June 30th
On a sunny morning with a light NE breeze blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 10 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 5 Oystercatchers, 6 Linnets, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Curlews, 1 Little Egret, 51 Carrion Crows, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Kestrel, 4 Ringed Plovers and 1 Common Tern.

Common Tern

June 29th
This morning we walked from Shuart to the sea and saw 3 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 6 Linnets.
We also saw a decent range of butterflies made up of 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Painted Ladies, 3 Red Admirals, 3 Large Whites, 8 Small Whites, 1 Large Skipper, 40 Meadow Browns and 8 Small Heaths. There were also many Silver Y moths to be seen as well as 4 Southern Marsh Orchids by the Stables.
Below the Sand Martins holes at Bishopstone there were 2 Marbled Whites.

Marbled White

June 28th
We spent a cloudy morning ringing at Reculver and saw 3 Whitethroats, 2 Lapwings N, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Jays, 9 Blackcaps, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Sand Martins, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Oystercatcher N, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Turtle Dove. We also saw 11 Gannets in the distance flying E along the seawall.

Birds ringed 36: Wren 5, Chiffchaff 2, Reed Warbler 2, Blackcap 5, Great Tit 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 12.

Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat

June 27th
Unlike the majority of the country which is sweltering today we had a cool NE breeze blowing off the sea as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We didn't see a great deal just 1 Blackcap, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 1 Turnstone, 6 Linnets, 26 Carrion Crows, 1 second summer Mediterranean Gull E, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Curlew flying W.
For a change of scenery this afternoon we travelled 4 miles SW of Reculver to West Blean Woods where we found ten species of butterfly in the sunshine. They were made up from 750+ Meadow Browns, 80+ Ringlets, 15 Heath Fritillaries, 4 Small Heaths, 2 Marbled Whites, 2 Large Skippers, 1 White Admiral, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Large White. We also saw 1 Ruddy Darter, 2 Common Darters and 4 Emperor Dragonflies. Birds we saw or heard included 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Bullfinches, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Coal Tits, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Nuthatch.

White Admiral

June 26th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver where there were a lot of juvenile birds to be seen. We recorded 3 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Turtle Doves, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Jays, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Marsh Harrier and 6 Long-tailed Tits.
We also saw 4 Black-tailed Skimmers and 3 Banded Demoiselles.

Birds ringed 35: Wren 4, Long-tailed Tit 1, Blackcap 7, Robin 4, Cetti's Warbler 3, Blue Tit 9, Great Tit 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 3, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

June 22nd-25th  -  The Derbyshire Dales
We've been away for a few days visiting our daughter in Derbyshire. Normal service should be resumed tomorrow.

June 21st
Although still sunny, this morning was ten degrees cooler than it was last evening and there was a fresh NW wind blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm. There is still very little to be seen at the moment and our walk only produced 6 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Egret, 6 Swifts W, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 22 Carrion Crows, 5 Linnets and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
We did however find a fine group of 23 Pyramidal Orchids below the seawall in an area we've not seen them before.

Pyramidal Orchid

June 20th
We did not think that our walk along the seawall at Reculver this morning would literally be a life saver. As we arrived at the seawall at 0800 Matt noticed what looked like an upturned boat or possibly a dead whale floating about a mile offshore and drifting north east further out to sea. The more he looked at it the more he was convinced that it was a boat with what looked liked someone clinging to its rear. He phoned the Coastguard and explained where it was and they said they would send two boats to investigate. The lifeboat rib from Whitstable arrived first followed by the lifeboat from Thanet. A phone call from the Coastguard a little later told him that they had managed to pull two survivors from the sea.
Birdwatching was a bit of an anti-climax after this! It was pretty quiet again but we did see 1 Blackcap, 2 Curlews W, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 3 Whitethroats, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Owls, 2 Tufted Duck, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 18 Mallard, 5 Linnets, 2 Common Terns and 2 Pied Wagtails. We also saw 2 Pyramidal Orchids and a plague of Pollen Beetles.

June 19th
It was very slow ringing at Shuart this morning but we did see 11 Goldfinches, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Greenfinches, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Lapwing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Swifts W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets W, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Ravens and 18 Swallows.

Birds ringed 6: Chiffchaff 1, Robin 1, Blackcap 2, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.

Common Blue

June 18th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 128 Swifts W, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mallard, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 9 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls N, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 27: Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Warbler 3, Robin 1, Blackcap 7, Blue Tit 6, Whitethroat 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 4.

June 17th
There was rain in the air this morning as we walked from Chambers' Wall but it was still relatively quiet. We saw 19 Linnets, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, 8 Oystercatchers, 28 Mallard, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 35 Carrion Crows, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Goldfinches and 15 Swifts W.

Yellow-horned Poppy

June 16th
This morning we completed out regular walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and saw 7 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Blackcap, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 31 Mallard, 8 Linnets, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Hobby, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Skylarks, 4 Goldfinches and 12 Long-tailed Tits.

Juvenile Long-tailed Tit

June 15th
Yet another change in the weather this morning which was warm and sunny as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm. We recorded 1 Cuckoo. 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Linnets, 7 Skylarks, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, 15 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Shelduck, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Turnstone, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Male Yellow Wagtail

June 14th
There had been a significant change in the weather overnight with a strong SW wind blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then at Reculver. Birds we saw included 4 Goldfinches, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 3 Little Egrets, 48 Carrion Crows feeding on the mussel beds at Coldharbour, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Sand Martins, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff and 7 Swifts.

June 13th
At last a warm and sunny morning which we spent ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Raven, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Lapwings, 6 Whitethroats, 15 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 24 Swifts, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Oystercatchers.
During the morning we also saw a selection of butterflies including 6 Painted Ladies, 1 Brown Argus, 3 Meadow Browns, 10 Small Heaths, 1 Common Blue and 1 Red Admiral.

Birds ringed 20: Reed Warbler 10, Blue Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2.



Sedge Warbler ringed today at Shuart

I have just received information concerning a Sedge Warbler we ringed as a juvenile at Shuart on 5th August 2015. It was controlled by a ringer at Herdade dos Forninhos, Beja, PORTUGAL on 16th August 2016. Beja is 1,708 km SSW of Shuart. When controlled it weighed 16.8 g compared to the 9.8 g at Shuart which suggests it was putting on fat in order to fly on the next leg of its migration across the Sahara.

June 12th
On yet another cool and overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and counted 5 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Mallard, 12 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swans, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plovers, 22 Carrion Crows, 1 Blackcap and 6 Skylarks.

Ringed Plovers

June 11th
We spent another morning ringing this time at Shuart where we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Greenfinches, 7 Goldfinches, 2 Ravens, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Swifts.

Birds ringed 15: Chiffchaff 5, Great Tit 1, Blackcap 5, Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

On a sunny afternoon with a cool NE breeze blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Mallard, 4 Mute Swans, 5 Turnstone and 4 Ringed Plover.

June 10th
We spent an overcast morning ringing at Reculver where good numbers of young birds are starting to appear. Birds we saw included 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Partridge, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Mallard, 25 Sand Martins, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Bullfinches, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Reed Warblers and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 35: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 6, Reed Warbler 5, Robin 2, Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 8, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

June 9th
This morning we had an uneventful walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and recorded 8 Whitethroats, 11 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Tern, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Oystercatchers, 18 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Sand Martins and 1 Grey Partridge.
On a sunny evening with a chilly NE breeze blowing we walked inland at Reculver and counted 4 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 7 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Chiffchaffs, 25 Sand Martins, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Jays, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Teal, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

June 8th
On a much brighter morning than recently we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Grasshopper Warbler "reeling", 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Fulmar E, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 7 Linnets, 1 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Common Tern and 1 Turtle Dove. We also found 2 Painted Ladies.

Grasshopper Warbler

This afternoon we visited the Sand Martin nest holes at Reculver and Bishopstone and found them very busy. At Reculver there were 81 nest holes in use with 20 at Bishopstone.
Below is a table summarising nest hole numbers over the last ten years showing the fluctuations from 62 to 203 with an average of 130. These fluctuations are caused by weather both here but probably more importantly in there wintering quarters in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as winter storms and rain eroding the cliffs between Reculver and Bishopstone and destroying the nest holes.

Sand Martin Counts 2009-2018

YEAR	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Holes in use	62	180	120	152	not counted	85	203	158	112	101

Sand Martins at nest holes



June 7th
We arrived at Reculver this morning just as the earlier thundery showers had drifted away to the north west. We walked up to Coldharbour and managed to record 4 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 12 Linnets, 25 Sand Martins, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Shelduck, 8 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 15 Mallard, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Little Egrets.

June 6th
It was a little less windy this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 6 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Turnstone, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Little Ringed Plovers flying E and calling, 20 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Skylarks and 1 Blackcap.

Little Egrets in Coldharbour

June 5th
On an unpleasant morning with a fresh NE wind blowing in drizzle off the sea we walked along the seawall and inland at Reculver. We saw 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 22 Gannets flying E, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Mallard, 4 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sand Martins and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

June 4th
An overnight change in the weather brought damp, misty conditions to Reculver this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we saw included 2 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 7 Linnets, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 22 Mallard, 3 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Barn Owl hunting over the Oyster Farm lagoons and Green Wall, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Kestrel.

Ringed Plover - a good reason to keep off the beach above high water mark at this time of year

June 3rd
We spent a warm morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Canada Geese flying E, 2 Cuckoos, 7 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 5 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Lapwing, 8 Sedge Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Skylarks and 1 Corn Bunting.

Birds ringed 21: Wren 5, Reed Warbler 5, Whitethroat 5, Sedge Warbler 4, Chaffinch 1, Blackbird 1.

June 2nd
This morning Matt arrived at Bishopstone at 0530 and walked to Chamber's Wall where we met him. On his walk he recorded 38 Swifts, 100 Sand Martins by the colony at Reculver, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Corn Buntings, 4 Shelduck, 2 Little Owls, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 1 Little Egret and 1 Cuckoo.
We then walked from Shuart to Brooksend and on to Plumpudding before returning along Shuart Drove. Birds we recorded included 6 Blackcaps, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Lapwings, 22 Swallows, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Corn Bunting, 32 Mallard, 3 Goldfinches, 11 Shelduck, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Cuckoo.

June 1st
June has begun as May ended with overcast and misty weather. This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm and recorded very little. In the gloom we saw or heard 8 Whitethroats, 2 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Linnets, 20 Mallard, 12 Oystercatchers, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mute Swans and 5 Goldfinches.

Hemlock Water Dropwort