August 28th
Matt was out early again this morning and birded from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and round the Green Wall. His highlight was finding a Wryneck (168th) beside the Wantsum in the "Olive-backed Pipit bush". Other birds he saw included 53 Mallard, 1 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Terns, 9 Swifts, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Swallows, 23 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 4 Robins, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Pied Flycatcher.
Later he walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ruff (169th), 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Little Owl, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 50 Linnets. He then walked from Bishopstone and found another rarity in the form of a first winter Ortolan Bunting (170th) in the newly ploughed fields at the cliff top. Other birds seen included 1 Sparrowhawk, 11 Grey Partridges, 10 Sand Martins, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 300 Starlings, 11 Wheatears, 5 Whinchats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Blackcap.