onto a parched marsh and then had a half hour look at the sea. We saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 6 Little Grebes, 3 Mute Swans, 94 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 6 Swallows, 3 Little Egrets, 56 Mallard, 1 Greenshank and 15 Sandwich Terns.

Reculver Marshes

 

 August 8th

This morning on our walk at Reculver we recorded 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Ravens, 76 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag Geese, 6 Little Grebes, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Jays, 42 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Gadwall, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Golden Plover and 10 Swallows. 

 August 7th

It was yet another sunny morning with a pleasant, light, westerly breeze blowing as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. Birds we saw included 1 Sand Martin, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Goldfinches, 11 Cormorants, 23 Linnets, 4 Little Egrets, 5 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Swallows, 3 Whimbrel flying W and 32 Oystercatchers flying E with a Black-tailed Godwit tagged on behind (168th). Othe birds we counted were 11 Mallard, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 juvenile Shelduck, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Mediterranean Gull and a Sparrowhawk hunting around the Towers.

Wall Brown on the Roman wall

 

Little Egret

 August 6th

This morning we walked at Reculver and then spent an hour looking at the sea. We recorded 5 Sand Martins, 1 Raven, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Gadwall, 98 Coot, 3 Tufted Duck, 66 Little Grebes, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Corn Buntings, 56 Mallard, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns, 10 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Whimbrel flying W and 1 Little Egret.

 August 5th

There had been an overnight change in the weather although it was still warm there was a fresh south westerly wind threatening showers.  We had an uneventful walk along the seawall at Reculver where we saw 4 Goldfinches, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Kestrel, 19 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 6 Sandwich Terns, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Mallard, 4 Shelduck and 5 Stonechats.

 August 4th

On another scorcher we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Willow Warblers, 38 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Raven, 82 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 9 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Tufted Duck, 8 Corn Buntings, 10 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Lapwings, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Mediterranean Gull. 

 August 3rd

It was even hotter this morning as we walked along the seawall at Reculver with the tide going out. Other than 32 Sandwich Terns and 57 Mediterranean Gulls it was relatively quiet with just 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 6 juvenile Shelducks, 1 Swallow, 24 Linnets, 6 Stonechats, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Mallard and 4 Cormorants.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

 

Sandwich Terns

 August 2nd

On yet another sunny and warm morning we walked at Reculver and saw 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Little Egrets, 5 Gadwalll, 52 Mallard, 2 Ravens, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Lapwings, 97 Coot, 7 Little Grebes, 6 Corn Buntings, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Kestrel, 1 Golden Plover and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.