September 20th

Our walk at Reculver this morning produced 12 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest, 160 Coot, 55 Gadwall, 170 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Teal, 10 Swallows, 8 Little Grebes, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Common Buzzard.

Dave Smith was also out this morning and walked at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He recorded 35 Greylag Geese, 12 Mute Swans, 46 Mallard, 10 Coot, 30 Golden Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 20 Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Reed Warblers, 11 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 2 Willow Warblers, 27 Chiffchaffs, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Blackcaps, 1 Firecrest, 3 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 9 Meadow Pipits and 1 Corn Bunting.

On his morning walk from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding, Derek Smith counted 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Canada Goose with 6 hybrids, 130 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Common Buzzards, 12 Sandwich Terns W, 80 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 9 Ring-necked Parakeets, 9 Cetti's Warblers and 55 Chiffchaffs.

 September 19th

It was a drizzly morning as we walked at Reculver and counted 13 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 120 Mallard, 55 Gadwall, 165 Coot, 1 Reed Warbler, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swan, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Wigeon, 1 Black-tailed Godwit flying N, 1 Shoveler, 7 Swallows W, 10 Sandwich Terns and 1 Curlew.

 September 18th

On a bright and breezy morning we spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Little Egret, 2 Firecrests, 35 Blackcaps, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Chiffchaffs, 15 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker. 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Jays, 2 Pied Wagtails, 164 Coot, 5 Little Grebes, 15 Tufted Duck, 1 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Corn Buntings, 1 Stonechat, 54 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 110 Mallard, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Swallows, 6 Robins, 1 Kestrel and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

Birds ringed 53: Willow Warbler 1, Firecrest 2, Chiffchaff 18, Blackcap 24, Robin 3, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Dunnock 1.

Female Firecrest

 September 17th

On what became a wet morning we walked at various sites at Reculver and counted 13 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 50 Gadwall, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mute Swans, 165 Coot, 2 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebes, 9 Tufted Duck, 54 Swallows W, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel W, 1 Sand Martin W and 1 Curlew.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He saw 2 Grey Wagtails, 12 Sandwich Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 44 Chiffchaffs, 4 Stonechats, 4 Kestrels, 38 Mediterranean Gulls, 66 Mallard, 1 Tree Sparrow flying W along the seawall (176th), 4 Turnstone, 11 Teal, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Ravens, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Common Sandpiper, 140 Linnets, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 43 Swallows W, 4 House Martins W, 1 Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 1 Grey Heron.

 September 16th

On a cooler and breezy morning Anne and I walked at Reculver and counted 4 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mute Swans, 150 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 55 Gadwall, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Swallow, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 165 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Wigeon, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pochard, 1 Keatrel, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Grey Heron.

 September 15th

We spent an  unexpectedly breezy morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 60 Swallows flying SW, 6 House Martins, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 20 Blackcaps, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Greylag Geese, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 27: Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 12, Reed Warbler 7, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Robin 1, Dunnock 2.

Sunrise at Shuart - Matt Hindle

This morning we also caught a first year male Blackcap that had originally been ringed on August 28th at Ripon Parks, North Yorkshire flying 362 km SSE to reach Shuart.

We also received information about a first year male Blackcap we ringed at Shuart on 20th September 2025 that was controlled at Sandwich Bay Estate on 14th September 2026. 

Brendan Ryan also visited the area this morning and walked in from Shuart to Plumpudding. His sightings included 8 Mute Swans, 38 Mallard, 35 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Swift, 40 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 12 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 3 Sandwich Terns, 3 Little Grebes, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Hobby, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 54 Blue Tits, 4 Sedge Warblers, 35 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 27 Chiffchaffs, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Firecrest, 23 Robins, 1 Wheatear, 23 Meadow Pipits, 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Chaffinches,11 Corn Buntings and 10 Reed Buntings.

 September 14th

On an overcast morning with the tide out we walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 4 Cetti's Warblers, 7 newly arrived Wheatears, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Redshank, 13 Wigeon W, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Short-eared Owl hunting in the Oyster Farm, 1 Curlew, 17 Mallard, 12 Swallows in off the sea, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Stonechats, 1 Dunlin, 3 Chiffchaffs and 8 Cormorants.

Wheatear

 September 12th

On a sunny morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 120 Mallard, 60 Gadwall, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Mute Swans, 13 Little Grebes, 160 Coot, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Corn Buntings, 1 Pintail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler and 20 Swallows W.

Pintail

Dave Smith was also out at Reculver and saw 7 Mute Swans, 4 Wigeon, 55 Mallard, 5 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit on the beach and then flying W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Sandwich Terns, 10 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 2 House Martins, 1 Willow Warbler, 31 Chiffchaffs, 9 Stonechats, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 34 Meadow Pipits and 3 Corn Buntings.

Kingfisher - Dave Smith

Clouded Yellow - Dave Smith

Wall Brown - Dave Smith

 September 11th

The overnight rain had just cleared away and it was a lovely sunny morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We counted 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Cormorants, 3 Wheatears, 4 Grey Herons, 23 Mallard, 7 Redshank, 18 Swallows W, 8 Little Egrets, 8 Turnstone, 1 Greenshank, 3 Kestrels, 9 Sandwich Terns, 12 Linnets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Stonechats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Corn Bunting

 September 10th

We spent a sunny but increasingly windy morning ringing at one of our sites at Shuart. During the morning we saw 1 Spotted Redshank, 45 Lapwings, 3 Grey Wagtails W, 5 Willow Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 15 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 30 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 13 Swallows, 1 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 54: Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 24, Sedge Warbler 10, Cetti's Warber 2, Reed Warbler 5, Whitethroat 5, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackbird 1.

 September 9th

On a bright morning with a moderate westerly wind blowing we a couple of hours at Reculver where we had a disappointing seawatch. We counted 4 Arctic Skuas W, 2 Dunlins W, 4 Swallows W, 3 Black Terns E, 20 Sandwich Terns E, 1 large auk E, 5 Common Scoter W, 4 Wigeon W, 1 Redshank W and 1 Little Egret E.

 September 8th

On a wet morning with a light westerly wind blowing we met Matt at Minnis Bay for a two hour seawatch. We counted 60 Sandwich Terns, 45E, 15W, 98 Common Terns, 84E, 14W, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Gannet W, 4 Mediterranean Gull W, 3 Turnstone and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits.

Recently we received information about a first year Whitethroat we ringed at Shuart on 23rd August. It had been controlled at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory on 1st September and had flown 12 km SE.

 September 7th

On a warm morning we walked at Reculver and counted 1 Jay, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shoveler, 36 Gadwall, 70 Mallard, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Mute Swans, 170 Coot, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Little Grebes, 1 Greenshank, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ruff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard and 1 Raven.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrines, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Common Buzzards, 113 Sandwich Terns W, 3 Mediterranean Gulls W, 9 Lapwings, 60 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 30 Swallows S, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs and 3 Firecrests. He also saw 5 Clouded Yellow butterflies along then embankment.

 September 6th

We spent an increasingly breezy and warm morning ringing at Shuart where we recorded 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Kestrel, 19 Swallows, 1 Golden Plover, 30 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 10 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 101 Greylag Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Firecrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Pied Flycatcher. We also saw a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Birds ringed 75: Chiffchaff 7, Willow Warbler 7, Long-tailed Tits 2, Sedge Warblers 11, Blackcaps 25, Whitethroats 2, Reed Warblers 8, Robins 3, Great Tits 2, Blue Tits 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Chaffinch 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Blackbird 1. 

Sedge Warbler

Whitethroat

This morning Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and recorded 42 Greylag Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Coot, 19 Golden Plover, 18 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrels, 4 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 40 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 7 Willow warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Yellow wagtails, 1 Meadow Pipit, 12 Chaffinches and 6 Corn Buntings.

 September 5th

On a beautiful morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 17 Sandwich Terns, 3 Swallows W, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Stonechats, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Cormorants, 18 Linnets, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 24 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 64 Bar-tailed Godwits flying E in three groups, 7 Sanderling, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Ravens, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Corn Buntings and 1 Golden Plover. We also found 9 Wall Browns on the old Roman walls.