June 6th

With a strong southerly wind blowing in showers we spent an hour at Reculver where we saw 2 Great Crested Grebes, 30 Sand Martins, 6 Swallows, 1 Common Tern, 2 Gannets flying W and 1 Fulmar flying W. 

 June 5th

On a bright and sunny morning I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 42 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Cormorants, 4 Common Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Swift W, 1 Oystercatcher and 2 Grey Partridges. In addition, at Reculver, I found 7 Bee Orchids and at Coldharbour 65 Pyramidal Orchids.

 

Bee Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

 June 4th

On a very showery and breezy afternoon we spent forty minutes at Reculver where we counted 5 Common Terns feeding offshore, 2 Sandwich Terns flying W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Gannet flying W and 1 second calendar year Mediterranean Gull flying W.

 June 3rd

On a morning with a chilly westerly wind blowing we walked along the seawall at Reculver. Birds we saw included 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 1 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 7 Cormorants, 2 House Martins flying W, 1 Little Egret, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Avocets feeding in the Oyster Farm lagoons, 6 Linnets, 4 Common Terns, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Chaffinches and 3 Shelduck.

 June 2nd

We had intended to have a walk at Reculver this afternoon but when we arrived it was obvious there was a thunderstorm arriving from the west. As we sat in our car the heavens opened, there was torrential rain, thunder and lightning and for about ten minutes our car was battered with pea sized hale stones. On leaving after the storm Reculver and the road to it were well and truly flooded. The only birds we saw were 70 Herring Gulls sitting on the sea and two Common Terns.

 

Approaching thunder storm

 June 1st

The month began sunny and warm but with not a great deal to see as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We counted 12 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Shelduck, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 3 Stonechats, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 1 Swallow and 1 immature Kittiwake flying W. 

Male Stonechat

 May 31st

We spent a breezy morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Oystercatcher, 10 Coot, 15 Mallard, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Hobby, 3 Kestrels, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Swifts, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Red Kites flying W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Gadwall.

Birds ringed 21: Chiffchaff 3, Reed Warbler 4, Great Tit 7, Blue Tit 3, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 2. 

 May 30th

It was yet another very warm and sunny morning as we walked at Reculver. Birds we saw included 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzards, 8 Mute Swans, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 8 Greylag Geese, 10 Coot, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Red Kites flying W, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Little Egret. 

Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Gannets E, 2 adult Avocets with 1 young, 4 adult Oystercatchers with 1 young, 2 Redshank and 13 Red Kites flying W.

 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

 

Common 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