April 29th

On an increasingly warm morning Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He recorded 15 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Stonechats, 25 Oystercatchers, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, 6 Greenshank, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Avocets, 4 Tufted Duck, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Swallows, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Snipe, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lapwings, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Common Terns, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Fulmar and 10 Knot E (159th).

 

Chiffchaff - Matt Hindle

 

Avocet - Matt Hindle

 

Female Channel/Blue-headed Wagtail - Matt Hindle

Female Yellow Wagtail - Matt Hindle

He then walked inland and saw 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Firecrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 17 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 14 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 40 Sand Martins, 2 Greylag Geese with 6 young, 2 Shelduck, 8 Coot, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Grey Heron. He also saw a Hairy Dragonfly and an Azure Damselfly.

April 28th

It was a sunny and increasingly warm morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where the tide was out. We counted 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 11 Mute Swans, 13 Whitethroats, 20 Linnets, 1 Shelduck, 3 Common Terns, 4 Swallows W, 1 Pied Wagtail, 8 Oystercatchers, 11 Sedge Warblers, 4 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Reed Warblers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 7 Mediterranean Gulls E and 1 Blackcap.

Male Stonechat

 

Common Terns

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and back. He recorded 1 Little Egret, 4 Greylag Geese, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Red Kites W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Terns, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Yellow Wagtail W, 1 Song Thrush on the seawall, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 singing Garden Warbler (158th) and 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling near the Shuart crossing.

I received information today about a first year Chiffchaff we ringed at Shuart on 26th September 2024. It has been controlled at Bright Mead, Wiltshire on 18th April. Bright Mead is 238 km W of Shuart.

April 27th

It was a disappointing, foggy morning that was more about hearing than seeing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 12 Whitethroats, 10 Goldfinches, 3 Swallows, 19 Sedge Warblers, 11 Reed Warblers, 3 Skylarks, 7 Chaffinches, 6 Linnets, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Tern, 4 Mallard and 1 Sparrowhawk.

During the afternoon 5 Red Kites flew W and there were 2 Grey Partridges at Reculver. 

 April 26th

This morning was bright and less chilly as we walked at Reculver and recorded 13 Whitethroats, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 15 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 12 Tufted Duck,  1 Grey Heron, 25 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 1 Gadwall, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Terns, 1 Firecrest singing and 1 Common Buzzard.

Derek Smith was out at 0530 and walked from Shuart to the Green Wall and back along the seawall and Brooksend. He saw 6 Gannets E, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Barnacle Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Mediterranena Gulls W, 2 Common Terns S, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Swifts E, 17 Swallows W, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Tree Pipit, 5 Lsser Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest singing and 4 Corn Buntings.

Dave Smith was also birding this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. His highlights were 4 Canada Geese, 4 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Ringed Plover, 6 adult and 4 juvenile Lapwings, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 21 Sanderling, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Marsh Harriers, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 singing Firecrest and 3 Yellow Wagtails. 

 April 25th

On another chilly and breezy morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 12 Oystercatchers, 4 Gannets E, 8 Whitethroats, 19 Linnets, 35 Swallows W, 4 Mediterranean Gulls E, 43 Black-headed Gulls E, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Sedge Warblers, 15 Turnstone, 19 Mute Swans, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E, 1 Greenshank W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Skylarks and 1 Yellow Wagtail. 

 April 24th

It felt like winter this morning with overcast conditions and a fresh and chilly NNE wind blowing. We walked along the seawall and then inland and counted 18 Linnets, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Shelduck, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turnstone, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 16 Mute Swans, 7 Sedge Warblers, 1 singing Stonechat, 2 Fulmars E, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mallard, 34 Sand Martins, 1 Green Sandpiper and 6 Coot.

April 23rd

On a rainy morning we spent an hour and a half seawatching at Minnis Bay at high tide and counted 69 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Terns, 2 Fulmars, 7 Whimbrel, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Gannets E, 10 Swallows, 13 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and 5 Common Scoter E.

 April 22nd

Matt completed his regular walk this morning and we met him at Coldharbour. We recorded 20 Yellow Wagtails moving W, 10 Whimbrel, 55 Oystercatchers E, 17 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 3 Cuckoos, 3 Wheatears, 28 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Common Terns, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers. 29 Swallows W, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 60 Sanderling, 23 Sand Martins W, 2 Stonechats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Marsh Harriers, 8 Lapwings, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Little Egret and 1 House Martin W. We also saw and heard good numbers of Whitethroats and Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers.

Wheatear - Matt Hindle

Sedge Warbler - Matt Hindle

Yellow Wagtails - Matt Hindle

Derek Smith was out at 0600 and walked from Shuart and along the embankment before returning by way of Plumpudding. He counted 14 Mute Swans, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gannets E, 4 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 28 Mediterranean Gulls SE, 4 Sandwich Terns W, 2 Cuckoos, 56 Swallows W, 3 House Martins W, 4 Sand Martins W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Corn Buntings.

April 21st

On an overcast and calm morning we walked at Reculver and counted 2 Jays, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Blackcaps, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron,  1 Gadwall, 12 Coot, 5 Whimbrel flying S, 2 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Snipe, 1 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Sedge Warbler, 8 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Willow Warbler and 15 Mediterranean Gulls flying E.

Matt was out early as usual and completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He saw 27 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 female/immature Black Redstart, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 15 Sandwich Terns, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Common Terns, 2 Redshank, 8 Shelduck, 5 Turnstone, 36 Swallows mainly flying E, 1 male Pochard W, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 160 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Snipe, 3 Canada Geese, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit heard, 9 Lapwings, 1 Hawfinch flying W along the embankment (157th), 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Tree Pipits W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 1 House Martin, 1 Fulmar, 6 Greylag Geese and 1 Curlew.

Common Terns - Matt Hindle

 Dave Smith was also out and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. He saw 3 Canada Geese, 8 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Cuckoos, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 3 Tree Pipits including  a singing bird, 1 Hawfinch W along the embankment and 4 Reed Buntings. 

Tree Pipit - Dave Smith

 

 April 20th

On a chilly and breezy morning Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment and Green Wall. He recorded 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Common Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 31 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Eiders, 1 male and 1 female E, 1 Wheatear, 26 Mute Swans, 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Blackcap, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Lapwings, 1 summer plumage Golden Plover, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cuckoos, 5 Swallows, 1 Swift E (156th), 1 Raven, 8 Reed Warblers, 3 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Merlin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Snipe and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Anne and I walked south from Reculver and saw 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Reed Warblers, 30 Sand Martins, 6 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 12 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Common Sandpiper. 

 April 19th

It was breezy this morning as we walked at Reculver and counted 2 Whimbrel flying E, 1 Swallow, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 13 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 18 Coot, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Matt walked from Netherhale to Shuart and saw 3 Blackcaps, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Swallow, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 female Ring Ouzel (154th), 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Whitethroats and 1 Firecrest. 

Adult female Ring Ouzel - Matt Hindle

 Dave Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. His highlights were 3 Greylag Geese, 23 Mute Swans, 4 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 3 Tufted Ducks, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Avocet, 5 Oystercatchers, 6 Lapwings, 2 Common Sandpipers (155th), 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Swallows, 10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 24 Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtaisl, 2 Meadow Pipits and 3 Reed Buntings.

 April 18th

On another sunny morning with a gentle SE wind blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We saw 5 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Skylarks, 5 Goldfinches, 17 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Linnets, 11 Whitethroats, 5 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cuckoos, 20 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 27 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 18 Gannets E, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Fulmar and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. 

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and the embankment before returning along the seawall. He counted 5 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Owl, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Canada Geese, 7 Reed Warblers, 3 Redshank, 37 Turnstone, 2 Gadwall, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Kestrels, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Shelduck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Stonechats, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Swallows, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Blackcap, 6 Lapwings with 4 young, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Curlew, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Sanderling, 21 Gannets E, 1 Fulmar E, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 1 White Wagtail.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He recorded 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 26 Gannets E, 1 Fulmar W, 6 Barnacle Geese, 8 Greylag Geese, 20 Tufted Duck, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Sand Martins W, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Firecrest.

 April 17th

It was a glorious, sunny, spring morning as Anne and I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 9 Oystercatchers, 24 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Sedge Warblers, 1 Redshank, 4 Sand Martins W, 8 Mediterranean Gulls flying high W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Stonechat, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plovers, 16 Mutes Swans, 1 female Wheatear, 5 Skylarks, 24 Turnstone, 2 Swallows W, 1 Cuckoo  and 1 Common Tern flying out to sea (153rd).

Female Wheatear

Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0600 and walked along the embankment to Coldharbour and back by way of Brooksend. He recorded 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 9 Mute Swans, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 8 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 24 Mediterranean Gulls S, 1 Cuckoo (152nd), 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 25 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 16 Reed Warblers, 35 Whitethroats, 1 Lessert Whitethroat, 19 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and 4 Corn Buntings.

Cuckoo - Derek Smith

 April 16th

On a breezy morning with occasional light showers Matt walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back along the seawall and we walked inland at Reculver as well. Birds seen included 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Garganey, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 5 Blackcaps, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Chiffchaffs, 23 Coot, 14 Mallard, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Yellowhammers, 4 Kestrels, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Swallows, 2 White Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Buzzard, 22 Corn Buntings, 2 Whitethroats and 7 Teal.

White Wagtail - Matt Hindle

 

Oilseed rape on Reculver Marshes

April 15th

Matt braved the pouring rain this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding. He counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Stonechats, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Gadwall, 1 female Merlin, 2 Avocets on the tideline at Plumpudding, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Tufted Duck and 10 Swallows.

Avocets - Matt Hindle

 On a sunny afternoon we had a walk at Plumpudding where we saw 3 Skylarks, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swallow, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Linnets, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Mallard, 1 singing Stonechat and 1 Blackcap.

Sandwich Terns

Yesterday we received the ringing information of a female Blackcap we controlled at Shuart on April 12th. It had been ringed at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire as a first year bird on 20th September 2024. Shuart is 184 km ENE of Titchfield Haven.