June 30th
On a humid and cloudy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 9 Skylarks, 7 Linnets, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Swallow, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Swifts, 4 Lapwings, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 2 Coot, 10 Little Egrets, 3 Shelduck, 7 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Tern and 1 Common Buzzard.
June 29th
We spent a bright and sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Goldfinches, 5 Skylarks, 10 Linnets, 4 Sedge Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 4 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 male Marsh Harrier. Matt also found 1 Common Emerald Damselfly, only the second one to be identified in the recording area.
Birds ringed 26: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 10, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 2, Linnet 4, Reed Bunting 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.
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| Juvenile Sedge Warbler |
Derek Smith spent three hours walking from Shuart to Plumpudding and back. He recorded 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Little Egrets in Coldharbour, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 37 adult Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 4 adult and 2 young Avocets, 16 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew E, 17 Swifts W, 2+ Bearded Tits and 3 singing Corn Buntings.
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| Large Skipper at Shuart - Derek Smith |
June 28th
After the oppressive heat of recent days it was nice to arrive at Reculver this morning with a cool westerly breeze blowing. We walked up to Coldharbour and counted 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Linnets, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Little Egrets, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 15 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Swallows W, 6 Swifts W, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Whimbrel W and 5 Oystercatchers. We also saw 6 Avocets at Coldharbour including 2 recently fledged chicks, 4 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 4 Mallard, 7 Meadow Piits and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.
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| Avocet with chicks |
June 27th
We arrived late at Reculver on a very warm morning and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Whitethroats, 24 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Greylag Geese, 11 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Pied Wagtails. There were increased numbers of Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and Small Heath butterflies as well as one or two Banded Demoiselles.
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| Female Banded Demoiselle |
June 26th
It wasn't quite as hot this morning as there was thin cloud cover and a light northerly breeze blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. It was still relatively quiet but we did see 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroats, 9 Oystercatchers, 9 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Avocets, 4 Shelduck, 1 Swallow, 1 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Stonechat, 1 immature male Marsh Harrier and 3 Sand Martins.
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| Oystercatcher and chick |
June 25th
On another warm morning we had a ringing session at Shuart and saw 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 20 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Blackcap, 2 Greenfinches and 12 Reed Warblers.
Birds ringed 30: Great Tit 9, Cetti's Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 10, Blue Tit 2, Robin 2, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 2.
June 24th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Blackcaps, 1 Teal, 19 Mallard, 15 Sand Martins, 1 Swift, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Coot, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Hobbies, 2 Curlew, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Pied Wagtails.
Birds ringed 36: Wren 3, Chiffchaff 1, Cetti's Warbler 2, Robin 8, Blackcap 8, Blue Tit 6, Reed Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 4.
June 23rd
On a very warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 7 Whitethroats, 10 Skylarks, 12 Linnets, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Blackcap, 8 Swallows, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Tern, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Marsh Harrriers, 4 Shelduck, 3 Avocets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Oystercatchers and 1 Corn Bunting.
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| Singing Chiffchaff at Chamber's Wall |
Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart, Plumpudding and on to Chamber's Wall, where we met him, and then back via Potten Street. He saw 1 Common Buzzard, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Shelduck, 1 Curlew W, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Avocets, 2 Cuckoos, 26 Swifts W, 147 Starlings W, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Bearded Tits, 16 Cetti's Warblers,1 Lesser Whitethroat, 24 Whitethroats, 23 Reed Warblers, 16 Sedge Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 singing Corn Buntings.
June 22nd
It was cloudy this morning as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back via Coldharbour where we met him. We saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Owl, 31 Swifts, 1 Curlew, 13 Tufted Duck, including 11 ducklings, 2 Stonechats, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Cuckoos, 8 Avocets, 3 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 House Martin, 5 Shelduck, 3 Corn Buntings, 40 Sand Martins, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Yellow Wagtails, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 1 Common Tern and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
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| Sea Clover - Trifolium squamosum |
June 21st
This morning we walked up to Coldharbour in warm and sunny conditions. We saw 7 Whitethroats, 1 Little Owl, 1 Blackcap, 14 Linnets, 3 Stonechats, 2 Tufted Duck, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mallard, 5 Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Avocets, 5 Shelduck, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Curlew and 1 Chiffchaff.
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| Little Owl |
June 20th
On a cloudy morning with a chilly NE breeze still blowing we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 2 Swallows, 1 male Stonechat, 7 Meadow Pipits, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Sand Martins, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Terns, 2 Turnstone, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Shelduck, 5 Avocets, 1 female Marsh Harrier and 2 Little Egrets.
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| Female Shelduck with two ducklings |
June 19th
With a brisk NE wind blowing not a lot had changed as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning. We saw 4 Goldfinches, 2 Swallows, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Skylarks, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Linnets, 2 Sand Martins, 6 Avocets, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 7 Shelduck, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo and at Reculver, 1 Fulmar flying E.
This afternoon I received information of a juvenile Sedge Warbler we ringed at Reculver on 26th July 2021. It was controlled on 9th August 2021 at Jaizubia, Hondarribia, Guipuzcoa, SPAIN which is 915 km SW of Reculver.
June 18th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Curlew, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Whitethroats, 6 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Terns, 11 Goldfinches, 8 Linnets, 4 Swifts, 5 Chiffchaffs and 4 Skylarks.
Birds ringed 36: Chiffchaff 3, Cetti's Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 6, Whitethroat 9, Sedge Warbler 4, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 1, Blue Tit 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 3, Blackbird 1.
Derek Smith was also birding this morning and between 0530 and 0930 walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He recorded 1 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese with 1 hybrid, 7 Shelduck, 7 pairs of Tufted Duck, 4 Little Egrets, 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Marsh Harriers, 3 Sandwich Terns, 8 Turnstone, 4 Avocets, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 male Stonechat, 14 Swallows, 2 Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 15 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Reed Warblers, 28 Sedge Warblers, 19 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs and 6 singing Corn Buntings.
June 17th
On a beautiful early summer morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Whitethroats, 17 Linnets, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Little Egrets, 1 male Stonechat, 3 Common Terns, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 Mallard, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Turnstone, 7 Shelduck, 6 Avocets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow and 2 Tufted Duck. We also saw a fine display of 120+ Pyramidal Orchids.
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| Common Tern |
June 16th
This morning we walked around at Reculver and counted 5 Blackcaps, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Swifts, 2 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 11 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 10 Sand Martins, 6 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Chaffinches and 4 Goldfinches.
June 15th
On a sunny but increasingly windy morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver. Birds we saw included 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Avocets now in the Oyster Farm lagoons, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Common Terns, 83 Swifts W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Reed Buntings, 15 Mallard, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Sand Martins, 15 Linnets, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 House Martins W, 1 Swallow W, 3 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Sandwich Tern and 2 Grey Partridges.
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| Herring Gull chicks on the roof of the old cafe at Reculver |
June 14th
It was showery and breezy this morning as we walked around in the Reculver area. We saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Swifts W, 1 Little Egret and 2 adult and 4 juvenile Avocets that had walked from Coldharbour along the beach to Reculver.
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| Avocet family |
June 13th
On an lovely, sunny June morning we had a two hour walk from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Cetti's Warbler, a group of 19 Magpies sitting on telephone wire at Reculver, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Sand Martins, 4 Common Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 1 second calendar year Hobby, 2 Stonechats, 10 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Swallows, 11 Avocets, 12 Shelduck, 2 Swifts W, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Lapwing and 2 Ringed Plovers.
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| Second calendar year Hobby |
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| Bee Orchids |
June 12th
With limited time this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Swallow, 5 Skylarks, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 8 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lapwings, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Terns, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Little Egrets, 11 Avocets, 5 Oystercatchers, 12 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Blackcap.
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| Oystercatcher family |
Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0600 and 1130 walked from Shuart to Reculver and back. He saw 4 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mute Swan with 8 cygnets, 2 Shelduck with 8 ducklings, 3 pairs of Tufted Ducks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Terns, 2 Oystercatchers with 3 young, 7 Avocets and 4 young, 1 summer plumage Dunlin, 2 Barn Owl and 1 Cuckoo. He also saw 3 Stonechats, 1 female Wheatear, 7 Skylarks, 1 adult and 2 juvenile Bearded Tits, 15 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 21 Reed Warblers, 22 Sedge Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs. He also saw 6 Southern Marsh Orchids at Plumpudding found 17 Bee Orchids at Reculver.
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| Summer plumaged Dunlin - Derek Smith |
June 11th
Although it was bright this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour there was a chilly NW breeze blowing. Birds we saw included 5 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Whitethroats, 14 Linnets, 1 Little Owl, 9 Mallard, 3 House Martins W, 4 Swallows W, 4 Reed Buntings, 1 Common Tern, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 11 Avocets, 1 Redshank and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls. There were also at least 75 Pyramidal Orchids at Coldharbour.
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| Male Linnet |
June 9th
We arrived at Chamber's Wall at 0755 and on a bright and sunny morning with a chilly westerly breeze blowing walked up to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 2 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Skylarks, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Cuckoos, 8 Whitethroats, 7 Cetti's Warblers, including 2 recently fledged juveniles, 9 Linnets, 5 Reed Buntings, 3 Lapwings, 1 Common Tern, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W, 8 Avocets, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 House Martins W and 1 Chiffchaff. We also saw over 50 Pyramidal Orchids at Coldhabour.
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| Pyramidal Orchids |
Derek Smith was out from 0545 to 0900 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He saw 1 Common Tern carrying a small fish flying back to feed its young at Stodmarsh, 1 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 7 Oystercatchers, 7 Avocets, 3 male Cuckoos, 42 Swifts W, 8 Swallows W and 4 singing Lesser Whitethroats.
June 8th
This morning we walked inland from Reculver and counted 6 Goldfinches, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 18 Sand Martins, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Pied Wagtails, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Grebes, 10 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Reed Warblers, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
June 7th
It was another sunny morning but with a cool westerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Skylarks, 1 Swallow, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Cuckoos, 9 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 7 Oystercatchers including 3 recently hatched young, 2 Common Terns, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Avocets, 14 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
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| Recently hatched Oystercatcher chicks |
June 6th
On a lovely sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where we met our good friend Terry Wilson and had a chat. We saw 8 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 5 Swallows, 4 Ringed Plovers, 9 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 14 Shelduck, 8 Avocets, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Gannet E, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Swift W and 6 Sand Martins.
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| Cuckoo |
June 5th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 9 Whitethroats, 7 Skylarks, 2 Turtle Doves, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Common Tern, 12 Avocets, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Tufted Duck, 14 Shelduck, 4 Linnets, 1+ Bearded Tits, 1 Swallow, 2 Swifts W and 2 Cuckoos.
June 4th
Matt was out early and walked from Shuart to the railway embankment and Coldharbour. We arrived later at Reculver and walked to Coldharbour where we met him and then we all walked back to Shuart. Matt recorded the best birds of the morning before we arrived when he found 2 Golden Orioles, a male and immature/female, singing and calling in trees on the Marsh between Plumpudding and Coldharbour (166th). After being disturbed by a passing train they flew E along the embankment. Other birds we recorded included 2 Marsh Harriers. 1 Grey Heron, 1 Barn Owl, 4 Lesser Whitethroats. 6 Little Egrets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Hobby, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Swifts, 2 Stonechats, 1 Common Tern, 12 Turnstone, 4 Cuckoos, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 adult Avocets with 4 young, 4 Oystercatchers with 1 young, 2 Shelduck with 12 young, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Little Owl at Reculver, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and good numbers of Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats.
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| Little Owl |
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| Ringed Plover |
June 3rd
At last the wind had dropped as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour on a bright morning. We saw 9 Skylarks, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Lapwings, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Tufted Duck, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Oystercatchers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 12 Linnets, 2 Coot, 2 Cuckoos, 13 Avocets, 9 adults and 4 juveniles, 14 Shelduck, 2 adults and 12 ducklings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Sand Martin, 10 Mallard and 1 Turtle Dove "purring" at Chamber's Wall.
June 2nd
There was still a chilly northerly breeze blowing this morning, but at least the sun came out, as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Linnets, 1 Little Owl, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Stonechat, 4 Oystercatchers, 10 Avocets, 6 adults and 4 juveniles, 14 Shelduck, 2 adults with 14 ducklings, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Little Egrets. There were also 50+ Pyramidal Orchids below the seawall at Coldharbour.
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| Adult Avocets with young |
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| Adult Shelduck with young |
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| Pyramidal Orchids |
June 1st
On another unpleasant morning with a strong northerly wind blowing we walked onto the Marsh at Reculver and recorded 28 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 4 Cormorants, 12 Coot, 2 Greenfinches, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag Geese, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Yellow Wagtails. Twenty minutes at Reculver then produced 8 Gannets flying E and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull flying E.
Dave Smith was also out this morning from 0548 for nearly four hours. Birds he saw included 5 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 5 adult and 4 young Avocets at Coldharbour, 11 Oystercatchers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 8 Turnstone, 1 winter plumaged Knot, 3 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 1 Common Gull, 2 Fulmars, 12 Gannets, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 1 Raven, 1 Swallow, 2 Stonechats and 1 Wheatear.
