September 7th

We began the morning with a walk along the seawall but it appeared very quiet so after twenty minutes we turned around and returned to Reculver before driving over to Chamber's Wall and walking out to the railway crossing. At Reculver we saw 15 Swallows on the wires, 1 Wheatear, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 9 Goldfinches, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Chiffchaffs. At Chamber's Wall, where the contractors were beginning to cut the maize, we counted 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Greenfinches, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Swallows, 2 Common Buzzards and 85 Golden Plovers. We also found a Willow Emerald at Chamber's Wall car park. 

Wheatear on the rocks at Reculver

Dave Smith completed his regular walk from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and saw 2 Mute Swans, 12 Mallard, 2 Stock Doves, 80 Oystercatchers, 83 Golden Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 71 Ringed Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich Terns, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Kestrels, 1 Skylark, 5 Reed Warblers, 7 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whiethroat, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Stonechat, 8 Tree Sparrows, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Greenfinches and 2 Corn Buntings. Dave has also been seeing Willow Emeralds on his recent visits.