July 31st
Today dawned still breezy after yesterday's gales and with the odd passing shower. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 100 Sand Martins, 8 Little Egrets, 17 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 18 Swifts W, 2 Grey Herons, 11 Cormorants, 10 Common Sandpipers, 13 Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 250 Linnets, 3 Whimbrel, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Common Terns W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Wood Sandpiper (166th) and 20 Meadow Pipits.

Mediterranean Gulls

Marc Heath was out between 0530 and 1000 and saw similar numbers to us as he walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. His totals included 3 Sandwich Terns, 19 Swifts W, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 10 Stock Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 14 Common Sandpipers, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plovers, 7 Redshank, 4 Whimbrel, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Turnstone, 2 Wood Sandpipers,1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Skylarks, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Whitethroats, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Blackcap, 25 Common Terns W, 1 Gannet and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
During the day Chris Tedder visited Shuart where she found and photographed a new species of dragonfly for the area - a male Southern Migrant Hawker. She also photographed a Southern Hawker.

Male Southern Migrant Hawker - Chris Tedder

Southern Hawker - Chris Tedder

July 30th
On an increasingly windy morning we arrived at Reculver early in an attempt to avoid the threatened gale force winds later this morning. We walked up to Coldharbour and back and saw 54 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Common Terns W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 9 Oystercatchers, 6 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Swallows W, 2 Coot, 2 Whimbrel W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Sanderling and 1 Ringed Plover.

Adult Sandwich Tern

July 29th
Back at Reculver this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 1 Whitethroat, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 26 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 8 Swallows W, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Green Woodpecker.

July 28th
This morning Derek Smith walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and then on to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Tufted Duck W, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 1 Black-tailed Godwit W (165th), 15 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew, 1 Greenshank W, 5 Knot W, 43 Dunlin W, 31 Sanderling, 28 Ringed Plovers, 23 Turnstone, 16 Oystercatchers, 18 Common Sandpipers, 1 Sedge Warbler and 18 Swifts W.
Marc Heath walked from the Towers to Coldhabour between 0600 and 0900 and counted 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Tern, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Herons, 34 Redshank W, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 170 Linnets, 6 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 81 Swifts W, 3 Sand Martins, 5 Golden Plovers, 9 Gannets W and 5 Tufted Duck W.

July 23rd to 28th - Shetland Islands
We have spent the last few days on the Shetland Islands exploring the fantastic scenery, the seabird colonies and the archaeological sites. Beside the breeding birds we managed to find 7 Two-barred Crossbills at Brae and an immature Iceland Gull near Busta. The weather was glorious.

Wonderful scenery and weather

Sumburgh Head

Hermaness Gannets

Puffin

Nesting Great Skua

Nesting Red-throated Diver

July 26th
This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 19 Oystercatchers, 18 Ringed Plovers, 15 Turnstone, 15 Sandwich Terns, 10 Little Egrets, 2 Kingfishers, 8 Common Sandpipers, 1 Golden Plover flying west, 31 Common Terns, 6 Dunlin, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Redshank, 1 adult Arctic Tern flying west (164th), 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Greenshank flying west, 5 Whimbrel, 12 Sanderling, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Common Gulls, 23 Swallows, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Whitethroats, 6 Sedge Warblers and  Stonechat. 

July 25th
Matt spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where he saw 2 Grey Partridges, 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 18 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 34: Wren 1, Whitethroat 16, Reed Warbler 8, Sedge Warbler 3, Linnet 1, Robin 1, Blackcap 1, Reed Bunting 1, Great Tit 1, Blackbird 1

Sedge Warbler

During the afternoon Matt walked to Coldharbour where he saw 1 Gannet, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Eider, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper and also a Brown Hawker.

July 23rd
Matt spent the morning ringing at Reculver where he saw 7 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 30 Reed Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 14 Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Sand Martins.

Birds ringed 65: Wren 6, Willow Warbler 7, Chiffchaff 4, Reed Warbler 17, Whitethroat 7, Garden Warbler 2, Blackcap 9, Blue Tit 4, Chaffinch 1, Robin 2, Sedge Warbler 3, Blackbird 3

Willow Warbler

He also walked from Chambers Wall to Coldharbour this afternoon and saw 1 Cuckoo, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Sandwich Terns.

July 22nd
This morning at Reculver there was a warm SW breeze blowing which prompted a westerly movement of Swifts and to a lesser extent hirundines during the first hour of our walk to Coldharbour. We counted 113 Swifts, 51 Swallows, 14 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins.
Other birds we saw included 14 Cormorants, 5 Pied Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 45 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Stonechats, 7 Sanderling, 1 Common Tern, 6 Turnstone, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 immature male Eider and 1 Redshank.
We also found 2 Wall Browns living up to their names on the Roman wall at Reculver.

Sea Holly

July 21st
On a warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhabour and on to the Oyster Farm. The most interesting observation was finding a colour ringed summer plumaged Golden Plover feeding on the beach off the Green Wall. I've sent the details off to the BTO and will be very interested to find out where it was originally ringed.
Other birds we saw were 6 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 adult Stonechats carrying food for their second brood of young, 21 Swallows flying W, 1 Curlew, 1 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Coot.

Colour ringed Golden Plover

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0645 and 1030 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back via the railway embankment. He saw 2 Little Egrets, 2 Gannets E, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank, 13 Swifts W, 8 Sand Martins W and 6 Yellow Wagtails.

Common Toadflax - Derek Smith

July 20th
After overnight thunder and heavy rain we managed to walk from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning without getting wet. We recorded 3 Pied Wagtails, 30 Linnets, 35 Sand Martins, 22 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Whitethroat, 8 Redshank, 6 Little Egrets, 125 Starlings, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 male Stonechat, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 3 Swifts W, 5 Mallard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Turnstone, 9 Cormorants and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

July 19th
It was cloudy and damp this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Linnets, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 5 Coot, 1 Corn Bunting, 13 Cormorants, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 100 Starlings, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets and 1 male Stonechat with 2 juveniles.

July 18th
This morning we had an enjoyable walk from Reculver to Shuart and recorded 12 species of wader. Birds seen included 9 Pied Wagtails, 9 Swallows, 370 Starlings, 112 Sand Martins, 6 Little Egrets, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling and 13 Cormorants. From Coldharbour onwards we added 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 6 Swifts W, 1 Wheatear, 1 summer plumaged Golden Plover on the beach, 1 Whimbrel, 9 Linnets, 1 male Ruff flying W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Curlew, 160 House Sparrows near Plumpudding Stables, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Blackcap.

July 17th
On another warm summer's morning we had a ringing session at Shuart where there might have been the first signs of birds moving. Birds we saw included 6 Greenfinches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Whitethroats, 25 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Turtle Dove, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Common Treecreeper, 18 Reed Warblers, 14 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Linnets and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 55: Treecreeper 1, Reed Warbler 12, Whitethroat 8, Sedge Warbler 10, Blackcap 3, Goldfinch 8, Reed Bunting 6, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Garden Warbler 1, Greenfinch 3, Dunnock 1

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler

July 16th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 2 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Mallard, 10 Cormorants, 40 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 20 Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 8 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 66: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 13, Whitethroat 28, Blue Tit 7, Linnet 3, Blackcap 2, Sedge Warbler 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Green Woodpecker 1

A noisy juvenile male Green Woodpecker

On our drive home we saw a Red Kite circling over Brook valley.

July 15th
We spent an overcast morning ringing at Reculver and saw 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 6 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat, 30 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 25: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 3, Reed Warbler 5, Chaffinch 6, Blackcap 4, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2, Green Woodpecker 1

July 14th
On a damp and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 10 Linnets, 8 Skylarks, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 12 Shelduck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull and 1 Turnstone.
Between 0630 and 0845 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. His highlights were 15 Little Egrets, 4 Kestrels and 4 Common Sandpipers.

July 13th
On a cooler and cloudier morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 24 Linnets, 5 Whitethroats, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 10 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Shelduck, 1 immature male Eider, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Terns, 4 Ringed Plovers and 7 Skylarks.

July 12th
This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Skylarks, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Little Egrets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 9 Linnets, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Swifts W, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 12 Shelduck, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 8 Cormorants.
We also found a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the Roman walls at Reculver.

Second summer and adult Mediterranean Gulls

Second summer Mediterranean Gull with ring that may possibly be Dutch

Chris Tedder had a walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and overall it seemed quiet for birds with her highlights being 4 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. She also saw 4 Brown Hawkers, 1 Willow Emerald Damselfly and good numbers of Marbled White butterflies.

July 11th
We completed the same walk as yesterday and recorded 4 Swifts W, 11 Skylarks, 16 Linnets, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 9 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 1 Black Redstart, 12 Shelduck, 2 adults and 10 flying juveniles, 6 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 3 Sandwich Terns, 8 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Curlew, 16 Swallows and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Immature male Eider

 

Juvenile Black-headed Gull

Sea Lavender

July 10th
On an overcast morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Grey Heron, 6 Goldfinches, 7 Linnets, 10 Skylarks, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Whitethroats, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Sandwich Terns, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Turnstone, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Terns, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 1 Redshank, 12 Shelduck and 4 Coot.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Adult Mediterranean Gull

July 9th
We had another ringing session this morning this time at Shuart where we saw 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Greenfinches, 36 Goldfinches, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Swift, 6 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 33: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 1, Goldfinch 10, Reed Bunting 3, Whitethroat 7, Great Tit 4, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

July 8th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 14 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Jays, 1 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 68 Sand Martins, 2 Common Terns, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 35: Chiffchaff 4, Wren 3, Blackcap 7, Reed Warbler 3, Cetti's Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Great Tit 3, Whitethroat 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 3, Kingfisher 1

Juvenile Kingfisher

July 7th
The overnight cold front had moved off to the SE as we arrived at Chamber's Wall this morning leaving cooler and cloudier conditions with the odd drop off rain still in the air. We did not see a great deal on out walk to the Oyster Farm just 2 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Skylarks, 14 Little Egrets, 1 Coot, 12 Shelduck, 2 Turnstone, 8 Cormorants, 2 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers and 6 Linnets.

Little Egrets in Coldharbour

July 6th
It was another beautiful morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 1 Pied Wagtail, 17 Linnets, 14 Little Egrets, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 3 Grey Herons, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 Hobby, 1 Curlew, 12 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows, 12 Shelduck, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 juvenile Stonechats and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying W.

July 5th
On a warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to Plumpudding before returning along the railway embankment. Birds we saw included 1Yellow Wagtail, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 12 Skylarks, 15 Linnets, 37 House Sparrows, 6 Ringed Plovers, 5 Swifts, 4 Whimbrel W, 6 Sand Martins, 24 Swallows, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Green Woodpecker. We also found our first two Marbled White butterflies of the year on the embankment.

Marbled White

July 4th
This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Owl, 10 Cormorants, 7 Sand Martins, 1 Mallard, 27 Linnets, 1 male Stonechat, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Ringed Plovers, 7 Little Egrets, 12 Shelduck, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Coot, 1 Common Tern, 14 Meadow Pipits and 1 Kestrel.

Singing Song Thrush

Meadow Pipit

July 3rd
On a very pleasant summer's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we saw included 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Skylarks, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Little Egrets, 8 Ringed Plovers, 12 Shelduck, 10 Oystercatchers, 11 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Greylag Goose.

Moulting adult Grey Heron

July 2nd
We spent another sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 5 Blackcaps, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Chiffchaff, 18 Goldfinches, 16 Lapwings, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 46: Wren 1, Goldfinch 9, Reed Bunting 6, Sedge Warbler 1, Blue Tit 2, Whitethroat 12, Great Tit 4, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Blackbird 1

July 1st
We spent another morning ringing, this time at Shuart, where we saw 1 Turtle Dove, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lapwing, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Swifts, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard and 8 Swallows.

Birds ringed 18: Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 5, Robin 3, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 5

Yesterday when we were ringing at Reculver we caught a Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat that had not originally been ringed by us. Today I received the information of their original ringing sites. The Reed Warbler had been ringed as a juvenile near Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire on 9th August 2014 and the Whitethroat had been ringed as a first year bird at the Power Station, Isle of Grain, Medway on 14th August 2017.