July 31st
Our walk this morning from Shuart to Plumpudding lagoon began in sunshine and ended with a shower. We counted 2 Blackcaps, 5 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 16 Swifts W, 63 Linnets, 24 Sandwich Terns, 33 Turnstone, 23 Ringed Plovers, 66 Common Terns, 11 Whimbrel, 3 Oystercatchers, 12 Sanderling, 1 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 60 House Sparrows, 3 Pied Wagtails and 1 Kestrel.

Newly hatched Ringed Plover

July 30th
It was a blustery morning with a threat of showers as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 27 Swifts flying W, 16 Linnets, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Owl, 11 Cormorants, 9 Little Egrets, 24 Sand Martins, 1 Mallard, 3 Redshank, 12 Turnstone, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew. We also found a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the Roman walls at Reculver.

View from Coldharbour this morning

Moulting Magpie

July 29th
On a humid morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and railway embankment. We counted 87 Swifts W, 2 Kestrels, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 48 Linnets, 2 Common Terns, 1 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Curlew, 9 Turnstone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Goldfinches and 1 Turtle Dove.

Small Skipper

Marc Heath was out earlier and walked from Reculver and saw 110 Swifts W, 3 Kestrels, 18 Yellow Wagtails, 1 juvenile Wheatear, 1 Black-tailed Godwit W (174th), 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Eider, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Curlew, 40 Common Terns W and 2 Sanderling.

July 28th
It almost felt autumnal out on the seawall this morning with a cool, fresh SW wind blowing and overcast conditions. On our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour we saw 4 Goldfinches, 6 Pied Wagtails, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Kestrels, 8 Cormorants, 42 Sand Martins, 4 Common Sandpipers, 7 Linnets, 20 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whimbrel W, 8 Oystercatchers, 27 Meadow Pipits, 2 Common Terns, 10 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 immature male Eider, 1 juvenile Peregrine unsuccessfully chasing anything that flew, 1 Curlew and 1 juvenile Wheatear.

Juvenile Peregrine

July 27th
It felt cooler this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm. Birds we saw included 9 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Tern, 29 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Dunlin, 13 Redshank, 12 Turnstone, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 juvenile Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Hobby and 1 Common Buzzard.

Perforate St John's Wort

July 26th
It was relatively quiet this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Swifts W, 33 Linnets, 14 Redshank, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Kestrels, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Turnstone and 1 Clouded Yellow.

Sea Holly

July 25th
On a showery morning with the tide out we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm. We counted 4 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Kingfisher, 37 Swifts W, 4 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 immature male Eider, 11 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Redshank, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Whimbrel W, 1 Grey Plover, 4 adult Common Gulls W, 1 Dunlin, 1 juvenile Wheatear, 1 Kestrel, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cormorants and 1 Clouded Yellow.

Juvenile Grey Heron

July 24th
We arrived at Chamber's Wall after lunch and walked up to Coldharbour with a fresh NW wind blowing and saw 128 Swifts feeding and flying W, 2 Ringed Plovers, 12 Mallard, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Common Gull, 2 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 immature male Eider.

Sandwich Tern

Whimbrel

Marc Heath was out this morning and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour seeing 30 Swifts W, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 6 Pied Wagtails, 11 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 8 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 10 Linnets, 6 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 4 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers and 6 Oystercatchers.

July 23rd
After yesterday's excitement, today was much quieter as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm. We saw 11 Whitethroats, 18 Linnets, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 9 Oystercatchers, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 juvenile Wheatear, 14 Meadow Pipits, 26 Turnstone, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank 2 Grey Herons, 8 Cormorants, 3 Dunlin, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Marsh Harrier and 10 Long-tailed Tits.

Juvenile Wheatear - Mark Chidwick

July 22nd
It was an excellent morning after the early rain-bearing front had moved through bringing the best migration morning for waders and terns so far. We met Julian and Alex Perry and Mark Chidwick at Coldharbour and between us had an impressive range of species. Birds seen included 4 Goldfinches, 10 Pied Wagtails, 6 Cormorants, 20 Linnets, 21 Redshank, 23 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Greenshank, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 150 Sand Martins, 15 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Swifts, 1 Kestrel, 2 Whitethroats, 43 Turnstone, 12 Common Sandpipers, 4 Whimbrels W, 16 Meadow Pipits, 61 Common Terns W, 1 immature Eider, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Terns, 2 Black Terns W (173rd), 15 Common Scoter E, 1 Sanderling, 13 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron and 1 juvenile Wheatear.



Little Terns

July 21st
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and dropped in at Reculver on the way home. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 21 Linnets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Sanderling, 1 Redshank, 6 Whimbrel W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Tern, 1 Little Ringed Plover W, 11 Whitethroats and 1 Jay.

Female Reed Bunting

July 20th
This morning began sunny and breezy but as we were returning to Chamber's Wall the drizzle began. The bird of the morning was a Wood Sandpiper (172nd) we found in Coldharbour.

Wood Sandpiper



Other birds we saw included 12 Swallows W, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 male Turtle Dove  doing its display flight and then "purring", 7 Swifts W,  Whitethroats, 15 Linnets, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 immature male Eider, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Dunlin, 11 Turnstone and 1 Green Woodpecker.
This evening a group of 50 Swifts flew W at Bishopstone.

July 19th
After a violent thunderstorm deposited 25mm of rain on our garden in an hour overnight we decided to walk along the seawall at Reculver this morning to see if any waders had been forced down. We recorded 10 Pied Wagtails, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 30 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Mallard, 3 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 19 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 7 Common Sandpipers, 10 Dunlin, 7 Turnstone, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Kestrels and 1 juvenile Wheatear. We also saw 1 Clouded Yellow.

Juvenile Wheatear

July 18th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 18 Linnets, 9 Cormorants, 9 Pied Wagtails, 10 Sand Martins, 7 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 14 Turnstone, 10 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Common Sandpiper, 9 summer plumaged Dunlin, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Mallard, 2 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Kestrel, 3 Swifts, 2 Mediterranaen Gulls E and 1 Sanderling.
There were also 2 Clouded Yellows on the track below the seawall.

Immature male Eider

July 17th
We spent an overcast and humid morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Greenshank, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Blackcaps, 24 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Curlews, 7 Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 4 Sedge Warblers, 25 Reed Warblers, 16 Goldfinches and 17 Cormorants flying S.

Birds ringed 35: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 12, Whitethroat 12, Blackcap 3, Sedge Warbler 1, Great Tit 2, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 1.

July 16th
Our walk at Chamber's Wall this morning began in sunshine but clouded over half way through and prompted a westerly movement of Swifts. We counted 227 flying W in 30 minutes.
Other birds seen included 3 Whitethroats, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 9 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Cormorants, 1 Common Tern, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 6 Swallows W and 1 Turtle Dove.
We also found 6 Clouded Yellows.
Bob Hinge cycled along the seawall this evening and counted 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 2 summer plumaged Dunlin at Coldharbour, 1 Little Owl, 7 Yellow Wagtails and an early returning Wheatear.

July 15th
It is still relatively quiet at Reculver but waders are just about beginning to return from their breeding grounds. On our morning walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm we saw 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Linnets, 2 Goldfinches, 8 Mallard, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Corn Bunting, 14 Turnstone, 1 immature male Eider, 6 Oystercatchers, 9 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel W, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 adult Mute Swans with 6 cygnets.

Sanderling

Male Turtle Dove

July 14th
It was quite breezy this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We saw 11 Linnets, 11 Pied Wagtails, 7 Cormorants, 3 Whitethroats, 5 Turnstone, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers flying off the beach, calling loudly and flying S, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Redshank, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Pied Wagtail

July 13th
On a fine morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm before returning along the Green Wall. We counted 6 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Oystercatchers, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Short-eared Owl, 5 Cormorants and 6 Goldfinches. We also saw 7 Clouded Yellows.

Juvenile Grey Heron

Clouded Yellow

July 12th
After heavy overnight rain, 23.0 mm at Bishopstone, we arrived at Reculver in very blustery and cool conditions for our walk up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Little Egrets, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 female Ruff, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Swifts W, 1 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Cormorants and 2 Tufted Ducks.
This afternoon with a fresh northerly wind still blowing we visited Minnis Bay to see if there were any birds on the sea. As we arrived we noticed a horrible smell which turned out to be rotten seaweed being deposted on the promenade by the breakers. The gulls seemed to find it very appetising and in amongst the feeding 250 Black-headed Gulls there were at least 11 Mediterranean Gulls. Other birds seen included 6 Common Scoter, 3 male and 3 females, sitting on the sea, 18 Gannets, 1 Eider flying W and 1 Little Tern flying W.

I also received information today about a French ringed Sedge Warbler we controlled on the Marsh on 17th and 22nd May. It had been ringed at Tour aux Moutons, Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France on 2nd August 2015. This site is 509 km SSW of Reculver.

July 11th
There was a more unsettled feel to the weather this morning after yesterday's afternoon thunderstorms. This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Tern, 40 Swifts, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Dunlin, 1 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Whitethroats, 14 Cormorants, 2 Redshank, 1 female Ruff (171st) in from the E and landing in the Oyster Farm, 1 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Grey Heron.
Terry Wilson also had 25 Mediterranean Gulls at Grenham Bay.

July 10th
We spent a cloudy morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Whimbrel W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 3 Chiffchaffs, 18 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 4 Linnets, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Curlew W and 10 Mallard.

Birds ringed 40: Wren 4, Chiffchaff 2, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 10, Whitethroat 10, Robin 2, Blue Tit 3, Reed Bunting 2, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 2.

Juvenile Chiffchaff

July 9th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where it was a bit cooler first thing but as the sun gradually came out it turned into another hot day. Birds we saw included 12 Blackcaps, 22 Reed Warblers, 2 juvenile Turtle Doves we ringed two weeks ago, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Mute Swans, 9 Whitethroats, 12 Mallard, 4 Lapwings, 13 Swifts, 1 Little Egret, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawks, 40 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows.

Birds ringed 36: Wren 6, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 10, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 5, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 2, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1.

July 8th
On a cooler and overcast morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 11 Linnets, 6 Little Egrets, 6 Cormorants, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Whimbrel W, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 21 Turnstone, 1 Corn Bunting and 200 Starlings.

Newly arrived summer plumaged Dunlin

Moulting adult Mediterranean Gull

Immature male Eider

Wall Brown living up to its name on the Roman walls at Reculver

July 7th
With limited time and a late arrival this morning we only walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour but saw 4 Whitethroats, 6 Linnets, 1 singing Corn Bunting, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank, 10 Mallard, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Ringed Plover

July 6th
The threatened early morning showers moved past south of us so that our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour was dry and warm but breezy. The highlight of the morning was finding 31 Mediterranean Gulls roosting in groups on the beach. These are likely to be the failed breeders from the Medway moving out as most birds were adults with only one or two first summer birds.

Adult Mediterranean Gulls

Moulting first summer Mediterranean Gull

Other birds we recorded included 7 Cormorants, 6 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 11 Little Egrets, 1 Little Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, 200 Starlings, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Common Tern and 1 Gannet.

July 5th
It was sunny, humid and very warm already when we arrived at Chamber's Wall this morning. We walked up to Coldharbour and then along to the Oyster Farm and counted 14 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Blackcap, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 8 Mallard, 8 Gannets feeding offshore, 8 Sandwich Terns, 23 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns, 10 Oystercatchers, 17 Linnets, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 17 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Shelduck, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 1 immature male Eider.

Common Tern

July 4th
We spent another beautiful morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 3 Blackcaps, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Oystercatchers, 35 Goldfinches, 14 Sedge Warblers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 10 Linnets, 2 Common Buzzards, 15 Reed Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Curlews.

Birds ringed 37: Chiffchaff 2, Goldfinch 6, Great Tit 3, Sedge Warbler 8, Reed Warbler 6, Whitethroat 5, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 3.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

July 3rd
We spent another morning ringing, this time on the Marsh south of the railway. We saw 9 Mallard, 7 Whitethroats, 10 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, 300 Starlings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Siskins W, 20 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Birds ringed 22: Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 12, Great Tit 1, Whitethroat 4, Cetti's Warbler 1, Yellow Wagtail 1.

Male Yellow Wagtail

July 2nd
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Whitethroats, 25 Sand Martins, 2 Curlews W, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Jays, 2 Teal, 3 Swifts, 20 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 17: Wren 4, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 6, Great Tit 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1.

July 1st
The month began overcast and windy but conditions improved as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and then inland at Reculver. We saw 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 28 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Ringed Plovers, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Jays, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 1 Corn Bunting.

Amphibious Bistort