August 31st

Matt seawatched at the Towers from 0630 and we joined him a bit later. Highlight of the morning was an adult Sabine's Gull flying W past the Towers close inshore at 0710 (181st). Other birds we counted included 3 Arctic Skuas, 14 Common Terns, 23 Sandwich Terns, 66 Teal W, 31 Common Scoter, 7 Dunlin, 1 large auk E, 2 Curlew, 74 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 7 Gannets W and 11 Wigeon W. 

We moved on to Chamber's Wall at 0830 and walked up to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 26 Linnets, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Reed Warbler, 6 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Arctic Skuas flying W, 20 Sandwich Terns, 1 Curlew, 6 Common Terns, 1 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 3 Corn Buntings and 1 Kestrel.

Sandwich Tern on the beach at Coldharbour

August 30th

With the fresh northerly wind still blowing we spent three hours seawatching at Reculver from 0610. It was relatively slow but we did manage to count 1 Arctic Skua W, 16 Teal W, 35 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar, 14 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 69 Oystercatchers E, 10 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kittiwake W, 1 adult dark phase Pomarine Skua W (179th), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 4 Common Scoter, 10 Wigeon W, 1 Gannet E and 8 Redshank. Just after we left Richard Collins saw 2 Curlew Sandpipers flying E close inshore (180th). 

This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment and saw 160 Ringed Plovers, 20 Sanderling, 21 Sandwich Terns, 27 Dunlin, 60 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 56 Lapwings, 70 Mallard and 2 Teal.

Jersey Tiger at Hillborough - David Elliott

August 29th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we recorded 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Nightingale (178th), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Hobbies, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Bullfinch and 1 Long-tailed Tit.

Birds ringed 14: Willow Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 7, Blackcap 1, Nightingale 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1.

Nightingale

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0630 and 1030 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall. He recorded 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Whimbrel W, 3 Kestrels, 1 Snipe S, 1 Turtle Dove at Shuart Drove, 3 Yellow Wagtail E, 1 Common Redstart, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps and 1 Willow Warbler.

August 28th

On an unpleasant morning with a very fresh and cool northerly wind blowing in off the sea we walked from Chamber's all to Coldharbour and around the bushes but only managed to count 3 Whitethroats, 35 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 16 Goldfinches, 14 Swallows, 18 Mallard, 11 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Stonechat and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Male Linnet

August 27th

Although the wind had dropped significantly overnight it was still chilly and overcast as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back this morning. It was very quiet and all we recorded was 16 Dunlin, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Fulmar flying E, 1 Snipe, 17 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Turnstone, 10 Redshank, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Sanderling, 2 Oystercatchers and 6 Little Egrets.

August 26th

It was cooler and cloudy with a fresh northerly breeze blowing as we walked at Shuart and Netherhale this morning. Birds we saw included 8 Chaffinches, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 17 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 45 newly released Red-legged Partridges, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Linnets and 1 Ring-necked Parakeet.

August 25th

On a less windy morning we completed our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagooons. We counted 16 Swallows, 64 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 17 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin, 21 Linnets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kestrel.

August 24th

We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back around the Green Wall. The best bird of the morning was a female/immature Garganey (177th) that was disturbed from a pool out on the Marshes by a tractor together with 45 Mallard. Other birds we saw included 1 Wheatear, 17 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 18 Swallows, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Greenshank, 12 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Dunlin, 45 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 43 Goldfinches and 1 Willow Warbler.

Matt birded at Reculver this morning and saw 23 Sandwich Tern flying E, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Common Scoter E, 2 Common Terns W, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Sand Martins and 3 Whinchats.

This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and recorded 4 Wheatears, 1 Peregrine, 30 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling, 80 Ringed Plovers and 1 female Common Redstart.

August 23rd

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back, then seawatched at the Towers for half an hour before ending up looking at Reculver Bushes. We saw 2 Little Terns flying W then back E, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank, 1 Kestrel, 4 Swallows W, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Little Egrets, 12 Linnets, 12 Teal W, 21 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Wheatears, 1 Curlew and 3 Turnstone. 

At the Towers we counted 11 Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Scoter, 2 adult Arctic Skuas W (175th), and 4 Gannets. 

Reculver bushes produced 1 Pied Flycatcher (176th), 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Walll to Coldharbour and sat on the beach for an hour. We saw 1 female Common Redstart at Chamber's Wall, 25 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Scoter, 1 juvenile Kittiwake E, 2 Wheatears, 7 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Terns, 36 Turnstone, 10 Golden Plover and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

August 22nd

We were woken at 0500 by a violent thunder storm and torrential rain with 33mm falling in the next two hours. We eventually left home at 0815 when the risk of lightning had diminished and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Our walk didn't live up to expectations but we did see 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Kestrels, 4 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 9 Redshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 12 Dunlin, 12 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 300 Black-headed Gulls at Coldharbour, 2 Coot, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Turnstone and 1 Golden Plover.

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour via Plumpudding and recorded 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 400 House Sparrows, 2 Sparrowhawks, 37 Sandwich Terns, 16 Common Terns, 1 Ruff, 14 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Curlew, 24 Whimbrel, 6 Sanderling, 45 Turnstone, 80 Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlin, 11 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Wheatears, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Gannets, 17 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 80 Oystercatchers, 55 Common Scoter, 1 Hobby, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Ruff - Matt Hindle

Common Sandpiper - Matt Hindle

Sandwich Tern - Matt Hindle

 

August 21st

This morning was spent ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Moorhens, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Shoveler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Jays.

Birds ringed 27: Willow Warbler 1, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 10, Sedge Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 4, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackbird 2.

First year Lesser Whitethroat

August 20th

We spent another morning ringing at Shuart where it appeared the majority of yesterday's birds had moved on overnight. We saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Whitethroats, 10 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Ravens, 14 Swallows, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 150 Black-headed Gulls flying SW.

 Birds ringed 26: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 2, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 6, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackbird 2.

This evening Matt and Marion walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 12 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatears, 1 female Mallard with 8 very small ducklings and 8 Yellow Wagtails.

August 19th

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Common Buzzard, 30 Swallows, 12 Whitethroats, 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Greenfinches, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Hobby, 40 Goldfinches, 16 Sedge Warblers, 35 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Ringed Plover flying over, 2 Ravens, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Jay, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 93: Wren 3, Willow Warbler 4, Cetti's Warbler 4, Blackcap 2, Reed Warbler 30, Blue Tit 3, Goldfinch 15, Whitethroat 8, Sedge Warbler 19, Garden Warbler 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1, Blackbird 1. We also controlled a French ringed Reed Warbler.

Grasshopper Warbler

August 18th

Although the morning began quietly, the north westerly breeze brought in drizzle and showers and a few birds so we ended up seeing a good variety of species. We met Matt at Chamber's Wall and then walked up to Coldharbour before making our way along the seawall to Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we counted included 2 Kestrels, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Willow Warbler, 66 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 4 Stonechats, 2 Golden Plovers W and 2 Ruff, a male flying SW and a juvenile female that spent twenty minutes in Coldharbour with the Redshank (174th). We also recorded 6 Little Egrets, 17 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpipers, 24 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Sandwich Terns, 25 Oystercatchers, 49 Mallard, 7 Turnstone, 11 Common Terns W, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling, 2 Gannets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wheatears, 1 Great Skua W,  3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Swifts and 2 Whinchats.

Dunlin

August 17th

It was cool again as we spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Jay, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Hobby, 4 Moorhens, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Greenshank flying W and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 19: Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Reed Warbler 7, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1

Moorhens

August 16th

The weather felt totally different this morning with a fresh, cool north westerly breeze blowing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and then back around the Green Wall. Birds we saw included 3 Common Scoter, 26 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Terns, 8 Whimbrel and 9 Grey Partridges, 2 adults and 7 young, at Chamber's Wall. We also saw 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Little Egrets, 23 Mallard, 16 Redshank, 52 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin, 14 Oystercatchers, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Plover, 25 Ringed Plovers, 1 second year Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Gannets W, 1 Fulmar W, 1 juvenile Little Gull E, 1 Wheatear, 1 Hobby, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroats ad 1 Kestrel.

Newly returned Sanderling

August 15th

On another sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Green Wall and counted 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Swallows, 15 Goldfinches, 3 Whitethroats, 9 Whimbrel flying SW, 2 Reed Wrablers, 16 Redshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 11 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 22 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 moulting adult Mediterranean Gull, 28 Ringed Plovers, 3 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 47 Turnstone, 2 Mallard, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Wheatear, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Green Woodpecker. 

Redshank in Coldharbour

 Derek Smith, who we met on the embankment, walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He recorded 5 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets flushed by a Hobby at Coldharbour, 1 Lapwing, 8 Whimbrel flying SW, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Sandwich Terns, 7 Redshak, 9 Yellow and 23 Pied Wagtails at Plumpudding, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 14 Willow Warblers, 24 Sedge Warblers, 27 Reed Warblers and 16 Whitethroats.

August 14th

We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Crossbills flying W, 15 Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Goldfinches, 6 Mallard, 1 Wheatear, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Golden Plover and 7 Common Buzzards.

Birds ringed 35: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 8, Whitethroat 10, Reed Bunting 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Great Tit 4, Robin 2, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 4

Recently fledged Sedge Warbler

Matt's photos from our recent Scotland trip

Big Sands Gairloch

Beinn Eighe

Gruinard River and Valley

Pair of Golden Eagles trying to catch a young Red Deer

Udale Bay RSPB

Pass of the cattle at Applecross

Applecross looking towards the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye

Black Darter

Highland Darter

Dark Green Fritillary

Scotch Argus

Bog Asphodel

Cromarty Firth

August 13th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Moorhens, 1 Mallard, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Jays, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Garden Warbler, 15 Sand Martins and 1 Grey Heron.

Birds ringed 24: Willow Warbler 4, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 5, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 3, Garden Warbler 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 4, Jay 2.

Willow Warbler

August 12th

On another uneventful morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and saw 9 Goldfinches, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Sedge Warblers, 38 Linnets, 13 Redshank, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Swallows, 1 Turnstone, 1 Wheatear, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 3 Grey Herons and 2 Whitethroats.

August 11th

On another lovely morning there was less to be seen than yeterday as we walked form Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Stonechats, 7 Whitethroats, 21 Linnets, 11 Redshank, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Little Egrets, 12 Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 8 Reed Warblers, 27 Sand Martins flying W, 20 Meadow Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Mallard and 32 Swallows flying W.

Wheatear

August 10th

It was nice to be back in the area again on a beautiful sunny and warm late summer's morning. With the tide out we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm. We saw 7 Sedge Warblers, 7 Swallows, 7 Linnets, 12 Whitethroats, 12 Reed Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit feeding in Coldharbour, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Little Egrets and 13 Whimbrel on the shoreline before they flew W calling constantly. Other birds inculded 1 Grey Plover, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Turnstone, 1 Wheatear, 1 Green Sandpiper, 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Kestrel, 1 Mallard and 3 Common Terns.

Black-tailed Godwit in Coldharbour

August 9th

We have recently received information concerning two birds that we ringed at Reculver on May 11th this year. The first was an adult Reed Warbler that was controlled at Trimley Marsh Nature Reserve, Suffolk on 31st July a distance of 68 km N and the second was an adult Garden Warbler that was controlled at Firdown Wood, near Bekesbourne on August 4th at a distance of 13 km SSW.

Scotland - July 30th to August 8th

As anyone who reads my blog regularly will have realised we have been away for the last ten days. We travelled up to Scotland with Matt and Marion and spent an excellent time travelling around in Wester Ross and the Highlands. 

We saw a good range of birds including Golden Eagles, Red Grouse, Sooty Shearwater, 3 species of diver and 4 species of auk. We also saw an excellent array of insects and plants as well as Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Minke Whales. 

The highlight of the trip, however, was when we walked along the Gruinard Valley and had a close encounter with a pair of hunting Golden Eagles. After flying along the Valley towards us they found a group of Red Deer on the side of the mountain and attempted to snatch a baby but were charged at by a female and had to let go. We could even hear the youngster squeal as it was attacked.

The Isle of Skye from Applecross

August 1st

Derek Smith spent the three hours from 0530 walking from Shuart to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall and got soaked! Birds he recorded included 14 Greylag Geese, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Common Terns E, 4 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 46 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 3 Swallows, 3 Jays, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Reed Warblers, 18 Sedge Warblers, 1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler.