July 31st
On a sunny afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 5 Whitethroats, 48 Linnets, 2 Mute Swans, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 52 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Turnstones, 24 Ringed Plovers and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit.
We also saw 1 Clouded Yellow.

Oystercatchers

July 30th
This afternoon we walked from Reculver to Minnis Bay and counted 13 Common Terns, 1 Black Tern (168th*), 3 Gannets, 15 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Shelduck, 8 Common Sandpipers, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Sandwich Terns, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 27 Turnstone, 42 Ringed Plovers, 23 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 7 Sanderling, 1 Redshank and 28 Whimbrel, We also saw 3 Painted Ladies and 1 Clouded Yellow.
This morning Marc Heath was out very early and walked to Coldharbour and recorded 20 Sand Martins, 15 Swifts, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Redshank, 6 Stock Doves, 2 Whitethroats, 17 Little Egrets, 5 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Terns, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Ringed Plovers and 3 Common Sandpipers.

* With the removal of Pine Bunting from the Reculver list the year total reverted to 167 but Black Tern brought it back to 168.

July 29th
With a very blustery wind blowing and the tide out there wasn't much to be seen as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before dropping in at Reculver on the way home. We recorded 4 Goldfinches, 5 Grey Partridges, 1 Blackcap, 18 Linnets, 4 Mallard, 1 Coot, 9 Little Egrets, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 adult Common Gull and 1 Green Woodpecker.
This afternoon, in the wind and the rain, Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and Plumpudding and counted 26 Whimbrel, 20 Common Terns, 12 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Turnstones, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Little Egrets.


I received this from the secretary of the British Birds Rarity Committee today. A bit disappointing but not a complete surprise.

Just writing to let you know that this bird has been accepted by BBRC as a Pine Bunting but with some Yellowhammer influence – as indicated by the yellowish edges to the primary wing feathers that are discernible in the photos. A ‘pure’ Pine Bunting has clean white edges to those feathers.  We’ve had a few like this in Britain over the years – hybrids arise because the two species overlap in range further east.  Your record is therefore due to be published in the annual BBRC report, but under Pine Bunting x Yellowhammer.

July 28th
At last a change in the weather after last night's thunderstorms and rain. This morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Reculver in cooler conditions with a freshening south west wind and saw 16 Whimbrel W, 17 Little Egrets, 13 Common Terns W, 3 Redshank, 13 Swifts W, 12 Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 21 Ringed Plovers, 5 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Oystercatchers, 11 Mallard, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Sanderling, 35 Carrion Crows, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 15 Turnstone.

July 27th
We arrived early at Chamber's Wall this morning in the unsuccessful attempt to miss the heat and humidity. We walked up to Coldharbour and managed to see 7 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 62 Linnets, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 12 Little Egrets, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 22 Carrion Crows, 7 Turnstone, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Blackcap and 6 Long-tailed Tits.

Moulting Carrion Crow

July 26th
There was little change in the birds or the hot weather as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning. Birds we saw included 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Pied Wagtails, 6 Cormorants, 5 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 17 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Turnstones, 5 Oystercatchers, 23 Mallard, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Whimbrel W.

July 25th
Once again a NW breeze off the sea made the early morning bearable as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour on another scorcher. We counted 18 Linnets, 8 Redshank, 4 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 16 Turnstone, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Stonechat, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard, 61 Carrion Crows, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel and 2 Sandwich Terns W.
We also found our first Clouded Yellow of the year.

Clouded Yellow

July 24th
One of the advantages of living near the coast in heatwave conditions like this is that there is often a cooling sea breeze. This was the case this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour however it had warmed up significantly by the time we returned to our car. It is still relatively quiet here but we did manage to see 7 Goldfinches, 5 Mute Swans, 4 Whitethroats, 7 Oystercatchers, 61 Linnets, 10 Little Egrets, 22 Swallows W, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Redshank, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 5 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plovers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 47 Carrion Crows, 1 Bullfinch, 10 Skylarks, 2 Grey Partridges and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

July 23rd
With the hot and humid weather continuing we arrived early and spent limited time ringing at Shuart this morning. Birds we saw included 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Greenfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Goldfinches, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Mallard, 9 Linnets, 24 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 16: Wren 1, Reed Warbler 11, Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 1.

July 22nd
We spent a hot and humid morning ringing at Reculver where we recorded 2 Goldcrests, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Jays and 1 Garden Warbler.

Birds ringed 24: Wren 3, Reed Warbler 7, Whitethroat 2, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 7, Blue Tit 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

Juvenile male Sparrowhawk

This afternoon Derek Smith walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour along the River Wansum looking for dragonflies. He saw 60 Red-eyed Damselflies, 35 Small Red-eyed Damselflies, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers, 30 male Ruddy Darters, 3 Brown Hawkers and 1 male Variable Damselfly only the second he's seen in the area.

Red-eyed Damselfly - Derek Smith

Small Red-eyed Damselfly - Derek Smith

Male Ruddy Darter - Derek Smith

Variable Damselfly - Derek Smith

July 21st
We spent a sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw 10 Goldfinches, 46 Mallard flying S, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, the first of the autumn, 12 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Reed Warblers, 13 Sedge Warblers and 1 Grey Heron.

Birds ringed 46: Willow Warbler 1, Linnet 4, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 10, Reed Bunting 5, Reed Warbler 13, Whitethroat 8, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler

Derek Smith was out between 0500 and 0900 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. Birds he saw included 15 Little Egrets, 3 Sandwich Terns, 6 Common Terns, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Dunlin, 8 Reed Warblers and 2 Blackcaps.

July 20th
On a cloudy morning that even had a few drips of rain we had a ringing session at Shuart where we saw 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Turtle Doves, 9 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 30 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 38: Wren 2, Reed Warbler 24, Whitethroat 5, Sedge Warbler 5, Blue Tit 1, Blackcap 1.

July 19th
On an even more humid and hot morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and visited Shuart on the way home. Birds we saw included 14 Whitethroat, 6 Goldfinches, 32 Linnets, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whimbrel W, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Skylarks and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Juvenile Mediterranen Gull

Six-spotted Burnet Moth

July 18th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour again and recorded 131 Sand Martins, 3 Swifts, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Whimbrel W, 20 Linnets, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 15 Oystercatchers, 14 Little Egrets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 55 Carrion Crows, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 10 Meadow Pipits, 1 juvenile Stonechat and 1 Blackcap.

Sandwich Tern

July 17th
Although still sunny and warm there was a refreshing NW breeze blowing this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 3 Whitethroats, 10 Little Egrets, 8 Swallows W, 18 Linnets, 8 Redshank, 26 Mediterranean Gulls, 287 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Mallard, 5 Turnstones, 1 Curlew and 46 Carrion Crows.

Ringed Plover

Moulting adult Mediterranean Gull

July 16th
On another hot morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we saw included 6 Mallard, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 23 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Skylarks, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Oystercatchers, 52 Carrion Crows, 8 Ringed Plovers, 4 Redshank, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Little Egrets, 16 Meadow Pipits, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins and 1 Greenshank.

July 15th
We spent a sunny and warm morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 1 Swift, 2 Greenfinches, 20 Linnets, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 25 Whitethroats, 24 Sedge Warblers, including a French ringed bird, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Blackcaps, 21 Mallard flying S, 10 Reed Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 2 juvenile Coal Tits (168th), 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 65: Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 16, Yellow Wagtail 1, Whitethroat 21, Reed Warbler 7, Reed Bunting 6, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 1, Blackcap 1, Great Tit 1, Coal Tit 2, Blue Tit 1, Blackbird 3.

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Coal Tit

July 14th
It was bright and sunny with the tide out this morning as we walked from Minnis Bay to Reculver. Birds we saw included 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 21 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 immature Gannet floating offshore with fishing net tangled around its neck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Swift W.

July 13th
We spent a quiet morning ringing at Shuart and saw 4 Blackcaps, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 39 Goldfinches, 1 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Birds ringed 15: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Robin 1, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 1, Great Tit 2, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 1.

Chicory

On a sunny afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 44 Carrion Crows, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

July 12th
We spent another overcast morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Blackcaps, 3 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Jay, 2 Kestrels, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Birds ringed 15: Wren 1, Treecreeper 1, Blackcap 8, Reed Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

Juvenile Treecreeper

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0900 and 1200 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and saw 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Curlews, 3 Whimbrel and 3 Turtle Doves.

Essex Skipper - Derek Smith

After lunch we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and found 2 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Little Egret, 5 Oystercatchers, 6 Linnets, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

July 11th
It was another dull and breezy morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 12 Linnets, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Redshank, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Stonechats, a male, female and juvenile, 2 Lapwings W, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 290 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Gannet E, 1 Mallard and 2 Sandwich Terns.

July 10th
There had been an overnight change in the weather as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning and it was cloudy with a brisk NW wind blowing. We counted 4 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Linnets, 5 Oystercatchers, 6 Sandwich Terns, 5 Little Egrets, 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Gannet, 5 Mallard, 56 Carrion Crows, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Jay.

Sandwich Tern

Derek Smith had also been out and between 0500 and 0800 had walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour recording, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk E, 1 Hobby E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

July 9th
It was still hot this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 11 Sand Martins, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Pied Wagtails, 31 Swifts feeding around the Towers, 209 Black-headed Gulls W, 1 Common Gull, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Linnets, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwings W, 3 Whimbrel W, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 3 Mallard and 1 Whitethroat.
We also found a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the Roman wall at Reculver.

Oystercatcher

July 8th
It was another hot morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 3 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Linnets, 6 Skylarks, 1 Little Egret, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 85 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Turnstone, 32 Carrion Crows, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Redshank.
At Reculver this afternoon we saw 1 Jay, 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Bullfinch.

Juvenile Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls

July 7th
On another hot and humid morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Reculver and counted 4 Pied Wagtails, 3 Sandwich Terns, 43 Mediterranean Gulls including 4 juveniles on the beach at Plumpudding and Coldharbour, 2 Kestrels, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 8 Linnets, 13 Oystercatchers, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Swallows, 10 Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 adult Kittiwake E, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 28 Carrion Crows, 1 adult Common Gull E, 1 Redshank and 1 Gannet E.

Two adult and one juvenile Mediterranean Gulls

Five adult Mediterranean Gulls

July 6th
We spent another hot morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 16 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Whitethroats, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Red Kite flying W along the Thanet Way.
We also saw our first Migrant Hawker of the year.

Birds ringed 27: Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 3, Reed Warbler 9, Blue Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Whitethroat 5, Goldfinch 4, Blackcap 2, Great Tit 1.

July 5th
On a morning that became increasingly sunny and hot we had a ringing session on the Marshes south of the railway where there were very good numbers of juvenile birds. During the morning we recorded 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Blackcaps, 60 Whitethroats, 30 Sedge Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 30 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Heron and 8 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 98: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Whitethroat 42, Reed Warbler 8, Reed Bunting 12, Sedge Warbler 16, Linnet 8, Blackcap 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 4.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

This evening we had a walk at Reculver and saw 2 Jays, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Mallard, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Painted Lady - Derek Smith

July 4th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 8 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Jays, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Goldcrests, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 juvenile Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 24: Chiffchaff 2, Blue Tit 6, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 6, Garden Warbler 1, Robin 1, Blackcap 4, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

Juvenile Robin

July 3rd
The heat wave continues but it didn't feel particularly hot on the seawall this morning with a fresh NNE wind blowing. We walked from  Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 8 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Oystercatchers, 37 Carrion Crows, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying E and 2 Swifts.

July 2nd
It was sunny and hot again this morning but thankfully there was a cooling ENE blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. It is still very quiet and we only saw 1 Blackcap, 8 Linnets, 4 Little Egrets, 11 Oystercatchers, 3 Kestrels, 7 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Curlew, 38 Carrion Crows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Swallows and 3 Tufted Ducks.

Swallows collecting mud from a puddle by the café at Reculver.

July 1st
The month began hot and sunny but with very few birds. On our walk from Chamber's Wall to Oyster Farm lagoons we recorded 1 male Marsh Harrier, 7 Whitethroats, 6 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 26 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 6 Ringed Plovers, 7 Linnets, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove flying W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Blackcap.
This afternoon on the railway embankment at Shuart Chris Tedder found one possibly as many as three Norfolk Hawkers. This only the second record for the Marsh following the first one identified by Matt near Chamber's Wall on 15th July 2015.

Norfolk Hawker - Chris Tedder