May 29th

Our walk at Reculver this morning produced 3 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Shelduck, 14 Mallard, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Tufted Duck, 9 Greylag Geese, 10 Coot, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler and 2 Green Woodpeckers. 

 May 28th

It was a pleasant late spring morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver and recorded 4 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Meadow Pipits, 9 Cormorants, 16 Linnets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Mallard, 5 Gannets flying E and 2 Stonechats. We also found a young Grey Seal hauled up onto the beach.

Grey Seal

 

Ringed Plover

Dave Smith's completed his regular walk from Shuart to Coldharbour this morning and saw 6 Greylag Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Avocets, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Sand Martins, 7 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Stonechat.

Matt also found a Norfolk Hawker at Shuart this morning.

 May 27th

Although it was still sunny this morning a breeze had blown up off the North Sea overnight making conditions much more comfortable. At Reculver we recorded 6 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Terns, 1 second calendar year Kittiwake sitting on the sea off the Towers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzards, 30 Sand Martins, 4 Shelduck, 10 Coot, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 9 Greylag Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 18 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Blackcaps.

Mute Swan family

 

Second calendar year Kittiwake

Dave Smith was out this morning at Shuart and walked to Coldharbour. He saw 9 Mallard, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Avocets, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 2 male Marsh Harriers, 1 Hobby, 5 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows.

Pyramidal Orchid - Dave  Smith

 

Broomrape - Dave Smith

 May 26th

It was even hotter this morning as we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 6 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 8 Mute Swans, 20 Sand Martins, 3 Pied Wagtails, 9 Greylag Geese, 2 Skylarks, 3 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 3 Gadwall, 18 Mallard, 6 Reed Warblers, 5 Shelduck, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Mediterranean Gull.

 May 25th

We were out early this morning to avoid the threatened scorching temperatures and walked out onto the Marsh. We counted 10 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Cuckoo, 22 Mallard, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 10 Coot, 12 Sand Martins, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Skylarks and 1 Common Tern. There were also good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies to be seen.

Painted Lady

 

 May 24th

With the sunny weather continuing we spent the morning ringing at Reculver. We saw a good range of species including 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 2 Common Terns, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 9 Greylag Geese, 1 Avocet, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 17 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Golden Oriole singing in the same place as yesterday, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Mute Swans including 5 young cygnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Jays, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 10 Red Kites flying W, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sedge Warbler and 8 Reed Warblers.

Birds ringed 21: Long-tailed Tit 2, Wren 2, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Robin 1, Blue Tit 2, Dunnock 4, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Dave Smith was out early at Shuart and walked to Coldharbour and back. He recorded 1 Mute Swan, 5 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Coot, 1 Avocet, 14 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 1 Sanderling, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Gannet, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

May 23rd

It was even hotter this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and were greeted by a Golden Oriole (163rd) singing briefly in trees beside the railway. Other birds we saw included 4 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Skylarks, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Egret, 10 Greylag Geese, 4 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Partridge, 16 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Chiffchaff.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He recorded 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Shelduck, 14 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Herons, 9 Stonechats, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Gadwall, 2 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 1 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Turnstone, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

 May 22nd

On a sunny and increasingly hot morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Green Wall. We saw 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Skylarks, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Ringed Plovers, 14 Linnets, 1 Shelduck, 1 Greylag Geese, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 5 calling Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 3 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stonechats feeding nestlings and 1 Grey Heron.

Turnstone

 Dave Smith was also out and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour. His highlights included 1 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Avocet, 12 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Terns, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 4 Swallows, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Stonechats including recently fledged young and 5 Yellow Wagtails.

Yellow-horned Poppy with Pollen Beetles - Dave Smith

 

 May 21st

On a mild morning we walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver and recorded 4 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Mallard, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Reed Warblers, 8 Linnets, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Shelduck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 3 Tufted Duck, 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Swallow, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Egret and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0515 and walked along the embankment to Chamber's Wall and back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 3 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Barnacle Goose W, 2 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Avocets, 18 Sanderling, 4 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Common Tern S, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Swifts W, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs and 1 Siskin W. 

Male Yellow Wagtail - Derek Smith

 May 20th

We didn't get out at Reculver until after lunch on a warm but breezy afternoon. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Greylag Geese, 8 Tufted Ducks, 6 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Gadwall, 4 Skylarks, 2 Swifts and 6 Sand Martins.

 May 19th

On a wet morning with a fresh southerly wind blowing we spent and hour at Reculver where we counted 34 Swifts W, 17 House Martins W, 4 Swallows W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Gannet E, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls W and 2 Pied Wagtails.

 May 18th

On a very pleasant spring morning we walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver and saw 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Skylarks, 4 Linnets, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Mallard, 1 Hobby, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Gadwall, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (162nd), 12 Sand Martins, 12 Greylag Geese, 10 Coot, 1 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Swallows.

 

Spotted Flycatcher

 May 17th

After overnight showers our walk at Reculver produced 1 Swift W, 7 Swallows W, 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Skylarks, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 16 Sand Martins, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 8 Coot, 10 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret and 2 Curlew.

Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Plumpudding and back and counted 10 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 House Martins W, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Avocets, 47 Swallows W, 1 Common Sandpiper,  Swifts W, 1 Hobby W, 1 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Tufted Duck.

 May 16th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked at Netherhale and recorded 3 Blackcaps, 3 Skylarks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 pairs of Little Egrets, 2 pairs of Grey Herons, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Jay and 1 Kestrel. 

Grey Heron

Little Egret

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the embankment and back by way of Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Greylag Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Avocets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Terns, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 19 Swallows W, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs and 1 Corn Bunting.

 May 15th

It was still cold this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and counted 7 Swallows, 1 Common Tern, 5 Skylarks, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Gadwall, 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 10 Greylag Geese, 10 Coot, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls. 

Matt was out and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He saw 3 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 15 Swallows W, 3 Swifts W, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Avocets, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Stonechats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Sanderling, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Dave Smith walked from Shuart to the Green Wall and back via Coldharbour. His highlights were 6 Greylag Geese, 7 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Cuckoos, 14 Swifts, 2 Avocets, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 9 Swallows, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Corn Bunting.

 May 14th

With Arctic air flooding down the North Sea it was still surprisingly cold at Reculver this morning. Birds we saw on our walk inland included 2 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 6 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 1 Sedge Warbler, 16 Swallows, 6 Coot, 2 Gadwall and 2 Shelduck.