Tuesday, 30 June 2020

June 30th
The wind had subsided a bit since yesterday but it was overcast this morning with a hint of rain in the air as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we recorded included 160 Swifts feeding low over the grass fields and moving west, 13 Reed Warblers, 12 Linnets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches, 7 Whitethroats, 5 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Oystercatchers.

Adult Sandwich Tern

First summer Mediterranean Gull

Monday, 29 June 2020

June 29th
It was another bright and windy morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 2 Chaffinches, 3 Pied Wagtails, 13 Cormorants, 2 Sedge Warblers, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Reed Buntings, 32 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 male rubicola Stonechat singing, 4 Coot, 8 Oystercatchers, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Swifts W, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 male Marsh Harrier.

Sandwich Tern

Sunday, 28 June 2020

June 28th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Grey Heron, 1 singing Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches, 9 Reed Warblers, 13 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Linnets, 2 Swallows, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 41 Swifts W and 1 Reed Bunting.

Oystercatcher

Saturday, 27 June 2020

June 27th
We managed an early morning walk at Reculver before the rain arrived and saw 6 Blackcaps, 14 Sand Martins, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Moorhens and 1 Common Buzzard.

Friday, 26 June 2020

June 26th
We arrived at Reculver just as the early morning thunderstorms had passed through heading over Thanet and out to the North Sea and walked along the seawall from the Towers to Coldharbour for the first time since lockdown. Birds we saw included 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Swallows, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipits, 5 Skylarks, 3 Stonechats, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Redshank, 26 Linnets, 8 Reed Warblers, 12 Swifts, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 2 Coot, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck and 2 Sandwich Terns E.

Male Kestrel

Thursday, 25 June 2020

June 25th
After yesterday's excitement we reverted to our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. It was another hot morning but thankfully with a slightly cooler easterly breeze. Birds we counted included 16 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings, 17 Reed Warblers, 11 Goldfinches, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Linnets, 2 Sedge Warblers, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Swallow, 6 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits, 9 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

 Mediterranean Gull

Wednesday, 24 June 2020

June 24th
The highlight of this morning was when Matt found a singing male Western Bonelli's Warbler (166th) at Reculver at 0600. It remained in the area singing regularly and calling until 0630 when it moved on and could not be found again. This is the third record for the area following birds at Reculver on 2nd October 1988 and another that remained at Shuart between 27th October and 9th November 1991. It is also the 11th Kent record.

A record shot of the Western Bonelli's Warbler - Matt Hindle

Other birds seen during the morning included 1 Moorhen, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Treecreeper (167th), 10 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

June 23rd
We spent a warm and very quiet morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. Birds we saw included 2 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Tern carrying a fish to its young in the Stour Valley, 1 Moorhen, 3 Chaffinches, 6 Sedge Warblers, 4 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard and 11 Swifts.
We also counted 2 Common Darters, 1 Norfolk Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 10 Red-eyed Damselflies and 20+ Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Birds ringed 11: Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 3, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 2, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 1.

Monday, 22 June 2020

June 22nd
It's that time of year when there is little change in sightings from one day to the next. Resident birds and summer visitors are busy nesting and spring migration has virtually ended, so on our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm this morning we saw similar birds to yesterday. We recorded 6 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 11 Skylarks, 13 Linnets, 16 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap, 6 Goldfinches, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Turnstone, 5 Mute Swans, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Common Whitethroat

This afternoon a Red Kite flew W at Bishopstone disturbing all the local Herring Gulls.

Sunday, 21 June 2020

June 21st
It was overcast and blustery this morning with a hint of drizzle in the air as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour via the Green Wall. Birds we saw included 1 male Marsh Harrier, 11 Skylarks, 4 Chaffinches, 20 Whitethroats, 14 Reed Warblers, 9 Sedge Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 59 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Swifts W, 1 female Stonechat, 12 Cormorants, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Turnstone, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Meadow Pipits and 1 Coot.

Male Linnet

Saturday, 20 June 2020

June 20th
We completed our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chaffinches, 11 Skylarks, 158 Swifts feeding over the grass fields as they drifted W, 4 Swallows, 18 Reed Warblers, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Reed Buntings, 4 Linnets, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 juvenile Pied Wagtail, 2 Ringed Plovers, 22 Turnstone, 1 Coot, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Mallard and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

The British Birds Rarities Committee have just published their recent decisions and have decided that the Pine Bunting that Matt caught on the Marsh on November 4th last year is a hybrid Pine Bunting x Yellowhammer on the strength of the pale yellow edges to some of its primaries. Unfortunately not an unexpected decision and the second similar hybrid to be recorded at Reculver. Hopefully third time lucky!

Pine Bunting x Yellowhammer hybrid
 

Friday, 19 June 2020

June 19th
There were a few showers about this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Blackcap, 9 Chaffinches, 12 Skylarks, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Swift, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Reed Buntings, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Mallard, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Coot, 3 juvenile Stonechats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 7 Linnets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 8 Turnstones, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Kestrel and 1 Cuckoo.

A slightly bedraggled male Reed Bunting

Thursday, 18 June 2020

June 18th
Matt ventured out in the pouring rain this morning and walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. He recorded 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 4 Stonechats, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W, 8 Gadwall flying W and 1 Kestrel.
Anne and I arrived at Chamber's Wall after lunch on a bright and breezy afternoon and walked up to Coldharbour. We counted 12 Whitethroats, 11 Reed Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 41 Swifts feeding over the grass fields whilst moving west, 1 female Marsh Harrier hunting along the dykes, 1 Moorhen 3 Goldfinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swallows, 4 Chaffinches, 1 singing Yellow Wagtail, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Little Egret, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Coot, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 2 Curlews flying W, 2 Reed Buntings and 1 Chiffchaff.

Singing male Yellow Wagtail

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

June 17th
We spent another morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Wagtail, 14 Blackcaps, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W, 1 Moorhen, 6 Reed Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 male Turtle Dove singing and and doing its display flight, 6 Goldfinches, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Jays, 4 Skylarks, 12 Sand Martins, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Swallows, 5 Long-tailed Tits and 5 Mute Swans.

Birds ringed 27: Wren 3, Chiffchaff 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 7, Robin 2, Reed Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 3.

Juvenile Robin

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

June 16th
On another sunny and warm morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhrbour and back. We counted 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 7 Chaffinches, 17 Reed Warblers, 21 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 1 Coot, 4 Sedge Warblers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 Mute Swan and 5 Swallows.
We also saw our first Clouded Yellow butterfly of the year whilst the patch of Pyramidal Orchids at Coldharbour had increased to 42.

Meadow Pipit

Ringed Plover

Monday, 15 June 2020

June 15th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 14 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 8 Mute Swans, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Mallard, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Sand Martins, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Moorhen, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 4 Skylarks, 2 House Martins, 5 Goldfinches and 1 Whitethroat.

Birds ringed 36: Chiffchaff 5, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Robin 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 3, Blue Tit 3, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 11, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

Cetti's Warbler

During our ringing this morning we retrapped a male Reed Warbler we first ringed as a breeding adult in 2013 and which we have retrapped breeding at Reculver in every year since. Reed Warblers migrate to spend the winter in West Africa by crossing the Sahara refuelling in southern Europe and Morocco on the way. The flight to West Africa is approximately 4,500 km. Our bird has made this flight there and back at least eight times which is a staggering 72,000 km. This does not include the distance it flies in Africa or whilst breeding at Reculver. Its weight today was just 11.4 grams.

Sunday, 14 June 2020

June 14th
It was another warm and sunny morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 20 Skylarks, 14 Reed Warblers, 10 Linnets, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Coot, 1 juvenile Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull, 6 Turnstone, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Blackcap and 1 Kestrel.

Woodpigeon

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 3 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Mute Swans, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 12 Sand Martins, 6 Reed Warblers and 1 Whitethroat. We also found a Norfolk Hawker.

Saturday, 13 June 2020

June 13th
On a glorious summer's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back and saw 15 Skylarks, 17 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 14 Whitethroats, 3 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 12 Linnets, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 juvenile Stonechats, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying high east and calling, 10 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 11 Turnstone, 1 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Blackcap.

Juvenile Stonechat

This afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull flew over at Bishopstone.
Later we had a walk inland from Reculver and saw 1 Corn Bunting singing, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blakccaps, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Mute Swans and 6 Reed Warblers. Threre were also quite a few butterfles to be seen including 30 Meadow Browns, 4 Large Skippers, 1 Small Heath, 2 Red Admirals and 1 Peacock.

Large Skipper

Friday, 12 June 2020

June 12th
On a warm but breezy morning the highlight was hearing a Quail (165th) calling in the grass field east of the White Poplars. This is the first record here since 2015 and the first one I have heard on the Marsh since 2012.
Other birds we recorded included 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Blackcap, 9 Reed Warblers, 9 Goldfinches, 18 Skylarks, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Chaffinches, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Swallows, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 8 Linnets, 4 Reed Buntings, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mallard, 1 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Mistle Thrush.

Thursday, 11 June 2020

June 11th
It was a murky morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 14 Skylarks, 7 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Swallows, 12 Goldfinches, 9 Whitethroats, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Moorhen, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 10 Mallard, 8 Meadow Pipits, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns flying E, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Gadwall, 1 Little Egret, 1 Coot, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Swift, 3 Chaffinches and 2 Common Buzzards.

Adult Little Egret

Gadwall on the shore

Wednesday, 10 June 2020

June 10th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver south of the railway and managed to avoid any of the threatening showers. Whilst there we saw 14 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 200 Swifts feeding over the grass fields, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Terns, 1 Hobby, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 5 Lapwings W, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Mallard, 6 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron and 3 Chaffinches.

Birds ringed 16: Wren 2, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Robin 1, Goldfinch 2, Blue Tit 2.

Common Whitethroat

This afternoon we had a walk between Brooksend and Shuart and saw 2 Common Buzzards, 50 Swifts, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Kestrels, 2 Chaffinches and 12 Swallows. We also found about 20 Bee Orchids.

Bee Orchid

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

June 9th
The weather had improved overnight and it was a nice sunny morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. We recorded 6 Goldfinches, 16 Reed Warblers, 19 Skylarks, 16 Whitethroats, 5 Chaffinches, 3 Swifts, 2 Moorhens, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Swallows, 17 Linnets, 2 Coot, 7 Reed Buntings, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Shelduck, 1 Mute Swan, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 4 Stonechats, including a pair of "rubicola" birds feeding a second brood, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Blackcap.

A tatty male "rubicola" Stonechat at the end of the nesting season

Small Tortoiseshell

Monday, 8 June 2020

June 8th
On a morning that felt more like March than June with a fresh and chilly northerly wind blowing in drizzle we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We counted 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Skylarks, 11 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Linnets, 6 Chaffinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Coot, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinches and 2 Grey Partridges.
We also counted 25 Pyramidal Orchids in flower at Coldharbour.

Pyramidal Orchid


Sunday, 7 June 2020

June 7th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 6 Blackcaps, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Skylarks, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove purring, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard and 5 Swifts flying W.

Birds ringed 19 : Chiffchaff 5, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 2, Cetti's Warbler1, Great Tit 4, Blackbird 1.

Saturday, 6 June 2020

June 6th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and out to the seawall. Birds we saw included 8 Chaffinches, 65 Swifts flying W, 2 House Martins W, 2 Swallows W, 16 Sand Martins feeding in the lee of the hedges, 5 Blackcaps, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Corn Buntings, 12 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatchers, 24 Stock Doves, 1 Moorhen, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Kestrel. We also saw our first 2 Meadow Browns of the year.
As we arrived home at Bishopstone the local gulls went mad and a Red Kite flew W over the garden.

Friday, 5 June 2020

June 5th
We had rain for the first time for nearly a month overnight even if it was only 0.75mm. This morning dawned cool with a very fresh westerly wind and still the threat of showers. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Goldfinches, 8 Reed Buntings, 9 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Cuckoos, 10 Whitethroats, 13 Linnets, 2 Moorhens, 3 Swallows, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Coot, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Cormorants, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Swifts W and 1 Blackcap.

Carrion Crow prospecting for nests to raid

Thursday, 4 June 2020

June 4th
There had been a change in the weather overnight so as we walked inland at Reculver there was a cool and blustery northerly wind blowing. On our walk we counted 7 Chaffinches, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 80 Rooks, 50 Jackdaws, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Moorhens, 2 Swallows, 7 Skylarks, 2 Kestrels, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Sand Martins, 12 Swifts W, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

June 3rd
On the first cloudy morning for a while we completed our usual walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Blackcaps, 21 Reed Warblers, 3 Chaffinches, 7 Sedge Warblers, 9 Skylarks, 6 Reed Buntings, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Coot, 9 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Mallard, 1 Fulmar E, 19 immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, 1 Redshank and 3 Goldfinches.

Second summer Great Black-backed Gulls

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and I managed to photograph a Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee feeding on clover. This is a species I had not noticed in the area before.



Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

June 2nd
This morning we again walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and had very little change from yesterday. Birds we recorded included 2 Cuckoos, 9 Goldfinches, 18 Reed Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 7 Reed Buntings, 11 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Linnets, 1 Coot, 3 Mallard, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Swallows flying W, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Turnstone, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
On our drive home a Red Kite circled over the Roman Galley and then flew NW over Brook Farm arriving over our house at Bishopstone at the same time as we arrived home.

Adult Great Black-backed Gull

Monday, 1 June 2020

June 1st
The new month began in similar fashion to May with bright sunshine and a NE breeze. This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhabour and counted 9 Goldfinches, 15 Skylarks, 4 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Buntings, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Whitethroats, 13 Linnets, 5 Chaffinches, 1 Blackcap, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 7 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Swallows, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Kestrel.
We also found that the usual patch of Pyramidal Orchids near Coldharbour are just beginning to flower.


First summer Tunstone