July 31st

On an unexpectedly breezy morning we had a ringing session at Reculver. We saw 2 Kestrels, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs, 40 Sand Martins, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Wood Sandpiper flying W calling, 4 Little Egrets, 15 Swifts W, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Hobby.

Birds ringed 22: Chiffchaff 3, Treecreeper 1, Wren 1, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 3, Whitethroat 4, Robin 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackbirds 5.

We retrapped the juvenile Cuckoo that we ringed on July 23rd and it had grown significantly in the subsequent eight days. Its wing had increased from 164 to 193 millimetres and its weight had increased from 89.5 to 99.2 grams.

This afternoon Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers, 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 14 Sandwich Terns, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers in Coldharbour, 4 Common Terns, 24 Whimbrel and 1 Curlew.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover - Matt Hindle

 

July 30th

On a beautiful morning we walked inland at Reculver where we recorded 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Chiffchaffs, 13 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallows, 15 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Little Egret.

Grey Partridge country

 Derek Smith was out this morning between 0530 and 0800 and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding. Birds he saw included 42 Greylag Geese, 6 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 4 Kestrels, 3 Sandwich Terns, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 22 Swifts W, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Common and 2 Green Sandpipers in the reservoirs at Brooksend that are drying out fast.

Dave Smith walked around the Plumpudding and Minnis Bay areas between 0535 and 0830 and recorded 4 Mallard, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Turtle Dove, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Golden Plover, 31 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Sandwich Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Kestrels, 16 Sand Martins, 12 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Corn Buntings.

July 29th

This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and then inland and saw 21 Linnets, 1 Mallard, 6 Stonechats, 5 Ringed Plovers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Kestrels, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Sand Martins, 4 Swallows and 1 Chiffchaff.

July 28th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Greenfinches, 7 Swallows, 11 Goldfinches, 3 Whitethroats, 220 Starlings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Sedge Warblers, 14 Linnets, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Egret, 2 Coot, 26 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and 1 Corn Bunting.

Summer plumaged Turnstone

Summer plumaged Dunlin

July 27th

On a pleasantly warm morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 4 Little Egrets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrels, 2 Grey Herons, 14 Swallows W, 51 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Ravens on the fields east of the Green Wall, 31 Turnstone, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 summer plumaged Dunlin, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Stonechat, 1 Hobby zipping through at the Towers and 1 Blackcap.

Newly returned Turnstones

Dave Smith was out at 0530 and walked at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding and recorded 4 Mute Swans, 10 Mallard, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Swift, 10 Oystercatchers, 27 Lapwings, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 8 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroats, 4 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail and 6 Corn Buntings.

July 26th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where it began showery but soon cleared to become brighter but quite breezy. We saw 12 Sand Martins, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 113 Swifts moving N, 2 Ravens, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Jay, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Whitethroats and 20 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 37: Treecreeper 1, Goldfinch 11, Robin 1, Reed Warbler 3, Blackcap 4, Great Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Whitethroat 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 8.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

 July 25th

This morning Matt walked inland from Reculver and then along the seawall where we met him. Between us we saw 8 Little Egrets, 154 Swifts flying W, 2 Grey Herons, 11 Turnstone, 8 Stonechats including recently fledged juveniles, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, including two colour ringed adults, 30 Mallard, 1 Teal, 5 Whitethroats, 45 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows, 1 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Kestrels, 200 Starlings, 3 Sanderling, 1 Black Redstart at the Towers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Hobby.

Colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull - Matt Hindle

July 24th

It was relatively quiet this morning as we walked along the seawall to the Wantsum outflow. We managed to record 14 Swallows flying W, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 13 Linnets, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 4 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Partridge calling, Pied Wagtails, 2 Mallard and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Sanderling

July 23rd

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where the highlight was ringing a juvenile Cuckoo, the first we've ringed since 2010. 

Juvenile Cuckoo

Other birds we saw included 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 40 Sand Martins, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 25 Mallard, 2 Kestrels, 6 Whitethroats, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Ravens, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 20 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Peregrine and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 58: Wren 9, Chiffchaff 8, Reed Warbler 15, Cetti's Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 5, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 4, Garden Warbler 1, Robin 1, Chaffinch 2, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 6, Cuckoo 1.

July 22nd

On a breezy morning we again walked along the seawall from Reculver and recorded 1 Sanderling, 1 Redshank, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Cormorants and 1 juvenile Common Gull.

Second calendar year Great Black-backed Gull

July 21st

This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and then inland and recorded 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Heron, 19 Little Egrets, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Stonechat, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Ravens and 5 Goldfinches.

Dave Smith had 26 Swifts flying W early this morning.

Moulting male Stonechat

July 20th

After two days of stifling heat where it reached 36.8℃ in our garden and 40℃ in other places in the south east it was nice to be out at Reculver where there was a reasonably cool SW breeze blowing. We saw 12 Linnets, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Sandwich Terns W and 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

July 17th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where it was was surprisingly cool at 0600 but had warmed up significantly by 1100 when we finished. Birds we saw during the morning included 10 Blackcaps, 3 Jays, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 20 Sand Martins, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Ravens, 2 Swallows and 8 Reed Warblers.

Birds ringed 28: Wren 3, Chiffchaff 4, Blackcap 6, Reed Warbler 3, Robin 1, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Whitethroat 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 3, Jay 1.

July 16th

There was a pleasant easterly breeze blowing this morning as I had a brief walk at Reculver. Birds I saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 1 Raven, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Kestrels and 1 Common Buzzard. Among the more usual butterflies I found a Wall Brown and a Speckled Wood.

July 15th

We spent a beautiful summer's morning ringing on the Marshes south of the railway. Birds we saw included 1 Turtle Dove, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 20 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 8 Lapwings flying W, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Blackcaps, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. We also saw a Brown Hawker.

Birds ringed 54: Wren 2, Linnet 2, Whitethroat 13, Sedge Warbler 10, Reed Warbler 17, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Goldfinch 1, Blackcap 2, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 4.

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler

July 14th

It was another very warm morning but there was a nice gentle and cool northerly breeze blowing in of the sea. It was also very quiet at Reculver with the tide out but I did manage to count 2 Whitethroats, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Kestrels, 18 Linnets, 8 Ringed Plovers, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns, 16 Sand Martins, 4 Gadwall, 7 Goldfinches. 2 Ravens and 1 Chiffchaff.

Ringed Plover

July 13th

On another hot morning our walk inland at Reculver produced 5 Goldfinches, 15 Linnets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 singing Corn Bunting, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Blackcap and 1 Little Egret.

July 12th

I was out early this morning in order to avoid the heat and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. I saw 6 Swifts, 9 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 28 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 12 Mediterranean Gulls moving E, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechats, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 13 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Lapwings.

Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls

July 11th

On what threatened to be a very hot day we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 1 Kestrel, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Lapwings, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Blackcaps, 16 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Ravens, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Grey Partridges.

July 10th

We spent a warm morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 8 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Tufted Duck, 80 Sand Martins, 1 Treecreeper (172nd), 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Moorhens, 1 Raven, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 19: Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Reed Warbler 4,  Blackcap 4, Robin 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Great Tit 2, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1.

Juvenile Treecreeper

July 9th

This morning I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland and saw 4 Pied Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 18 Oystercatchers, 12 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 9 Little Egrets, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 singing Corn Bunting, 1 Common Tern, 13 Sand Martins, 4 Stonechats, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Ravens, 2 Swallows, 1 Grey Partridge and 2 Jays.

Oystercatcher

July 8th

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 200 Rooks, 50 Jackdaws, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 5 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 30 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Goldfinches and 1 Red Kite flying W. We also saw 15+ Marbled White butterflies.

Birds ringed 55: Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 3, Goldfinch 9, Reed Warbler 21, Sedge Warbler 5, Linnet 1, Whitethroat 3, Cetti's Warbler 6, Robin 1, Blackcap 2, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

July 7th

We spent a cloudy and breezy morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 3 Lapwings, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Kestrels, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Raven, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Jays, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 8 Swifts, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Partridge and Whitethroats.

Birds ringed 44: Wren 6, Chiffchaff 4, Robin 4, Blackcap 7, Reed Warbler 3, Great Tit 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Blue Tit 4, Chaffinch 2, Dunnock 4, Greenfinch 1, Blackbird 4, Green Woodpecker 1.

Why don't all farms do this?

July 6th

On a bright and sunny morning we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 5 Goldfinches, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Tufted Duck, 12 Sand Martins, 1 Lapwing, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel and 6 Linnets.

July 5th

This morning I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back before walking inland. Birds I saw included 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Whitethroats, 169 Black-headed Gulls, 31 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Owl, 16 Linnets, 7 Little Egrets, 9 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Buzzard, 17 Sand Martins, 2 Common Terns, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 6 Goldfinches, 2 adult Ravens with 2 juveniles, 1 Jay, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper,1 Chiffchaff, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

July 4th

On another warm and sunny afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 3 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Lapwings, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Sand Martins and 1 Turtle Dove.

July 3rd

This morning we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Jays, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Kestrel, 6 Whitethroats, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Garden Warbler.

Little Ringed Plover

Black-tailed Skimmer

July 2nd

On another bright and breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 3 Goldfinches, 12 Sand Martins, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 1 adult Little Ringed Plover, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps and 2 Jays.

July 1st

We spent an increasingly windy but sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. We didn't see a great deal but the highlight was catching a locally bred juvenile Stonechat. Other birds we saw included 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift, 7 Sedge Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 1 Corn Bunting and 4 Sand Martins.

Birds ringed 13: Whitethroat 4, Sedge Warbler 5, Stonechat 1, Great Tit 1, Blackbird 2.

Juvenile Stonechat

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Sand Martins, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Jay.