September 13th

We spent another bright and breezy morning this time ringing at Shuart and saw 1 Kestrel, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 1 Tree Pipit, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 20 Greylag Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Peregrine, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lapwing and 2 Ravens.

Birds ringed 17: Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 6, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

September 12th

We spent a bright and breezy morning ringing at Reculver where we ringed and saw some good birds. During seven hours we recorded 12 Chiffchaffs, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Corn Buntings, 20 Swallows, 9 Sand Martins, 38 Coot, 10 Little Grebes, 8 Tufted Duck, 7 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 54 Gadwall, 30 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Firecrests, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Garden Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 50 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests, 2 House Martins, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Jay, 1 Wryneck in scrub near footpath south from the Towers (181st), 1 Wigeon, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Hobby and 2 Dunlin flying W.

Birds ringed 72: Firecrest 4, Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 9, Wren 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 43, Garden Warbler 4, Blue Tit 2, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

Male Firecrest

September 11th

We had an away day and visited a sunny but cool and windy Dungeness. We saw some very good birds including 2 Great White Egrets, 15 Black Terns, 1 juvenile White-winged Black Tern, 1 Glossy Ibis, 10 Cattle Egrets, 1 juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Garganey.

September 10th

On a blustery morning with a south west wind blowing there was a westerly movement of hirundines and pipits. During one and three quarter hours we counted 810 House Martins, 130 Swallows, 19 Sand Martins and 38 Meadow Pipits. Other birds we saw included 34 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Ringed Plover calling loudly and landing in the Oyster Farm, 2 Redshank, 1 Wheatear, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Grey Herons, 42 Mallard, 8 Turnstone, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Kestrels. We also saw a Stoat hunting on the seawall.

September 9th

It was a rather disappointing day with the WNW wind not producing a great deal on the sea. Matt spent two hours seawatching this morning and we spent an hour and a half this afternoon and only counted 52 Swallows W, 1 Arctic Skua W, 1 Black Tern W, 13 Sand Martins W, 2 Wigeon W, 6 Gannets, 1 Great Skua W, 1 Firecrest in the car park, 1 Shoveler W, 1 Garganey W (180th) and 6 Bar-taled Godwits W.

Dave Smith had a walk at Reculver this evening and saw 50 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 1 Common Gull, 14 Sandwich Terns, 1 Hobby, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows and 1 Chiffchaff.

September 8th

This morning Anne and I walked around Reculver bushes and then inland. Birds we saw included 4 Grey Herons, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs,  3 Robins, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 52 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 41 Coot, 9 Little Grebes, 16 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpipers, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Spotted Flycatchers

This morning Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. He recorded 2 Chiffchaffs, 11 Swallows, 28 House Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear, 4 Kestrels, 14 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Grey Herons. He also saw a Buzzard species very high and gliding S before being lost in the clouds.

September 7th

We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Tree Pipits flying over, 5 Blackcaps, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 25 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Goldfinches, 3 Corn Buntings, 20 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 11 Golden Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 15 Blue Tits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Magpies and 1 male Ring Ouzel.

There have been large numbers of Red Admiral butterflies flying during the last couple of days and we saw a good number during the morning. In our garden at Bishopstone, on our buddleia bushes, there were at least 15 Red Admirals together with 3 or 4 Painted Ladies.

Birds ringed 48: Chiffchaff 2, Wren 1, Reed Bunting 4, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 14, Whitethroat 4, Blue Tit 6, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 3, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 4, Linnet 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

Robin

This morning Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Chamber's Wall and the Oyster Farm by way of the embankment and walked back along the seawall. He counted 2 Teal, 14 Golden Plovers, 70 Ringed Plovers, 43 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 23 Turnstone, 16 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 2 Common Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Kestrels, 1 juvenile male Bearded Tit, 3 Sedge Warblers, 11 Reed Warblers, 1 Sand Martin, 30 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 1 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Whinchat, 6 Wheatears, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Tree Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits and the Little Bunting on the edge of the Oyster Farm before flying S.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding and on to the Oyster Farm before returning along the embankment. He saw 13 Greylag Geese, 10 Little Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Marsh Harriers, 6 Kestrels, 1 Common Sandpiper, 14 Magpies W, 40 Swallows, 12 House Martins, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipits E, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 8 Reed Warblers and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Matt and Marion were out again between 1500 and 1700 and walked from Bishopstone to Reculver. They saw 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Plover, 67 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, 42 Coot, 9 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Dunlin - Matt Hindle

September 6th - A New Species for Reculver

Matt was out early this morning and his highlight was finding a new species for Reculver Marshes - a LITTLE BUNTING. This is the 310th species for the area and the 179th for the year. He found it at 0810 by the Green Wall, seeing it well and hearing it call repeatedly from an elderberry bush before it flew north for fifty metres and dropped into bushes. He could not re-find it, but after lunch we went back with him and he found it again at 1255 calling from the top of a willow tree before flying back to where he originally found it. 

Other birds he saw included 10 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Mallard, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Tree Sparrow W (178th), 1 Snipe, 1 Pied Flycatcher at Coldharbour, 4 Sandwich Terns, 7 Redshank, 9 Shoveler, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 5 Kestrels, 1 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Gadwall, 3 Lapwings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Gannets and 8 House Martins. He also good numbers of Red Admirals.

It was overcast and murky as Anne and I walked inland at Reculver this morning and saw 20 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow, 42 Mallard, 4 Common Sandpipers, 8 Gadwall, 53 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler,  6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Common Tern W and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W.

 

Dave Smith was birding as well this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and on to the Green Wall. He recorded 7 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 6 Coot, 63 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone,  3 Sandwich Terns, 10 Gannets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels,  Reed Warblers, 28 Swallows, 3 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Meadow Pipits and 1 Tree Pipit flying over.

 

Later this afternoon Matt also saw 1 Curlew, 6 Sandwich Terns, 12 Gannets, 1 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 1 Wheatear, 1 Guillemot, 30 Swallows, 5 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 female Common Redstart, 1 Greenshank, 2 Tree Pipits and 1 Water Rail.

September 5th

With an increasing NE wind and showers forecast Dave Smith, Matt, Anne and I spent from 0600 to 1330 seawatching at Reculver. The undoubted highlight of the morning was a Cory's Shearwater (177th) that flew east close in past the Towers at 0825 and then back west out past the red buoy at 0859. It was seen later at Shellness and Grain. This is only the sixth record of this species for Reculver and a long awaited new area and Kent tick for me.

Other birds we saw during the morning included 15 Arctic Skuas W, 53 Sandwich Terns E, 105 Gannets E, 9 Common Scoter, 7 Great Skuas W, 7 Wigeon W, 48 Teal W, 1 Swift in off the sea, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 19 Swallows, 1 Black Tern W, 1 Shoveler, 7 Common Terns E, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 Kittiwakes W, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Pintail W, 1 adult Pomarine Skua E and 1 Guillemot E.

September 4th

We spent the mornng ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Jays, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 25 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 42 Coot, 39 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Grey Wagtails W, 30 Linnets, 1 Dunlin, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Robins, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 41: Wren 4, Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 3, Blackcap 19, Reed Warbler 2, Robin 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Linnet 1, Whitethroat 1, Goldfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1, Blackbird 2.

Yesterday I received information about a juvenile Reed Warbler we ringed at Reculver on August 12th. It was controlled at Sandwich Bay on 17th August a distance of 17km SE of Reculver.

September 3rd

After overnight showers we spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Grey Partridge, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 House Martins W, 12 Swallows W, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks and 1 Hobby.

Birds ringed 24: Willow Warbler 3, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 5, Reed Bunting 2, Great Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 2, Robin 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Linnet 2, Dunnock 4, Blackbird 1.

First year Spotted Flycatcher

 At Reculver there was a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers and 1 Dunlin.

September 2nd

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 9 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Mallard, 54 Swallows, 4 Willow Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Barn Owl, 24 Greylag Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Sedge Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 50 House Martins, 35 Linnets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Hobbies, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Jays and 1 Greenshank.

Birds ringed 34: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 12, Sedge Warbler 5, Robin 3, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Whitethroat 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 1.

Adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker

 Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and counted 40 Greylag Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 2 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Ringed Plovers, 55 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, 25 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sand Martins, 80 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Wheatears, 2 Grey Wagtails and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

September 1st

On an increasingly humid morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where it was relatively quiet. We only recorded 3 Grey Herons, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 25 Goldfinches, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Robins, 21 Teal, 4 Linnets, 4 Redshank, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Pied Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Greenshank W, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Arctic Skua E and 1 Kestrel.

Matt was also out this morning and covered the Reculver area. He saw 1 Whimbrel, 8 Gannets, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Grey Partridges, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Common Sandpipers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 5 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Snipe, 6 Little Egrets, 9 Little Grebes, 47 Coot, 1 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 52 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gadwall, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Greenshank and 2 Reed Warblers.

This morning Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Chamber's Wall and then on to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 30 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Golden Plover, 100 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 30 Turnstone, 21 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin, 16 Sandwich Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Sand Martins, 13 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Derek Smith was out all morning and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back along the embankment to Chamber's Wall and then Plumpudding. He counted 9 Little Grebes, 17 Greylag Geese, 6 Gannets E, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Common Buzzards, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 2 Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Great Skuas W, 28 Sandwich Terns, 1 Golden Plover on the beach, 10 Ring-necked Parakeets, 15 Swallows, 4 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats, 1 Stonechat, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers and 1 Grasshopper Warbler.

Golden Plover - Derek Smith

Whinchat - Derek Smith

Great Skua - Derek Smith

 August 31st

With a fresh to strong ENE wind blowing Matt, Dave Smith and I had a seawatch at Reculver from 0600 to 1100. Birds we saw included 40 Common Scoter E, 159 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Shoveler, 11 Black Tern E (175th), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Teal, 8 Gannets, 13 Arctic Skuas, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 2 Grey Plovers E, 4 Great Skuas, 1 Dunlin, 1 Guillemot E, 2 adult Pomarine Skuas W (176th), 1 Little Egret and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

August 30th

It was bright and breezy again this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 11 Little Egrets, 55 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 8 Sandwich Terns, 4 Redshank, 48 Mallard, 7 Ringed Plovers, 9 Swallows, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Oystetcatchers, 1 juvenile Avocet, 4 Whimbrel flying W, 2 Whinchats, 3 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and 1 Gannet E.