September 9th

Anne and I spent the morning birding at Reculver where we were joined by Matt at about 1000 after he had walked around most of the Marsh. The morning began with frequent very heavy and squally showers but it calmed down somewhat later. We saw 4 Teal flying E, 17 Gannets, 5 Swallows, 7 Sandwich Terns W, 60 Common Terns, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Tern W (180th), 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Black Tern flying W and then returning E, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits W 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose W, 2 Arctic Skuas chasing terns, 4 Common Scoter E, 1 Little Gull W (181st) and 2 immature Shags W.

Matt spent the first part of the morning walking from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment, he then spent the rest of the morning with us at the Towers. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 1 male Common Redstart, 2 Willow Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 67 Sandwich Tern E, 66 Mallard, 5 Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 27 Swallows, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Greenshank, 1 Water Rail, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Wheatears, 5 Kestrels, 13 Redshank, 2 Sparrowhawks, 10 Coot, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 27 Gannets W, 4 Arctic Skuas, 1 Bearded Tit, 3 Corn Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, 24 Turnstone, 50 Ringed Plovers, 108 Commic Terns W, 1 Swift, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Stonechat, 5 Teal, 2 Ravens, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose W, 4 Common Scoter E,  1 adult Little Gull and 2 immature Shags W.

Dave Smith covered the east end of the Marsh from Shuart to Coldharbour and recorded 5 Wigeon, 55 Mallard, 23 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Stock Doves, 12 Oystercatchers, 25 Lapwings, 1 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 25 Sandwich Terns, 6 Gannets, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 male Bearded Tit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warblers, 17 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 8 Tree Sparrows, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Corn Buntings.