August 31st
After yesterday's washout we spent a sunny but chillier morning ringing at Reculver. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 16 Mute Swans, 9 Mallard, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey heron and 6 House Martins.

Bird ringed 18: Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 3, Treecreeper 1, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 5, Great Tit 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1.

Grasshopper Warbler

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back around the Green Wall missing most of the passing showers. We saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 25 House Martins, 108 Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 13 Sandwich Terns, 4 Wheatears, 1 juvenile Knot, 3 Dunlin, 42 Ringed Plovers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby and 4 Yellow Wagtails.

Juvenile Knot

August 30th
We arrived at the Towers just after 0600 for a seawatch with a moderate northerly wind blowing but gave up after an hour and a half as it was pretty quiet. We saw 1 Gannet, 3 Great Skuas, 12 Sandwich Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas E, 1 Black Tern and 2 Teal.
After this we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour in drizzle and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 53 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 12 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plovers, 61 Golden Plover and 7 Corn Buntings.

August 29th
Whilst we were ringing at Shuart this morning we managed to see 4 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Common Buzzards, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Red-legged Partridges, 17 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 100 Goldfinches, 3 Marsh Harriers, 350 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Robins, 12 Reed Warblers, 41 Lapwings, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Grey Herons.

Birds ringed 46: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Robin 4, Reed Warbler 10, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 4, Goldfinch 8, Blackcap 3, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Greenfinch 2, Blackbird 3.

August 28th
It was still very warm this morning but quieter than yesterday as we ringed south of the railway. Birds we saw included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Golden Plover, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers and 1 Chiffchaff.

Birds ringed 27: Willow Warbler 4, Whitethroat 6, Reed Bunting 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 4, Linnet 1, Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 1.

First year Lesser Whitethroat

Derek Smith was also out at Shuart between 0615 and 0915 and recorded 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Blackcaps, 14 Sedge Warblers, 18 Reed Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

August 27th
On an increasingly warm morning we ringed at Reculver where we saw 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Willow Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Teal, 6 Mallard, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Peregrine, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Swallows, 13 Common Buzzards including a group of 12 thermalling at 1000 and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 31: Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 1, Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 4, Reed Warbler 5, Robin 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 4.

First year Willow Warbler

The Coal Tit was in our garden a number of times this morning.
Derek Smith was out this morning between 0615 and 1100 in the Shuart area and counted 13 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Whimbrel S, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 6 Yellow Wagtails S, 5 Wheatears, 24 Reed Warblers, 9 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 19 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 8 Goldcrests.

Grasshopper Warbler - Derek Smith

August 26th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway line and saw 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warblers, 1 Tree Pipit W, 3 Tree Sparrows, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 12 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Egret, 6 Robins, 1 Snipe, 8 Swallows W, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Whinchats, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
As we arrived home a Coal Tit flew along our back hedge calling noisily.

Birds ringed 39: Willow Warbler 8, Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 7, Reed Warbler 4, Whitethroat 4, Reed Bunting 2, Blackcap 3, Robin 2, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Chaffinch 3, Dunnock 1.



Migrant Robin

Nick Hando and family did not have much to report from Beltinge today birdwise, just 2Whimbrel W, 1 Little Egret, 2 Sandwich Terns, and 1 Coal Tit in the bushes by the beacon at Reculver Drive car park. Yesterday they had a Rock Pipit on the beach at Bishopstone.

They had more luck with the fossils today, finding 166 sharks teeth, a ray vertebra, a ray dental bar, several turtle bones and pieces of carapace, and a few fragments of chimaera jawbone. One of the sharks teeth is a monster-sized and perfectly preserved example of Striatolamia macrota.

 

Sharks tooth, ray vertebra and dental bar

 

August 25th
On a beautiful calm, early autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the White Poplars and then on to Coldharbour. We saw 2 Kestrels, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Kingfishers having a skirmish along the Wantsum, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Greenfinches, 18 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 17 Reed Buntings, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 93 Mallard, 1 Curlew, 3 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 8 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Reed Bunting

August 24th
On a cooler morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall before visiting Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 29 Goldfinches, 4 Reed Warblers, 232 Linnets, 17 Corn Buntings, 25 Reed Buntings, 45 House Sparrows, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 82 Mallard, 3 Kestrels, 1 Wheatear, 18 Oystercatchers, 4 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallows, 9 Mute Swans and 1 Grey Heron.
During the day Nick Hando visited the beach near Beltinge and saw a Green Sandpiper and 2 Sandwich Tersn whilst later at Minnis Bay there was a Whimbrel, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and 1 Little Egret.
Over our garden at Bishopstone this evening there were 10 Swallows, 1 Swift and 1 Hobby.

August 23rd
It was still pretty quiet this morning as we completed the same walk as yesterday. We saw 4 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 212 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 95 Mallard, 4 Teal, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Willow Warblers, 9 Mute Swans, 25 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Turtle Doves, 8 Swallows, 1 Whinchat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Jay. We also found a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Whinchat

August 22nd
On a very warm and humid morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then dropped in at Reculver on our way home. The bushes were almost devoid of migrants this morning but we did manage to see 2 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 220 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 83 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flying inland at Coldharbour, 1 Sedge Warbler, 15 Goldfinches, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Turnstone, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Garganey, 6 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Green Woodpecker.

A lovely morning at Coldharbour

Garganey

August 21st
Today dawned wet and overcast but the rain soon turned to drizzle and then died out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 39 Redshank, 1 Gannet, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Common Sandpipers, 2 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Sandwich Terns, 9 Grey Plovers W, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 5 Pied Wagtails, 26 Linnets, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 31 Dunlin, 11 Cormorants, 1 immature male Eider, 55 Oystercatchers, 25 Ringed Plovers, 2 Wheatears, 4 Whimbrel W, 2 Whitethroats, 56 Mallard, 10 Turnstone, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper and 7 Swallows.
At Grenham Bay, this morning, Terry Wilson saw 9 Little Egrets, 3 Wheatears, 20 Sandwich Terns and 25 Turnstones.
This afternoon we found a family group of 3 Turtle Doves still at Chamber's Wall.

Turtle Dove

August 20th
We spent a quiet morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Jay, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 18 Mallard, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Sandpipers, 7 Swallows W, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Teal, 1 Garganey, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 10 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 13: Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 2, Blue Tit 3, Robin 1, Chaffinch 1.

This afternoon a walk at Chamber's Wall produced 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Common Buzzards drifting west, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Swift and 1 Marsh Harrier.

August 19th
It was another bright and breezy morning as we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall via Coldharbour. We saw 3 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 139 Common Terns W, 46 Sandwich Terns E, 5 Gannets, 2 Teal, 2 Wheatears, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Cormorants, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Ringed Plovers, 18 Oystercatchers, 14 Linnets, 1 immature male Eider, 6 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Wheatear

August 18th
On a bright and breezy morning Matt walked from Reculver along the back of the Oyster Farm to Chamber's Wall where we met him and then we all walked back to Reculver via Coldharbour and the seawall. Between us we counted 7 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Common Sandpipers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 Kingfishers, 29 Sandwich Terns, 1 Sparrowhawk, 13 Redshank, 8 Green Sandpipers, 8 Swallows, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Whitethroats, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Kestrels, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Dunlin, 25 Linnets, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 Turnstone, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Gannets and 1 Curlew.

Little Egret

August 17th
It was overcast and sometimes drizzly this morning as we walked from Reculver up to Coldharbour and back. We saw a reasonable selection of species including 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 37 Swallows W, 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Common Sandpipers, 9 Redshank, 5 Pied Wagtails, 6 Little Egrets, 37 Common Terns W, 4 Little Terns W, 11 Cormorants, 8 Ringed Plovers, 36 Mallard, 8 Oystercatchers, 5 Turnstone, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 30 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and 3 Sand Martins W.

August 16th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and down the seawall towards the Oyster Farm lagoons. We saw 80 House Sparrows at the entrance gate, 67 Linnets, 10 Whitethroats, 13 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Sedge Warblers, 3 Corn Buntings, 14 Reed Warblers, 6 Dunlin, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Willow Warblers, 11 Turnstone, 4 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mallard, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher on the breakwater at Coldharbour, 1 male Sparrowhawk and 1 Grey Heron.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

 

Kingfisher at Coldharbour

August 15th
We arrived at Reculver just as the heavy, early morning rain was dying out and managed a reasonably dry walk along the seawall. The tide was half way out and there were good numbers of gulls and terns sitting on the beach or feeding just offshore. We counted 1,000 Black-headed Gulls, 800 Herring Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 51 Common Terns and 24 Sandwich Terns. Other birds we saw included 3 Little Egrets, 8 Pied Wagtails, 13 Cormorants, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Greenshank in off the sea, 5 Linnets, 10 Ringed Plovers, 14 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Wheatear, 13 Turnstone, 29 Swallows and 28 House Martins around the Towers, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Willow Warbler on the rocks.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

August 14th
Most of the warblers appear to have continued their journey south over night as it was relatively quiet at Reculver this morning. On our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour we counted 84 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Goldfinches, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 12 Sandwich Terns, 5 Ringed Plovers, 5 Redshank, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Terns, 1 immature male Eider, 13 Mallard, 8 Cormorants, 8 Swallows W, 4 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 12 Lapwings.

August 13th
It was quieter this morning as we ringed on the Marsh south of the railway. We saw 5 Willow Warblers, 16 Whitethroats, 7 Greenfinches, 8 Goldfinches, 11 Green Sandpipers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 40: Willow Warbler 2, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 11, Whitethroat 15, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 3, Reed Warbler 4, Greenfinch 2, Dunnock 1.

August 12th
Another morning another ringing session this time at Reculver where we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 45 Willow Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Treecreeper (181st), 4 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Sedge Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 53: Willow Warbler 32, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 2, Robin 1, Dunnock 1.

Treecreeper

First winter Willow Warbler

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart along the railway embankment and back via Plumpudding. He counted 8 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Kestrels, 18 Redshank, 1 summer plumaged Knot, 2 Sanderling, 42 Ringed Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 28 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 23 Reed Warblers, 16 Willow Warblers and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Spotted Flycatcher - Derek Smith

Willow Warbler - Derek Smith

August 11th
We spent a beautiful sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. Birds seen included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (180th), 20 Willow Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Golden Plovers, 1 Curlew, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Yellow Wagtails, and overnight arrival of at least 70 Sedge Warblers, 25 Reed Warblers, 20 Whitethroats and 1 Common Buzzard. There was also a Wood Sandpiper in Coldharbour.

Birds ringed 80: Willow Warbler 12, Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 40, Reed Warbler 11, Reed Bunting 1, Whitethroat 13, Blackbird 1, Green Woodpecker 1.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

August 10th
Matt and I arrived at Reculver at 0600 this morning and spent three hours completing an excellent seawatch. With a fresh to strong northerly wind blowing in frequent squalls most birds were flying E and we counted 103 Gannets, 104 Common Scoters, 198 Common Terns, 101 Sandwich Terns, 1 Balearic Shearwater (175th), 8 Great Skuas W, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Arctic Skuas (176th), 2 Teal, 1 Whimbrel, 1 adult dark phase Pomarine Skua with spoons flying W close inshore (177th), 4 Kittiwakes, 2 Black Terns, 1 adult Sabine's Gull (178th) flying W then back E, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Sooty Shearwater (179th), 1 Grey Plover, 1 Peregrine and 4 Fulmars.
After we left Richard Collins spent from 1010 to 1230 at the Towers and recorded 42 Gannets, 1 Arctic Skua, 10 Common Scoter, 9 Common Terns, 56 Sandwich Terns, 1 Black Tern, 1 Kittiwake and 1 Fulmar.
We returned for another session after lunch but things had quietened down considerably as we only counted 4 Black Terns, 58 Common Terns, 32 Sandwich Terns, 11 Gannets, 29 Common Scoter, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas and 1 Curlew.

Today I also received information about two birds we caught on the Marsh. Firstly a Chiffchaff we ringed at Shuart on 30th September 2010 was controlled by a ringer at Hayseley Manor, Arreton, Isle of Wight 192 km WSW an impressive 2,396 days later.

The second bird was a Sedge Warbler we caught four days ago on 6th August on Reculver Marshes that had been ringed on 25th July 2017 at Leighton Moss, near Silverdale, Lancashire. This bird had travelled 412 km SE.

August 9th

On a sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and down the seawall. We saw 3 Marsh Harriers, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Whitethroats, 103 Linnets, 9 Goldfinches, 1 Turtle Dove, 11 Dunlin, 15 Common Terns, 9 Black-tailed Godwits flying past Coldharbour, 11 Swallows W, 2 Greenshank, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 18 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 8 Cormorants and 1 Kestrel.

Dunlin

Derek Smith was out in the Shuart area between 1130 and 1400 and recorded 6 Gannets E, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrels, 1 Hobby E, 12 Sandwich Terns E, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 5 Willow Warblers.

August 8th
Both the weather and the birds felt more autumnal this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 6 Goldfinches, 19 Pied Wagtails, 32 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Cormorants, 1 Kingfisher, 18 Linnets, 11 Sand Martins W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 Redshank, 48 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 24 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 9 Whitethroats, 5 Wheatears, 27 Mallard, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Teal, 12 Dunlin, 18 Willow Warblers, 14 Sedge Warblers, 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 14 Meadow Pipits, 8 Common Terns E, 14 Swallows W and 250 Starlings.

Juvenile Skylark

August 7th
We spent another sunny morning ringing, this time at Shuart, where we saw 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Willow Warblers, 18 Whitethroats, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 33 Swallows, 3 Kestrels, 26 Linnets, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Sedge Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. We also saw and heard an escaped Cockatiel.

Birds ringed 33: Willow Warbler 6, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 6, Whitethroat 6, Sedge Warbler 8, Goldfinch 2, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1.

Lesser Whitethroat



This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where there was a "plague" of flying ants. Birds we saw included 1 Grey Heron, 4 Marsh Harriers, 200 Linnets, 40 Goldfinches, 12 Sandwich Terns, 8 Redshank, 26 Common Terns, 4 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plovers, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 6 Willow Warblers.

August 6th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where there had been a significant arrival of birds overnight comprising mainly of Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers. During our time there we saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 75 Whitethroats, 38 Willow Warblers, 60 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Whimbrels W, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 6 Swallows W, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Garden Warbler and 2 Sparrowhawks.

Birds ringed 114: Willow Warbler 23, Sedge Warbler 37, Whitethroat 40, Reed Warbler 8, Reed Bunting 3, Garden Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Dunnock 1.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

August 5th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Sparrowhawks, 30 Willow Warblers, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Hobby, 2 Jays, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Dunlin and 6 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 48: Willow Warbler 18, Chiffchaff 3, Wren 5, Great Tit 5, Garden Warbler 2, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 3, Sedge Warbler 1, Robin 1, Reed Warbler 2, Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 2.

Garden Warbler

August 4th
It was blustery and sunny this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Plumpudding lagoon and on to Shuart. We saw 4 Marsh Harriers, 46 Linnets, 7 Redshank, 2 Willow Warblers, 45 Turnstone, 2 Pied Wagtails, 58 Ringed Plovers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 53 Common Terns, 55 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 60 Sanderling, 57 Whimbrel, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 5 Whitethroats, 11 Cormorants, 12 Goldfinches, 12 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Kestrel.

Whimbrel

August 3rd
It was very windy this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We managed to see 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Cormorants, 12 Sandwich Terns, 10 Little Egrets, 25 Sand Martins, 5 Swifts W, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat, 73 Common Terns, 6 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 8 Linnets, 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin, including a juvenile, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Black Tern, 2 Kestrels, 2 Wheatears and 1 Green Woodpecker.

August 2nd
We managed a morning's ringing at Shuart before the threatened wind and rain arrived. Birds we saw included 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Mallard, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 17 Linnets, 8 Willow Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 28 Lapwings, 30 Whitethroats, 35 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 22 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whinchat.

Birds ringed 63: Wren 5, Willow Warbler 6, Reed Warbler 24, Whitethroat 20, Sedge Warbler 4, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 1.

Willow Warbler

On a wet and windy afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and managed to see 1 Turtle Dove, 12 Swallows, 4 Swifts W, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Common Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin and 1 Green Woodpecker.

August 1st
On a sunny and mild morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along to the Oyster Farm. Birds we saw included 12 Goldfinches, 24 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove, 29 Linnets, 17 Little Egrets, 7 Common Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Redshank, 21 Ringed Plovers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Cormorants, 14 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 12 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel and 14 Meadow Pipits.

The immature male Eider is still at Coldharbour