April 27th

The sunny weather continued this morning as I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. I counted 10 singing Cetti's Warblers, 13 singing Whitethroats, 17 singing Sedge Warblers, 33 Swallows flying W, 18 Linnets, 2 Avocets flying E to Coldharbour, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Shelduck, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 4 Meadow Pipits, 4 Stonechats,  2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Ringed Plovers, 24 Mute Swans, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Terns, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Skylarks, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Gannet E, 1 female Wheatear, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Greylag Geese.

Avocets in Coldharbour

Female Wheatear

One of ours!

Later Matt walked from Reculver to Bishopstone and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Blackcaps, 15 Tufted Duck, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Gadwall, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Shelduck, 1 Fulmar, 17 Corn Buntings, 2 Grey Partridges and 2 Red Kites. He also saw 2 Small Copper butterflies.

Greylag Goose - Matt Hindle

Female Tufted Duck - Matt Hindle

Small Copper - Matt Hindle

 April 26th

The highlight of the morning was when Dave Smith found a female Red-footed Falcon feeding over Reculver bushes and nearby fields (156th). On occasions it was difficult to find high in the bright blue sky but with patience reasonable views were possible. This is only the fourth record for the area following a male at Coldharbour from 14th-21st June 1970, a first year male at Minnis Bay on 14th May 1992 and a female photographed at Shuart on 22nd May 2008.

 

 

Female Red-footed Falcon - Dave Smith

Other birds he saw on his walk from Reculver included 9 Greylag Geese, 12 Mute Swans, 5 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Avocets, 18 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, 90 Sanderling, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Red Kite W, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 10 Sand Martins, 12 Swallows, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 33 Whitethroats, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Meadow Pipits and 9 Corn Buntings.

Whitethroat - Dave Smith

 

Linnet - Dave Smith

Matt and I were joined by Anne for the first time in four months on our ringing session at Reculver. We saw 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Greylag Geese, 3 Mallard, 2 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 48 Sand Martins, 1 Red Kite W and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 12: Reed Warbler 2, Reed Bunting 2, Blackcap 3, Robin 1, Whitethroat 4.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He counted 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 16 Greylag Geese, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 male Pochard, 3 Marsh Harriers, 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Red Kite W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover over and calling (157th), 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel E, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Raven E, 4 Swallows W, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 3 Corn Buntings.

 April 25th

I arrived at a sunny Reculver where there was no wind blowing for a change and walked up to the Wantsum outflow where I met Matt who had walked as far as Plumpudding and returned along the railway embankment. Birds I saw included 4 Goldfinches, 12 Whitethroats, 24 Linnets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Stonechats, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Swallows W, 4 Mediterranean Gulls E, 22 Mute Swans, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Meadow Pipits, 9 Sedge Warblers, 19 Sandwich Terns, 1 Redshank, 1 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Shelduck, 16 Oystercatchers, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Whimbrel E, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern, 1 Kestrel and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Little Owl

 

Sandwich Terns

On his walk Matt saw 15 Tufted Duck, 8 Coot, 13 Corn Buntings, 3 Gadwall, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 25 Reed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Whimbrel, 4 Wheatears, 15 Swallows, 4 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 89 Sandwich Terns E, 13 Shelduck, 1 Greenshank, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Stonechat, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Cuckoo, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 45 Oystercatchers, 180 Sanderling, 1 Tree Pipit W, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Tern and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Sedge Warbler - Matt Hindle

 

Cetti's Warbler - Matt Hindle

Oystercatcher - Matt Hindle

Male Mallard - Matt Hindle

Male Wheatear - Matt Hindle

Wheatear - Matt Hindle

This afternoon we had a Broad-bodied Chaser in our garden at Bishopstone.

Broad-bodied Chaser

 

 April 24th

On yet another sunny morning Matt was our at daybreak and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and returned along the embankment to the Wantsum outflow where I met him before we both returned along the seawall to Reculver. His final totals were 3 Shelduck, 24 Whimbrel, 4 Stonechats, 1 Fulmar, 5 Little Egrets, 9 Turnstone, 25 Mute Swans, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Terns E (153rd), 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose W, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling (154th), 2 Greylag Geese, 9 Reed Warblers, 180 Sanderling, 79 Swallows W, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Kestrel, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 male Blue-headed Wagtail, 1 Cuckoo, 18 Sand Martins W, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 House Martin W and 1 Common Gull.

Ringed Plover

 Dave Smith was also out early and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back via Coldharbour. He recorded 4 Greylag Geese, 25 Mute Swans, 4 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 2 Common Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 12 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Curlew, 5 Coot, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwings, 18 Whimbrel E, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 90 Sanderling, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Kestrels, 5 Sand Martins, 29 Swallows, 11 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 30 Whitethroats, 1 Ring Ouzel (155th), 2 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Meadow Pipits and 6 Corn Bunting.

 April 23rd

My walk at Reculver this morning in bright sunshine produced 6 Blackcaps, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 29 Mallard, 2 Goldfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 16 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Common Buzzard, 24 Sand Martins, 4 Swallows, 3 Shelduck, 2 Reed Buntings, 5 Greylag Geese, 3 Teal, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 4 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails, 11 Oystercatchers and 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W.

Male Shelduck

 Matt walked from Shuart to Brooksend and then on to Plumpudding this morning. He saw 7 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 21 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Jays, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 13 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Little Grebe, 13 Greylag Geese, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Kestrel, 2 Corn Bunting, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Reed Warblers. He also saw 3 Hairy Dragonflies.

 April 22nd

It was another sunny morning as I had a walk at Shuart. The surprising highlight of the morning was having 4 Chough fly over me at Shuart calling repeatedly. These are obviously birds from the Dover Castle reintroduction scheme and were later seen by Matt circling Reculver Towers and flying on towards Bishopstone. Other birds seen at Shuart included 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Common Buzzard.

Later Matt had a Tree Pipit and Willow Warbler at Reculver. 

 April 21st

On another bright, cool and breezy morning my walk at Reculver produced 4 Blackcaps, 6 Chaffinches, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 21 Mallard, 5 Whitethroats, 55 Sand Martins, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Grebe, 25 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 12 Swallows, 4 Teal, 14 Coot, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Skylarks.

 April 20th

On another sunny morning with a chilly northerly breeze blowing and the tide out I walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. I saw 8 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Partridge, 14 Sedge Warblers, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Linnets, 8 Oystercatchers, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Gannets E, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 1 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Turnstone, 23 Mute Swans, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Swallows W, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Stock Doves and 1 Blackcap.

Male Stonechat

 

Meadow Pipit

Stock Dove

 

 April 19th

Although it was sunny this morning there was a chilly northerly breeze blowing in off the sea as I walked at Reculver. I recorded 10 Chaffinches, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Mute Swans, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Grey Herons, 16 Tufted Ducks, 1 Kestrel, 25 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Reed Warblers, 8 Coot, 2 Teal, 30 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 4 Shelduck, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Skylarks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Linnets, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 8 Mediterranean Gulls E.

Common Sandpiper

Dave Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to the Wantsum. His highlights were 3 Greylag Geese, 24 Mute Swans, 8 Mallard, 20 Stock Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Coot, 5 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 11 Swallows, 6 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 26 Whitethroats, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Stonechat, 1 female Wheatear, 7 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Corn Buntings. 

 April 18th

As the overnight rain moved through to the south east I had a walk at Chamber's Wall. I counted 1 Grey Heron, 5 Chaffinches, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 8 Skylarks, 9 Whitethroats, 7 Sedge Warblers, 3 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 32 Mediterranean Gulls feeding on a recently harrowed field, 3 Chiffchffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Kestrel.

Yellow Wagtail

 

Mediterranean Gulls

Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He saw 98 Mediterranean Gulls mainly flying E, 5 Little Egrets, 10 Shelduck, 10 Yellow Wagtails W, 3 Common Gulls, 32 Swallows W, 2 Stonechats, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 alba Wagtails W, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Wheatear, 2 Lapwings, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ravens, 26 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag Goose, 36 Sand Martins W, 1 Tree Pipit W (152nd), 2 House Martins W and 1 Nightingale singing.

 April 17th

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 11 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Redpoll, 4 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Skylarks, 18 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Swallows, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Bullfinch (151st), 20 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Red Kite and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Birds ringed 10: Chiffchaff 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 3, Linnet 2, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1.

Common Whitethroat

Red Kite

 

 April 16th

This morning I walked at Reculver and saw 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Mute Swans, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 10 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 16 Mallard, 1 Grey Herons, 14 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Egrets.

Matt was also out early and completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Sand Martins W, 7 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 6 Stonechats, 2 Common Gulls, 6 Reed Warblers, 26 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Corn Buntings, 1 Curlew, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Lapwings, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Collared Doves W, 2 Willow Warblers and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

 April 15th

It was showery this morning as Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He counted 16 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Little Owl, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Redpoll W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Wheatears, 5 Little Egrets, 29 Mute Swans, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Sandpiper in Coldharbour (150th), 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Sand Martins, 3 Stonechats, 6 Swallows W, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Siskin W, 4 Lapwings, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Snipe, 22 Meadow Pipits W and 1 Egyptian Goose E.

Sunrise at Reculver - Matt Hindle

I walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Mute Swan, 8 Chaffinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Swallows, 14 Sand Martins, 40 Mallard, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Reed Warblers, 14 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Jay and 1 Mediterranean Gull. 

 April 14th

This morning I walked from Reculver to the Wanstum outflow and recorded 8 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Skylarks, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Owl, 2 Mallard, 7 Sedge Warblers, 14 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 21 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plovers, 24 Mute Swans, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Swallows W, 2 Redshank, 11 Cormorants, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Snipe and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart, along the embankment and on to Coldharbour and Brooksend. He saw 1 Little Grebe, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck W, 12 Tufted Duck, 33 Mediterranean Gulls SE, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Lapwings, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 36 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Blackcaps, 34 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs and 1 Willow Warbler.

 April 13th

With showers passing by on either side it was a pleasant sunny morning as I walked at Reculver. Birds I saw included 5 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Chaffinches, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 20 Tufted Duck, 12 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 26 Mallard, including 2 family groups, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Raven, 1 Kestrel, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Great Crested Grebe and Pied Wagtails.

Male Pied Wagtail