July 29th
We completed the same walks as yesterday and recorded 19 Little Egrets, 8 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Stonechats, 18 Turnstone, 4 Whitethroats, 14 Sedge Warblers, 65 Linnets, 12 Sandwich Terns, 3 Kestrels, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 7 Swifts, 1 Common Tern, 16 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 40 Meadow Pipits, 12 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron and 16 Goldfinches.
July 28th
This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back whilst we walked in from Chamber's Wall and met him on the seawall. Between us we recorded 15 Little Egrets, 10 Stonechats, including a third brood of one pair, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Kestrels, 4 Black-tailed Godwits flying W (173rd), 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Redshank, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 23 Lapwings, 2 Golden Plovers, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Sedge Warblers, 18 Whitethroats, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Goldfinches, 14 Linnets and 3 Shoveler.
July 27th
On another quiet morning with a few drips of rain falling we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and saw 7 Swallows, 6 Pied Wagtails, 4 Ringed Plovers, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank, 10 Linnets, 4 Turnstone, 1 Kestrel, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Stonechats.
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| Sea Holly |
This morning I received information about a first year Redshank we ringed at Coldharbour on 19th August 2013. It had been controlled recently by the Swale Wader Group on 23rd July at Harty which is 24 km W and was 2,895 days later.
July 26th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Wood Sandpiper (172nd), 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Jays, 4 Mallard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Moorhens and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying S.
Birds ringed 29: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 5, Blue Tit 2, Reed Warbler 4, Robin 3, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 4
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| Juvenile Robin |
July 25th
This morning we had an uneventful walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons with the tide out and saw 17 Goldfinches, 15 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Kestrel, 3 Coot and 1 Grey Heron.
Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0730 and 1100 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back via Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall. He recorded 11 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns flying E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 juvenile Buzzard, 9 Redshank, 8 Sanderling and 2 Dunlin in Coldharbour.
July 23rd
On a cooler morning with a fresh easterly wind blowing Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and we met him on the seawall. Between us we recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Grey Herons, 1 female Mallard with 10 juveniles, 11 Stock Dove, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 3 Stonechats, 1 juvenile Peregrine, 8 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 3 Common Terns, 1 adult and 2 juveniles, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 adult, 1 second calendar year and 6 juveniles, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plovers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
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| Juvenile Mediterranean Gulls - Matt Hindle |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull |
July 22nd
It wasn't quite so hot and humid today but it was a lovely summer's morning as we spent our time ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. Birds we saw included 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 14 Linnets and 1 Blackcap.
Birds ringed 42: Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Bunting 3, Reed Warbler 13, Whitethroat 11, Linnet 4, Robin 1, Blackcap 1, Great Tit 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2
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| Male Linnet |
July 20th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 60 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turtle Dove, 20 Sand Martins, 6 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Jay, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers and 3 Whitethroats.
Birds ringed 35: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 5, Blackcap 6, Reed Warbler 7, Cetti's Warbler 2, Robin 2, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 2, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 3, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 1
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| Male Reed Bunting |
July 19th
It was hot again this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 12 Swifts around the Towers, 5 Oystercatchers, 21 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Ringed Plover calling repeatedly as it flew past the Towers, 4 Stonechats, 7 Common Terns and 12 Linnets. We also saw 8 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin flying S from the beach, 9 Turnstone, 1 Common Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Mallard and 3 Kestrels.
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| Common Tern |
July 18th
On another scorcher we got out early and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldfinches, 13 Linnets, 1 Turtle Dove displaying, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 8 Common Terns, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Gull, 2 Dunlin, 9 Whimbrel, 5 Sandwich Terns, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Mallard, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 21 Turnstone, 2 Lapwings W and a family party of Grey Partridges made up of 1 adult and 6 young.
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| Dunlin |
July17th
On another very warm and sunny morning but with a cooling NE breeze blowing, we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 1 Kestrel, 6 Linnets, 3 Pied Wagtails, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Mediterranean Gulls W, 8 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Terns, including a juvenile, 2 Coot, 14 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 3 Redshank, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 Swallows and 1 Stonechat.
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| Sanderling and Turnstone |
July16th
There was still a blustery north wind blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the seawall. We did not see a great deal, just 5 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 17 Linnets, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 1 Coot in Coldharbour, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Common Tern.
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| Juvenile Black-headed Gull |
July 15th
We spent a sunny morning ringing at Reculver and saw 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Blackcaps, 40 Sand Martins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Reed Warblers, 3 Kestrels, 1 Whitethroat, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Swifts and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving W. We also saw our first Gatekeeper of the year and a Brown Hawker.
Birds ringed 30: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Reed Warbler 13, Great Tit 3, Goldfinch 2, Robin 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 3
July 14th
This morning there was a blustery and chilly wind blowing in off the sea as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 1 Shoveler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 52 Swifts flying W, 38 Mallard, 3 Kestrels, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying W, 6 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Ringed Plover calling as it flew off the beach at Coldharbour, 11 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Swallows, 38 Sand Martins, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Coot, 1 Common Gull and 1 Whitethroat.
July 13th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 12 Whitethroats, 4 Swifts, 52 Lapwings coming in from the south east and later flying west, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 7 Linnets.
Birds ringed 24: Whitethroat 5, Reed Warbler 11, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Bunting 1, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 2
July 12th
We only spent an hour at Reculver this morning in the rain and there was not much to be seen but an immature Shag flying E close inshore (171st) was nice. Other than that we only saw the usual gulls plus 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Common Tern but after lunch we walked along the seawall and added 80 Sand Martins, with a good proportion of juveniles on the wires at Reculver, 6 Little Egrets and 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying W.
Bob Hinge saw and heard the Turtle Dove at Chamber's Wall this evening.
July 11th
On a dull but dry morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 9 Whitethroats, 11 Linnets, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Goldfinches, 11 Mallard, 7 Common Terns and 6 Little Egrets. We also saw 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Greylag Goose flying W at sea, 2 Kestrels, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 adults, 1 second calendar year and 1 third calendar year bird on the beach west of Coldharbour, 4 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Coot and 2 Grey Herons flying S.
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| Third calendar year and adult Mediterranean Gulls |
Derek Smith was also out between 0600 and 1000 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldhrbour and back along the railway embankment. Birds he saw included 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 212 adult Black-headed Gulls on the beach between Plumpudding and Coldharbour, 2 Sandwich Terns flying W, 2 Lapwings flying S, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 female Tufted Duck with 2 young, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Yellow Wagtails. He also counted singing warblers and recorded 5 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 18 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 22 Reed Warblers, 28 Sedge Warblers and 1 Grasshopper Warbler still near Chamber's Wall.
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| Marbled White - Derek Smith |
July 10th
It was overcast this morning with the threat of rain as we walked from Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour and on as far as the Green Wall. We recorded 14 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Curlew, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Pied Wagtails, 18 Meadow Pipits, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Common Terns, 11 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Gannets flying W, 3 Swifts flying W, 22 Black-headed Gulls flying W in a tight flock, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 11 Skylarks, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Buzzard.
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| Adult Black-headed Gull at Coldharbour |
July 9th
It was quiet this morning with the tide just coming in as we walked up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 6 Whitethroats, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Common Terns, 4 Ringed Plovers, 9 Turnstone, 16 Meadow Pipits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 6 Linnets and 1 Grey Heron flying in off the sea.
July 8th
It was another lovely summer's morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldhabour and back and recorded 4 Swifts W, 9 Pied Wagtails, 17 Linnets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Mallard, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 19 Turnstone, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sandwich Terns and 1 Common Tern.
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| Kestrel on the Towers |
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| Great Black-backed Gull having breakfast |
July 7th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow and saw 6 Whitethroats, 11 Lapwings flying W, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 1 Swift, 1 Mallard, 7 Linnets, 2 Common Terns, 1 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whimbrel, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 12 Meadow Pipits, 4 Pied Wagtails, 23 Turnstone, 3 Cetti's Warblers and a family of 4 Green Woodpeckers.
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| Moulting Turnstones |
July 5th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where there was a significant increase in juvenile birds. We saw 32 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Kestrels, 40 Sand Martins, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 adult and 1 juvenile, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Hobby, 2 Swifts flying W, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Whimbrel flying W and 2 Jays,
Birds ringed 44: Wren 4, Long-tailed Tit 2, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 8, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 8, Great Tit 3, Sedge Warbler 2, Robin 3, Garden Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 3, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Jay 1.
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| Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker |
July 4th
On a showery morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment and we met up with him on the seawall. Between us we recorded 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Stonechats, 15 Swifts flying W, 10 Sandwich Terns, 11 Ringed Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Partridge on the beach, 7 Oystercatchers, 5 Common Terns, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whimbrel, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Curlew, 12 Coot, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Kestrels, 6 Whitethroats, 14 Linnets, 8 Mallard and 11 Meadow Pipits.
July 3rd
On an overcast and humid morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 11 Whitethroats, 12 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Mallard, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 3 Swifts flying W, 16 Meadow Pipits, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Turnstone, 1 adult Common Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Curlew and 1 Kestrel.
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| Adult Little Egret |
July 2nd
This morning we completed the second count of our square TR2667 for the KOS Turtle Dove Survey. This square includes Shuart Lane and Shuart Farm but unfortuantely we did not see
or hear any Turtle Doves. Birds we did record, however, included 2 Goldfinches, 7 Chaffinches, 1 Greenfinch, 17 Swallows, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Linnets, 4 Skylarks, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Moorhens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoos and 1 Song Thrush. We also saw our first Marbled White butterfly of the year.
On our way home we dropped in to Reculver and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
I counted a total of 72 Sand Martin holes in use at Bishopstone colony last month. Today a count of holes at the other part of the colony on the headland between Bishopstone and Reculver resulted in 110 holes in use. This makes a total of approximately 182 holes for 2021.
July 1st
At last a nice sunny summer's morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 9 Whitethroats, 9 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Mallard, 2 Common Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 18 Linnets, 6 Swifts W, 8 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Common Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 adult Peregrine flying in off the sea, 4 Little Egrets and our first Whimbrel of the autumn calling frequently and flying SE.
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| Female Yellow Wagtail |
This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 3 singing Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 1 male Turtle Dove singing and doing it's display flight, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Chiffchaff.
