Friday 31 July 2020

July 31st
We were out early this morning in an attempt to avoid the threatened hot temperatures. We walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and the most interesting event of the morning was finding a freshly dead juvenile Sandwich Tern on the beach. I always look at dead birds in the hope of finding that they are ringed and in this case I wasn't disappointed. There were quite a few Sandwich Terns about this morning, both adult and juvenile, so I expected the bird I had found to have been ringed in the Medway where they breed - but it wasn't! It had been ringed somewhere in the Netherlands and had a Vogeltrekstation Arnhem-Holland ring attached to its leg. I have entered the information on the BTO ringing database and await the details of when and where it was ringed.

Dead juvenile Dutch ringed Sandwich Tern

We had an enjoyable walk and saw a good range of species including 250 Starlings, 3 Pied Wagtails, 54 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Little Egrets, 24 Common Scoter flying E, 1 Redshank, 21 Sandwich Terns, 1 Dunlin, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 41 Sanderling, 31 Ringed Plovers, 12 Turnstone, 1 male Stonechat, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitetroats, 18 Oystercatchers, 2 Kestrels, 5 Swallows, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 Gannets flying E, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 8 Goldfinches and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Thursday 30 July 2020

July 30th
On another warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 31 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Coot, 2 Kestrels, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Meadow Pipits, 24 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Common Gull W, 18 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers, 14 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin and 5 Swallows W.

Adult Sandwich Tern

Wednesday 29 July 2020

July 29th
It was a sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and almost the first birds we saw were 3 Curlew Sandpipers flying W over the Oyster Farm buildings and on over the Towers. Other birds we counted included 35 Linnets, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 6 Sandwich Terns, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Whimbrel W, 30 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Kestrels, 32 Turnstone, 13 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 3 Reed Warblers and 1 Pied Wagtail.
We also saw 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Wall Brown and 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths.

Turnstone and Dunlin

Adult Dunlin

We had an unexpected visitor to our garden at Bishopstone this afteroon in the shape of a Marbled White, a butterfly we've only seen here three or four times since we moved in 1972.

Marbled White

Terry Wilson found a Wheatear on the seawall.

Tuesday 28 July 2020

July 28th
After yesterday's rain this morning dawned sunny and breezy as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We counted 3 Grey Herons, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 25 Linnets, 7 Reed Warblers, 2 Chaffinches, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Goldfinches, 3 Kestrels, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Egrets, 5 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Meadow Pipits, 5 Sandwich Terns, 28 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 22 Sanderling, 2 Swallows , 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Common Buzzard.

Sanderling

Monday 27 July 2020

July 27th
On a very showery morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where on turning round to walk back we could see lightning and hear thunder behind the Towers and out towards Faversham. We hurried back to Reculver but luckily the storm drifted out over the Swale and out to sea off Sheppey. Birds we saw included 2 Whimbrel, 5 Sand Martins, 29 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Herons, 19 Linnets, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 5 Swallows, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 11 Turnstone, 2 Marsh Harriers over the sea, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Common Terns.
Marc Heath also walked from Reculver to Coldharbour, but between 0500 and 0715, and recorded 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Stonechats, 4 Whitethroats, 20 Turnstone, 19 Ringed Plovers, 6 Swifts W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Sandwich Terns, 1 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 Common Terns, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Mute Swans and 1 Blackcap.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Sunday 26 July 2020

July 26th
After yesterday's rain it was less humid this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow. We counted 1 Grey Heron, 20 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 6 Meadow Pipits, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Pied Wagtails, 9  Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Swallow W and 4 Chaffinches.

Sandwich Terns

Marc Heath was also out early and between 0500 and 0730 walked from Reculver to Coldharbour recording 1 Sparrowhawk, 142 Swifts W, 17 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, 17 Meadow Pipits, 11 Turnstone, 5 Whitethroats, 11 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Ringed Plovers, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 1 Swallow, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Sanderling, 4 Mallard, 1 Teal, 10 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Skylarks.

Saturday 25 July 2020

July 25th
On a showery and blustery morning Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. We met him a Coldharbour and between us saw 42 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Wheatear, 14 Common Sandpipers, 13 Redshank, 16 Turnstone, 13 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Dunlin, 10 Stonechats, 2 adults and 8 juveniles, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Whitethroats, 8 Ringed Plovers, 11 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Terns, 41 Sand Martins W, 1 Curlew, 2 Sandwich Terns, 21 Swifts W, 3 Gannets, 5 Sanderling, 10 Goldfinches, 11 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Chaffinches, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Hobby.
We also found 1 Clouded Yellow.

Friday 24 July 2020

July 24th
On a cloudy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Chaffinches, 36 Linnets, 10 Reed Warblers, 9 Goldfinches, 12 Little Egrets, 1 Whitethroat, 35 Mallard, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Sedge Warblers, 5 Pied Wagtails, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 12 Sanderling, 1 Curlew and 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Thursday 23 July 2020

July 23rd
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with the tide going out. Birds we saw included 2 Pied Wagtails, 68 House Sparrows, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sandwich Terns, 41 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Swifts W, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 17 Ringed Plovers, 16 Sanderling, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 12 Linnets.

Kestrel

During the afternoon Alex Perry saw our first returning Wheatear of the autumn on the seawall.

Wednesday 22 July 2020

July 22nd
Our walk this morning from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour produced 14 Mallard, 59 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 26 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 13 Reed Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 2 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Dunlin and 6 Chaffinches.

Tuesday 21 July 2020

July 21st
On a sunny morning with a NW breeze blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons. We saw 15 Linnets, 10 Skylarks, 17 Goldfinches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Whitethroats, 50 Sand Martins, 5 Coot, 6 Mallard, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Swift, 4 Sedge Warblers, 8 Oystercatchers, 18 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 2 Stonechat, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 1 summer plumaged Sanderling, 5 Reed Warblers and 1 Lapwing.

Singing male Sedge Warbler

Monday 20 July 2020

July 20th
The highlight of our ringing session at Reculver this morning was catching a Portuguese ringed Reed Warbler. Other birds we saw included 16 Cormorants, 4 Chiffchaffs, 50 Sand Martins, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Whitethroats, 12 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Siskin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22 Swifts, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 20 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Moorhens, 1 Common Buzzard and 7 Chaffinches.

Birds ringed 40: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 3, Reed Warbler 19, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 8, Robin 2, Whitethroat 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Goldfinch 1.

Reed Warbler

Sunday 19 July 2020

July 19th
This morning we ringed on the Marsh south of the railway and saw our first 2 Willow Warblers of the autumn, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Linnets, 15 Whitethroats, 10 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 4 Skylarks, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 female and 1 juvenile, and 1 Curlew Sandpiper (168th) flying over and calling.

Birds ringed 33: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 7, Reed Warbler 7, Whitethroat 9, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 2, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

Willow Warbler

Saturday 18 July 2020

July 18th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver and saw 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Turtle Dove singing for 20 minutes, 20 Blackcaps, 18 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Garden Warbler, 1 Siskin, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 Whitethroats.
We also saw 1 Brown Hawker.

Birds ringed 51: Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 16, Reed Warbler 16, Sedge Warbler 2, Robin 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Goldfinch 2, Great Tit 1, Garden Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 3.

Friday 17 July 2020

July 17th
We spent a very warm morning ringing at Shuart where we also saw 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 30 Whitethroats, 35 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 5 Greenfinches, 14 Goldfinches, 6 Crossbills flying W, 1 Siskin, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Marsh harriers, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Red Kite, 2 Mallard, 12 Swallows, 6 Swifts, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 76: Wren 5, Whitethroat 23, Blackcap 9, Reed Warbler 25, Sedge Warbler 7, Goldfinch 1, Reed Bunting 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 2.

Thursday 16 July 2020

July 16th
For the majority of our walk this morning from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour it was overcast, cool and drizzly. We recorded 6 Chaffinches, 13 Goldfinches, 21 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 8 Skylarks, 8 Swallows, 3 Coot, 1 Mallard, 155 Swifts flying W, 11 Oystercatchers, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Meadow Pipits, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Redshank, 1 Hobby, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Whitethroats and 1 Greenfinch.

Adult Grey Heron

James King visited Reculver this afternoon and at low tide counted 30+ Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Coldharbour and also 1 Greenshank, 3 Sanderling and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Wednesday 15 July 2020

July 15th
On a sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 31 Linnets, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Skylarks, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Reed Bunting, 15 Swallows flying W, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, including 2 juveniles, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Turnstone, 2 Coot and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls with a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull standing behind

Tuesday 14 July 2020

July 14th
I had to take the car to the garage in Canterbury this morning so we didn't get to Reculver until 0950 but at least the early mornng rain had moved through. We walked up to Coldharbour and counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 13 Oystercatchers, 4 Meadow Pipits, 6 Little Egrets, 11 Linnets, 23 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern, a flock of 35 Gannets flying E close in shore, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Cormorants, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Grey Heron.
We also saw 2 Marbled Whites.

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull preening

Monday 13 July 2020

July 13th
On another very warm morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 6 Whitethroats, 31 Linnets, 7 Goldfinches, 10 Skylarks, 6 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 5 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 9 Meadow Pipits, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Turnstone, 2 Whimbrel flying W and calling along the seashore, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Corn Bunting and 2 Kestrels.

Ringed Plover

Sunday 12 July 2020

July 12th
We spent a beautiful summer's morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw 1 Mallard, 40 Whitethroats, 4 Chaffinches, 25 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches and 6 Linnets.

Birds ringed 85: Wren 1, Whitethroat 36, Reed Warbler 20, Sedge Warbler 4, Linnet 2, Great Tit 7, Robin 1, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 5, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 3, Blackbird 4.

Sedge Warbler

Saturday 11 July 2020

July 11th
We spent another morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 24 Swifts flying NW, 14 Blackcaps, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 80 Sand Martins, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Siskins flying W, 18 Reed Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Lapwings flying W, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldfinches and 1 male Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 38: Chiffchaff 3, Wren 3, Blackcap 7, Reed Warbler 13, Cetti's Warbler 2, Reed Bunting 1, Whitetroat 6, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Blackbird 1.

Whitethroat

Friday 10 July 2020

July 10th
We nearly didn't go ringing at Reculver this morning but luckily the overnight showers cleared through by 0600. During the morning we counted 2 Avocets flying over and calling early on, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 singing Corn Bunting, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Common Buzzards, 550 Swifts flying NW throughout the morning, 100 Sand Martins feeding over the fields, 10 Blackcaps, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Moorhens, 1 Kestrel, 1 moulting male Marsh Harrier, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Hobby, 3 Whitethroats and 2 Lapwings flying N.

Birds ringed 20: Blackcap 7, Cetti's Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 6, Robin 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.

Juvenile Cetti's Warbler

Thursday 9 July 2020

July 9th
Matt was out early and between 0545 and 0815 walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He counted 2 Bar-tailed Godwits flying W, 6 Little Egrets, 163 Swifts W, 52 Sand Martins W, 1 male Stonechat and 2 juveniles, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Whimbrel flying W, 53 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 on the beach at Coldharbour and 43 on the beach at Plumpudding, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Gannet W, 6 Curlew W, 2 adult Common Terns feeding 2 juveniles at Coldharbour, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Greenshank in Coldharbour, 1 adult summer plumaged Dunlin at Plumpudding, 8 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Turnstone, 1 juvenile Rock Pipit at Plumpudding, 30 juvenile Pied Wagtails and 60 Linnets.

Greenshank at Coldharbour

Mediterranean Gulls at Coldharbour
We arrived at Chamber's Wall at 0730 and walked up to Coldharbour and recorded 11 Goldfinches, 4 Green Woodpeckers,13 Skylarks, 3 Chaffinches, 1 female Tufted Duck with 5 ducklings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Linnets, 96 Swifts flying W, 1 Grey Heron, 3 adult Common Terns with 3 juveniles, 4 Mallard, 1 Coot, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Greenshank in Coldharbour, 3 Reed Buntings, 8 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Skylark

Female Tufted Duck hiding with it's five ducklings

Common Tern family at Coldharbour

Wednesday 8 July 2020

July 8th
After the heavy morning rain had passed through we walked from Reculver to the Green Wall and back and recorded 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Grey Herons, 13 Cormorants, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits, 23 Mallard, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Redshank, 4 Reed Buntings, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull flying W and 1 Kestrel.
During the rain this morning we had a Humminbird Hawk Moth feeding from a Buddleia bush in our garden.

Tuesday 7 July 2020

July 7th
On a glorious summer's morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 4 Pied Wagtails, 4 Lapwings W, 35 Linnets, 2 Swifts W, 12 Swallows W, 1 Kestrel, 5 Oystercatchers, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Sedge Warblers, 5 Little Egrets and 5 Stonechats consisting of 2 adults with a second brood of 3 recently fledged juveniles. We also saw 8 Cormorants, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 64 Black-headed Gulls W, 1 Common Tern, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Goldfinches.

Male Linnet

Monday 6 July 2020

July 6th
It wasn't quite so windy today as we walked from Chamber's Wall, along the Green Wall and back via Coldharbour but there was nothing new to see. We counted 45 Linnets, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 11 Skylarks, 15 Reed Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Swifts, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Reed Buntings, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

We received an interesting ringing recovery this evening concerning a ringed Goldfinch that Matt controlled in his Tilmanstone garden on July 2nd. It had been ringed on 26th April 2020 at Portland Bill, Dorset and had flown 273 km ENE. 
British Goldfinches are partial migrants with some remaining in the UK in the winter and others moving into France and Iberia. This bird could very well have been one of the latter caught at Portland on its return flight from Europe and then being controlled at Tilmanstone where it was breeding.

Sunday 5 July 2020

July 5th
On another very windy, but surprisingly humid, morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where we sat on the beach for half an hour. We counted 260 Swifts flying SW into the wind, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 4 Mute Swans, 6 Skylarks, 7 Reed Warblers, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Coot, 2 Linnets, 1 Common Tern, 2 Meadow Pipits, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Cormorants, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Turnstone, 2 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Sedge Warblers.

Skylark

Saturday 4 July 2020

July 4th
On an unpleasant and very blustery morning Matt walked in from Reculver and we walked in from Chamber's Wall and met at Coldharbour. Between us we recorded 1 Kestrel, 72 Swifts flying SW, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chaffinches, 4 Whitethroats, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Swallows, 5 Linnets, 8 Skylarks, 1 Coot, 6 Reed Buntings, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Terns, 1 Greenshank in the Oyster Farm, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Meadow Pipits and 2 Sedge Warblers.

Friday 3 July 2020

July 3rd
We arrived at Shuart early to spend a morning ringing and were amazed by one of the first birds we caught which was a superb male Redstart.

Male Redstart

During the remainder of our stay we counted 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 24 Whitethroats, 25 Reed Warblers, 3 Skylarks, 8 Goldfinches, 5 Swallows, 12 Lapwings, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Kestrels, 10 Sedge Warblers, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Egret, 2 Mallard, 3 Crossbills flying S and 9 Swifts flying W.
We also saw 6 Marbled White butterflies.

Birds ringed 59: Wren 2, Whitethroat 16, Blackcap 2, Common Redstart 1, Reed Warbler 16, Sedge Warbler 7, Goldfinch 3, Linnet 1, Great Tit 4, Blue Tit 2, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 2.

Thursday 2 July 2020

July 2nd
On a pleasant sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Walll to Coldharbour and back. We saw 11 Skylarks, 10 Whitethroats, 14 Reed Warblers, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Swifts W, 5 Swallows 14 Linnets, 1 Coot, 5 Reed Buntings, 3 Goldfinches, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 7 Meadow Pipits, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 adults and 2 first summer birds, 2 Ringed Ploverss, 2 juvenile Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Turnstone, 1 Mallard and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

First summer Mediterranean Gull

A pair of Mediterranean Gulls with the male behind the female and still displaying

Wednesday 1 July 2020

July 1st
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 548 Swifts flying W, 4 Whitethroats, 69 Sand Martins, 14 Blackcaps, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaffs and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 23: Chiffchaff 2, Wren 1, Cetti's Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 5, Blackcap 10, Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.