June 30th
The weather forecast was incorrect this morning. There was supposed to be light rain until about 0800 instead persistent rain continued at 1000 and we got soaked as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We did not see a great deal, just 6 Sandwich Terns, 7 Cormorants, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Little Owl, 2 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 1 Mallard, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank and 2 Goldfinches.

Sea Holly

June 29th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 4 Pied Wagtails, 26 Swifts W, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Whitethroats, 80 Sand Martins, 2 Little Owls, 3 Cormorants, 1 Grey Herons, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 3 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 7 Shelduck, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Blackcap, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Tufted Ducks.

I regularly explain to walkers and dog owners why they should refrain from walking above the high water mark during the nesting season and receive a variety of replies! Nevertheless I am always surprised and pleased how often Ringed Plover manage to hatch eggs and raise young.
 

June 28th
We spent an enjoyable morning ringing at Reculver during which time we saw 4 Turtle Doves, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 9 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 12 Lapwings, 4 Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Coal Tit, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Treecreeper (166th) and 2 Sedge Warblers.
We also saw 2 Emperor Dragonflies and 3 Large Skippers and this afternoon Matt had a Small Blue and a Small Heath at Shuart.

Birds ringed 21: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 2, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit.

Cetti's Warbler

June 27th
On a slightly drizzly morning with a moderate WSW wind blowing we walked along the seawall from Reculver towards Coldharbour. We counted 71 Swifts flying W, 7 Pied Wagtails, 2 Linnets, 2 Goldfinches, 6 Cormorants, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Little Owl, 2 Redshank, 30 Sand Martins, 3 Shelduck, 8 Gannets E, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Mallard, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Gadwall and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Meadow Pipit

June 26th
We had intended to go out this morning but frequent heavy showers put us off so it wasn't until after lunch we visited Reculver and walked inland. We saw 2 Turtle Doves, 3 Whitethroats, 11 Stock Doves, 3 Mute Swans, a Grey Partridge family with one of the adults doing a distraction display for our benefit, 50 Swifts feeding high over the Marsh, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Cormorants, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Curlews W, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Jay.

June 25th
This time of year can be the quietest with all migrants in and most birds breeding, whilst the first waders have yet to start returning from their breeding grounds. It was like that this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Shuart. We recorded 6 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 3 Kestrels, 6 Swifts, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Little Egret, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Goldcrest.

June 24th
Overnight the unpleasant humidity of yesterday had gone and the sun was shining out of a clear blue sky as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We saw 30 Sand Martins, 7 Pied Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Cormorants, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Linnets, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Owl, 6 Swifts W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Shelduck and 2 Redshank.

Tree Mallow by the Roman wall

June 23rd
After the overnight torrential thunderstorms I was looking out of our back window at 0830 when a Hobby zipped past obviously having just paid a visit to the local Sand Martin colony.

June 22nd
We spent another morning ringing on the Marsh, this time south of the railway. We saw 14 Whitethroats, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Sedge Warblers, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Mallard, 16 Reed Warblers, 1 Kingfisher, 12 Swifts and 6 Linnets.

Birds ringed 37. Wren 6, Reed Warbler 10, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 8, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 4, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2, Kingfisher 1, Woodpigeon 1.



Woodpigeon

Kingfisher



Terry Wilson was also out this morning and walking from Plumpudding to Coldharbour saw 7 Turnstones, 1 Little Egret and 1 Grey Heron.

June 21st
We spent a pleasant morning ringing at Reculver where we counted 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Turtle Doves, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Tufted Duck, 5 Goldcrests, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 25 Sand Martins, 2 Mallard, 16 Reed Warblers, 10 Swifts, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Birds ringed 18: Wren 1, Goldcrest 1 juvenile, Chiffchaff 1 juvenile, Reed Warbler 8, Cetti's Warbler 1 juvenile, Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Blackcap 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 2.

Adult Reed Warbler

June 20th
On a thoroughly revolting morning with non stop rain Matt and Anne walked from Bishopstone to Reculver along the clifftop and back along the beach. They counted 2 singing Corn Buntings, 8 Skylarks, 40 Sand Martins, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 third summers and 2 first summers, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Whitethroats.

June 19th
A similar walk to yesterday but on a brighter morning produced 70 Sand Martins, with many juveniles peeking out from their nest holes, 2 Shelduck, 3 Cormorants, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Whitethroats.

Sand Martin cliffs at Bishopstone

June 18th
With a moderate NW breeze blowing this morning Anne walked from Bishopstone Glen to the headland and counted 3 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, a newly fledged family of Linnets, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel 1 singing Chifchaff and Blackcap and 3 Whitethroats.

June 16th
This morning a pair of Common Buzzards spent half an hour displaying high up in the sky behind our garden at Bishopstone.

June 15th
I have been unable to keep my blog up to date over the last week or so but am now catching up with records seen during my absence. Hopefully I'll be out and about soon seeing some good bird but in the meantime here is what has been seen while I've been away.

This afternoon Matt and Anne walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Kestrel, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 pair with a youngster, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Curlews W, 17 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard and 3 Redshank.
Terry Wilson walked from Plummpudding to Shuart and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Whitethroats and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

June 13th
Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland and counted 4 Little Egrets, 1 Cuckoo, 14 Swifts, 1 Little Owl, 5 Turtle Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Goldcrest.
At Grenham Bay Terry Wilson recorded 3 Fulmars and 2 Sandwich Terns.

June 12th
This afternoon Matt walked around Shuart and saw 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Lapwings and 6 Long-tailed Tits.

June 10th
During the day Anne walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and then back along the beach and counted another 25 Sand Martin nest holes on the cliffs nearer the Glen, With the 158 we counted at Reculver on 6th this takes the 2016 total of holes to 183.

June 8th
Today Julian Perry counted 7 Mediterrnaean Gulls, 2 near Coldharbour and another 5 flying past the Towers.

June 7th
We spent a glorious morning ringing at Reculver and saw 6 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Coot, 1 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Kestrels, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 50 Sand Martins, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Grey Partridges and 1 Sparrowhawk.
We also found 2 Black-tailed Skimmers.

Birds ringed 19: Long-tailed Tit 6, Chiffchaff 1, Robin 1, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 5, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.

Juvenile Robin

June 6th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with the tide out and counted 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Linnets, 6 Cormorants, 2 Mallard, 4 Grey Herons, 40 Sand Martins, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, a pair of Shelduck with 10 small ducklings, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret and 1 Lapwing.
Back at Reculver we walked to the Sand Martin colony and counted 158 nest holes.

Sand Martin colony

June 5th
We began the morning by walking from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back via the Green Wall. We saw 15 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cormorants, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lapwings, 2 Swifts, 5 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 4 Linnets and 1 Blackcap. We also saw 100s of Diamond-backed Moths flying up from the vegetation as well as 4 Painted Ladies and 2 Common Blues.
Next we visited various sites at Shuart and Reculver to ring the Blue Tits in our nest boxes. Whilst doing this we counted 2 Turtle Doves, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 16 House Martins feeding over Shuart Farm, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Mallard, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swans and 1 Common Buzzard.

We ringed 63 pullus Blue Tits from 10 boxes averaging 6.3 young per box which is about normal.

June 4th
At least the wind had dropped this morning and it felt milder as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then looked in at Shuart. We saw 7 Whitethroats, 8 Mute Swans, 5 Cormorants, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Lapwings, 4 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 4 Ringed Plovers, 8 Swallows W, 1 Mediterranean Gull flying E calling, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 8 Long-tailed Tits.
We also saw our first Painted Lady of the year.

Juvenile Long-tailed Tit

Mute Swan family

June 3rd
And so it continues! It was still chilly, overcast, damp and breezy this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw very little, just 3 Shelduck, 10 Cormorants, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Linnets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Little Owl.

Ringed Plover

June 2nd
Yet another unpleasant morning which we began at Minnis Bay and where there was little to see, just 2 Gannets and 2 first summer Common Gulls flying E. We then moved on to Shuart and recorded 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Lapwings, 1 Sparrowhawk and 4 Linnets.

June 1st
The awful weather continues! This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with a cool, fresh northerly wind blowing in heavy drizzle, but at least the drizzle relented as we walked back to Reculver. It was difficult viewing conditions but we did manage to see 1 Blackcap, 10 Cormorants, 83 Gannets, 51 E and 32W, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Swift, 3 Whimbrel W, 6 Ringed Plovers, 15 Mute Swans, 10 Oystercatchers, 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Fulmars W.