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 the 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, 9 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.

 May 13th

With a cold westerly wind blowing in showers we walked at Reculver and counted 13 Swallows flying W, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Gadwall, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Reed Warblers, 12 Coot, 16 Sand Martins, 10 Greylag Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Egret and 6 Swifts flying W.

 May 12th

It was another chilly but sunny morning on our walk at Reculver. We saw 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 10 Sand Martins, 9 Reed Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 10 Coot, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Greylag Geese, 4 Whitethroats, 18 roosting Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Kestrel. 

 May 11th

There was still a chilly, northerly wind blowing this morning as we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 9 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Sedge Warblers, 12 Coot, 10 Greylag Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Hobbies chasing each other, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Partridges and 2 Gannets E.

Common Sandpiper

 

 May 10th

On an unpleasant morning with a fresh, chilly NE wind blowing we had a brief look at the sea at Reculver and counted 60 Herring Gulls flying E, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Great Crested Grebes on the sea and 3 Swifts.

 May 9th

This morning at Reculver we walked onto the Marsh and then had a look at the sea. We recorded 11 Whitethroats, 2 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Greylag Geese, 2 Blackcaps, 17 Mallard, 8 Coot, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Reed Warblers, 40 Sand Martins, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Curlew and 1 Common Tern.

Singing male Pied Wagtail