May 31st
On a bright and breezy afternoon with the threat of showers I had a walk at Reculver and saw 2 Blackcaps, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Hobby, 4 Shelduck, 23 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers 3 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Chffchaff.
May 30th
Matt was out early this morning and walked from Shuart to Netherhale and Brooksend and on to Plumpudding. He counted 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Corn Buntings, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 14 Swallows, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Greenfinch, 7 Swifts, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Jay, 5 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Barn Owl hunting in daylight, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Stonechats, a pair of Mute Swans with 7 cygnets and 8 Long-tailed Tits.
This afternoon I had a walk at Reculver and managed to avoid the passing showers. I recorded 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Sand Martins, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Mallard, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 male Marsh Harrier.
May 29th
This afternoon I had a walk at Reculver and saw 4 Blackcaps, 24 Stock Doves, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 12 Sand Martins, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 26 Mallard, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
On the insect front I recorded 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Small Heaths, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Common Blues and 2 Banded Demoiselles.
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| Painted Lady |
May 28th
On a bright and breezy morning Matt walked at Reculver and from Chamber'sWall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Cuckoo, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Common Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 5 Sand Martins, 25 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Corn Bunting and 1 Jay.
May 27th
I managed to get out for an hour's birding at Reculver this afternoon and recorded 4 Blackaps, 12 Reed Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 14 Sand Martins, 24 Stock Doves, 2 Shelduck, 5 Mute Swans, 26 Mallard, including a female with 9 ducklings, 3 male Tufted Ducks, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Garden Warbler singing, 2 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Jay.
I also saw 1 immature male Black-tailed Skimmer and 1 Broad-bodied Chaser.
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| Immature male Black-tailed Skimmer |
May 23rd
On wet but calm morning Matt walked along the seawall from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Fulmar, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 immature male Eider, 7 Swallows, 7 Little Egrets, 5 Stonechats, 6 Turnstone, 3 Corn Buntings, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Common Terns, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Marsh Harrier.
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| Immature male Eider - Matt Hindle |
May 22nd
This morning Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Plumpudding and on to Brooksend and Netherhale and returned along the railway emabnkment. He saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Corn Buntings, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Cuckoos, 9 Blackcaps, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 29 Swallows, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 5 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 male Stonechat with 5 juveniles, 6 Coot, 9 Greylag Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 9 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Swifts, 3 Kestrels, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Lapwing and 1 Little Grebe.
He also saw nine species of butterfly including 10 + Painted Ladies, 1 Brimstone and 5 freshly emerged Common Blues.
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| Summer plumaged Dunlin - Matt Hindle |
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| Ringed Plover - Matt Hindle |
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| Goldfinch - Matt Hindle |
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| Brimstone on railway embankment - Matt Hindle |
May 21st
Dave Smith was out in the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area between 0450 and 0920 and his undoubted highlight was finding a Red-rumped Swallow flying W (169th) at the Shuart crossing. This is the eighth record of this species for the area. Other birds he saw were 3 Greylag Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Eider, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Turtle Dove, 48 Swifts W, 5 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 18 Sanderling, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jay, 4 Sand Martins, 17 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Stonechats and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
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| Red-rumped Swallow - Dave Smith |
Matt was also out early and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall. He saw 17 Swifts W, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 17 Swallows W, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Shelduck, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Stonechat, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Blackcaps, 3 House Martins, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Turnstones, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzards, 20 Sand Martins and 1 Marsh Harrier.
May 20th
On an increasingly wet morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He counted 1 Blackcap, 8 Swallows, 1 Cuckoo, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 7 Little Egrets, 1 immature White-fronted Goose E, 1 Shelduck, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Turnstone, 4 Common Terns, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Whimbrel W, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Teal, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Swift, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Stonechats, 3 Sandwich Tern and 2 Avocets W.
In the evening, after the rain, Dave Smith had a two hour walk aroung the Hillborough area. Birds he recorded included 11Stock Doves, 5 Swifts SW, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 2 Skylarks, 10 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 3 Whitethroats.
May 19th
After overnight thundery showers Dave Smith arrived at 0517 and spent three hours in the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area. Birds he saw included 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 5 Great Crested Grbes, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 5 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatears and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
May 18th
Dave Smith was out in the Shuart and Plumpudding area between 0445 and 0745 and his highlights were 4 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Swifts W, 3 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 5 Mediterranean Gulls E, 4 Common Terns, 10 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Swallows, 3 House Martins W, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 adult and 4 recently fledged juvenile Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails.
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| Stonechat - Dave Smith |
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| Meadow Pipit - Dave Smith |
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| Painted Lady - Dave Smith |
May 16th
Dave Smith was out at 0500 and for three hours birded the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding areas. The birds he saw included 1 Mute Swan, 5 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Terns, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Stonechats, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit and 5 Linnets.
May 15th
Matt walked aroung Shuart, Netherhale and Brooksend this morning and saw 7 Blackcaps, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Corn Buntings, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Stonechats, 12 Swallows, 19 Pied Wagtails and 2 Kestrels.
Dave Smith was also out at Shuart at 0430 and in 3 hours birds he saw included 26 Greylag Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Swifts, 5 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Sand Martin, 9 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
This afternoon I had a walk at Reculver where I recorded 5 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 22 Sand Martins, 2 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 8 Reed Warblers, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Coot.
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| Summer plumaged Dunlin |
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| Second summer Lesser Black-backed Gull |
May14th
On a beautiful late spring morning Matt decided to have a change of scenery and walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and then out on to the Marsh. He counted 7 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Swifts W, 40 Sand Martins, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Corn Buntings, 5 Swallows W, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 pairs of Grey Partridges along the cliff top path, 16 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Little Owl, 4 Stonechats, 4 Wheatears, 3 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Jay.
Alex Perry also refound the male Grey-headed Wagtail at Plumpudding Stables this morning but photograped an individual that appears to be another male Grey-headed Wagtail. This bird is in a slightly different plumage to the one photographed yesterday as it has some white on the throat. Reading "Pipits and Wagtails" in the Helm Identification series it appears that first summmer males can have white on their throat.
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| First summer Grey-headed Wagtail - Alex Perry |
Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0530 and in the next five and a half hours walked along the embankment to Coldharbour, Plumpudding and on to Netherhale. He recorded 5 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Kestrels, 2 Lapwings, 2 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Wheatear, 14 Cetti's Warblers and 18 Blackcaps.
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| Male Stonechat - Matt Hindle |
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| Wheatear - Matt Hindle |
May 13th
This morning Dave Smith identified a male Grey-headed Wagtail at Plumpudding stables. This is only the fifth record of this sub-species to be recorded in the area. He also found 3 Spotted Flycatchers (167th), 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Canada Goose, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 39 Swifts, 2 Coot, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 10 Sanderling, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, 18 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatears, 19 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.
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| Male Grey-headed Wagtail - Alex Perry |
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| Spotted Flycatcher - Alex Perry |
I managed to get out at 1030 and had a walk at Reculver where I saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Mallard, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 16 Linnets, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Green Woodpecker.
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| Juvenile Great Crested Grebe |
May 12th
On a beautiful late spring morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He recorded 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Shelduck, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Corn Buntings, 1 Tree Pipit, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Stonechats, 27 Swallows W, 2 Common Terns, 20 Swifts W, 6 House Martins W, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Wheatears, 31 Stock Doves, 3 Marsh Harriers, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Rock Pipit, 57 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers flying high W, 2 Grey Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Lapwings, 2 Kestrels and 1 Cuckoo.
I had a walk at Reculver at about 1030 and saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldfinches, 1 female Hen Harrier moving W (166th), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Raven being attacked by the local Carrion Crows, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Linnets, 5 Mallard, 1 Coot, 9 Reed Warblers, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Sedge Warblers.
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| Common Sandpiper |
May 10th
Dave Smith was out early this morning and in two and a half hours from 0507 he completed the Shuart circuit and saw birds including 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 15 Swifts flying W, 3 Grey Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Curlews, 6 Turnstone and 48 Sanderling. He also recorded 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 19 Whitethroats, 1 Stonechat, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.
At 0700 I counted 9 Swifts flying W at Bishopstone.
May 8th
Dave Smith spent three hours at Reculver this morning and birds he saw included 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 3 Common Terns, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jays, 4 Sand Martins, 19 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Stonechats, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.
Marc Heath was also out this morning between 0530 and 0800 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Chamber's Wall. He saw 4 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Whitethroats, 17 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Swallows W, 17 Sedge Warblers, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 7 Skylarks, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel E, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Rseed Buntings, 1 Common Tern, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Mistle Thrush.
May 7th
Matt was out early this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. Birds he saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Sand Martins, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar, 1 Whimbrel E, 3 Stonechats, 2 Swifts flying W (165th), 2 Shelduck, 12 Swallows, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kestrel, 30 Sanderling, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Red Kite W, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Rock Pipit.
Dave Smith was also out early and walked around the Shuart, Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area and his highlights included 2 Greylag Geese, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Terns, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Swallows, 4 Lesser Whiethroats, 2 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Corn Bunting.
Julie Childs saw 5 Red Kites over the Thanet Way.
May 6th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver for the first time since January and saw an excellent range of species. We counted 2 Common Buzzards, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Hobbies, 1 female Ring Ouzel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Shelduck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mallard, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Partridges, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove "purring" (164th), 2 Ravens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 21 Red Kites flying W, 2 Swallows and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Birds ringed 19: Long-tailed Tit 6, Blackcap 6, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.
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| Male Common Whitethroat |
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| Garden Warbler |
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| Female Shelduck - Matt Hindle |
Dave Smith was also out this morning and spent over 3 hours at the Towers where his highlights were 2 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers, 15 Red Kites flying W, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Hobbies, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatears and 3 Yellow Wagtails.
May 5th
On a cool morning after overnight showers Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and I met him on the seawall later. He counted 14 Yellow Wagtails flying W, 41 Swallows flying W, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Turnstones, 1 Dunlin, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Terns, 7 Tufted Duck, 30 Corn Buntings, 6 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl at Cold Harbour, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying W, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Lapwings, 3 Coot and 1 Lesser Redpoll (162nd), surprisingly our first of the year. He also recorded 1 Whimbrel flying N, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Sand Martins flying W, 1 male Ring Ouzel on the track beside the Wantsum, 1 Sandwich Tern, 5 Sanderling and 3 House Martin flying W.
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| Male Ring Ouzel - Matt Hindle |
This afternoon at 1415 a Black Kite flew NW (163rd) over our garden at Bishopstone. This is the sixth record of this species for the Reculver area and the 145th species I've seen from my garden.
May 4th
On a cool and showery morning Matt walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall where I met him and then we both walked along the seawall to Plumpudding before returning along the railway embankment. We saw a very good range of species including 6 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 21 Yellow Wagtails flying W, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Coot, 1 Little Ringed Plover flying S, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Greylag Geese, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 77 Swallows flying W, 1 Gannet, 1 Tree Pipit flying W, 5 Shelduck, 3 Stonechats, 2 Common Terns and 33 Sand Martins flying W. We also saw 60 Corn Buntings, 1 Dunlin, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Kestrels, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail flying W, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 30 Sanderling, 13 Turnstone, 1 Whinchat (161st), 3 Wheatears, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Short-eared Owl. We also recorded good number s of Reed and Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats.
May 3rd
The chilly, northerly breeze had returned this morning and it was overcast as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. I recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Goldfinches, 17 Whitethroats, 12 Linnets, 9 Swallows, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Reed Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 63 Corn Buntings, 3 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatchers, 24 Stock Doves, 1 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Sedge Warblers and 4 Tufted Duck.
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| Wheatear |
This afternoon a walk at Reculver produced 3 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Greenshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Pied Wagtails, 4 Reed Warblers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Swallow, 5 Mallard, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Jay.
Alex Perry found a Canada Goose in Coldharbour this morning.
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| Canada Goose - Alex Perry |
May 2nd
It was calm and overcast this morning as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. I saw 7 Goldfinches, 10 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 14 Reed Warblers, 10 Swallows, 1 Blackcap, 4 Mallard, 4 Coot, 2 Stonechats, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Greylag Goose, 7 Corn Buntings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 18 Sedge Warblers, 13 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 39 Stock Doves and 1 Marsh Harrier.
This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Swallows, 18 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 2 Common Buzards, 2 Coot and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
David Elliott walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and saw 6 Whitethroats, 2 Corn Buntings and 3 Skylarks.
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| Corn Bunting - David Elliott |
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| Whitethroat - David Elliott |
May 1st
The month began a bit milder and without the chilly NE breeze of the last few days as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. I counted 22 Whitethroast, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 27 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 16 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 17 Corn Buntings, 36 Stock Doves, 51 Swallows flyng W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Stonechats, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Raven flying over Brook Farm.
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| Summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit |
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| Corn Bunting |
Derek Smith was out early this morning and between 0530 and 1000 he walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back along the embankment before walking to Netherhale and Brooksend. He saw 5 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 4 Shelduck, 5 pairs of Tufted Duck, 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Cuckoos, 63 Swallows W, 1 Stonechat, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling near the Chamber's Wall crossing, 1 Willow Warbler, 24 Whitethroats, 14 Reed Warblers, 34 Sedge Warblers and 1 Lesser Whitetheoat.
