July 31st

It was a little less hot this morning at Reculver and there was a pleasant easterly breeze blowing as we walked inland and then had a look at the sea. We saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldfinches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 27 Coot, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Little Egrets, 17 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Common Sandpiper, 29 Linnets, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Blackcap. There was very little on the sea, just 10 Common Scoter and 1 Sandwich Tern flying E.

July 30th

On our walk to Coldharbour other birds we saw were 1 Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 19 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Oystercatchers, 7 Meadow Pipits, 5 Grey Herons, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 13 Little Egrets, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Stonechats, 4 Avocets, 3 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Pied Wagtails.

July 29th

On another very warm and sunny morning we walked from Shuart to the Plumpudding lagoon and back. Birds we counted included 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Blackcap, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Goldfinches, 20 Chaffinches, 34 Linnets, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 14 Swallows, 2 Stonechats, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Sanderling, 2 Sandwich Terns, 8 Turnstone, 36 Ringed Plovers, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 220 Black-headed Gulls, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flying W, 1 adult Common Gull, 1 Little Egret and 1 Chiffchaffs.

Shuart Drove

Family of juvenile Swallows

July 28th

At a very warm and increasingly busy Reculver we walked inland and recorded 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Lapwings flying W, 21 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 12 Mallard, 18 Coot, 13 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 5 Little Egrets, 26 Sand Martin,  1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Corn Buntings, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Raven, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with 2 juveniles, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Jay and 4 Mediterranean Gulls. We also found a Jersey Tiger Moth in the caravan site.

Adult Mediterranean Gull

 July 27th

On another warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 8 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Little Egrets, 6 Avocets, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Terns, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Turnstone, 6 Linnets, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard and 7 Sand Martins.

Returning adult Turnstone

 Derek Smith was also out at Shuart at 0530 and walked to Coldharbour and Plumpudding in four hours. He counted 10 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 8 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Golden Plover, 19 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 Avocets, 7 Redshank and 37 Sanderling and 7 Dunlin at Minnis Bay. He also saw 9 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Sedge Warblers, 33 Reed Warblers, 48 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 13 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Corn Buntings.

July 26th

The overnight cloud and rain had cleared away leaving a glorious sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Unfortunately there was nothing new to see but we did record 14 Meadow Pipits, 4 juvenile Stonechats, 29 Linnets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 12 Little Egrets, 12 Oystercatchers, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Avocets, 200 Starlings, 2 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Sandwich Terns and 1 Mallard. We also saw 7 Wall Brown butterflies.

Wall Brown at Coldharbour

Juvenile Avocets are growing quickly

July 25th

On an unpleasant, overcast and drizzly morning we visited various sites at Reculver and saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Egret, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 16 Tufted Duck, 21 Coot, 4 Sand Martins, 23 Goldfinches, 1 Green Sandpiper, 32 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker and 4 juvenile Stonechats by the Roman Wall at Reculver.

July 24th

We spent a bright and sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 30 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Goldfinches, 10 Linnets, 1 Turtle Dove flying E and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 43: Wren 2, Reed Warbler 18, Blue Tit 4, Sedge Warbler 7, Robin 1, Whitethroat 4, Chaffinch 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Linnet 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

July 23rd

On a showery morning with an increasingly strong westerly wind blowing Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding meeting Anne and me at Coldharbour before we all returned to Reculver. Between us we saw 4 Sandwich Terns, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 3 Stonechats, 4 Dunlin, 11 Avocets, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Turnstone, 1 adult Common Gull, 9 Sanderling, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 summering Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Bearded Tits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 female Goosander in Coldharbour, 8 Swifts W, 1 Wheatear, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 17 Meadow Pipits, 21 Mallard, 8 Oystercatchers and 1 Common Tern.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0600 and 1000 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. He recorded 7 Greylag Geese, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Avocet, 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 175 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Bearded Tits and 4 singing Corn Buntings.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose - Derek Smith

Adult Mediterranean Gull - Derek Smith

July 22nd

We spent a cooler and breezy morning ringing at Reculver. We saw a good range of species including 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Treecreeper (168th), 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpipers, 18 Coot, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Mallard, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 26 Sand Martins, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wood Sandpiper flying W (169th), 9 Greylag Geese, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 3 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Marsh Harrier, 110 Swifts W, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ravens, 1 Little Egret and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Birds ringed 26: Treecreeper 1, Chiffchaff 3, Wren 3, Long-tailed Tit 1, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 6, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Blackcap 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 3.

Juvenile Treecreeper

July 21st

There had been a change in the weather overnight and it was cloudy with a cooler westerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We counted 6 Skylarks, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Linnets, 2 Common Terns, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 1 female Goosander still roosting in Coldharbour, 5 Whimbrel, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 7 Goldfinches.

Female Goosander

Whimbrel in Coldharbour

July 20th

On another hot morning we were out early to avoid the worst of the heat and walked from Reculver along the seawall. We saw 2 Goldfinches, 16 Linnets, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Whimbrel flying SW, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Swallows W, 5 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers and 120 Black-headed Gulls.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

July 19th

It was another warm morning at Shuart where we had another ringing session. Birds we saw during the morning included 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Skylark, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Common Tern, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 20 Whitethroats, 16 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greenfinch, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Sedge Warblers and 12 Reed Warblers.

Birds ringed 37: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 15, Reed Warbler 7, Sedge Warbler 2, Great Tit 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 3, Reed Bunting 1, Linnet 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

We received the very interesting ringing information of an adult male Chiffchaff we controlled at Shuart yesterday. It had originally been ringed as a male at Nanjizal, Land's End, Cornwall on 23rd April 2024 and had flown 509 km ENE.

July 18th

We spent an increasingly warm morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 20 Goldfinches, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Greylag Geese, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Jay, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Common Buzzards, 35 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Greenfinch singing, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 7 Sedge Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Swallows and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Birds ringed 50: Cetti's Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 27, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 4, Chaffinch 2, Sedge Warbler 5, Goldfinch 2, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1.

We also controlled a male Reed Warbler that had been ringed as a first year bird by the East Kent Wildlife Group at Richborough on 24th September 2021.

July 17th

We spent a sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Linnets, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Swallows, 6 Skylarks, 1 Lapwing flying S, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Sedge Warblers.

Birds ringed 43: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Cetti's Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 14, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 9, Reed Bunting 2, Chaffinch 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 4.

Adult Lesser Whitethroat

 

July 16th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Teal, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 18 Sandwich Terns E, 8 Lapwings W, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 9 Oystercatchers, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Swifts W, 4 Ringed Plovers, 31 Common Terns, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank W, 12 Avocets, 5Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Sand Martins, 1 female Goosander roosting beside the River Wantsum and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

First summer and adult Mediterranean Gulls

 

July 15th

On a warm morning we had a ringing session at Reculver where we also saw 6 Blackcaps, 150 Sand Martins, 10 Tufted Duck, 13 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lapwing, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Whitethroats, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzards, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Great White Egret flying W, 1 Mallard, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Grey Herons flying W and 1 Willow Warbler.

Birds ringed 26: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 7, Long-tailed Tit 1, Blackcap 4, Robin 1, Blue Tit 1, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 6, Cetti's Warbler 1, Song Thrush 2.

July 14th

We spent a sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 20 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 20 Whitethroats, 25 Reed Warblers, 1 Barn Owl, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Sedge Warblers and 3 Skylarks.

Birds ringed 59: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 5, Robin 2, Whitethroat 15, Reed Warbler 21, Goldfinch 2, Cetti's Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 2, Linnet 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 2.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0530 and 0930 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Turnstone, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 10 Avocets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Sand Martins and 1 Corn Bunting.

First summer Mediterranean Gull - Derek Smith

 

July 13th

On a cool and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 42 Sand Martins, 4 Pied Wagtails, 8 Linnets, 10 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 female Stonechat, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Little Egrets, 183 Swifts flying low W in ten minutes, 2 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Common Terns, 7 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 1 female Goosander still roosting in Coldharbour, 4 Coot, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Skylarks, 1 Whimbrel flying W and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Female Stonechat taking food back to its young in the nest

July 12th

We had a three hour seawatch from 0630 at Reculver on a wet morning with a fresh NNE wind blowing and most birds flying E. We counted 7 Curlews, 19 Sandwich Terns, 2 adult Kittiwakes, 1 Common Tern, 11 Gannets, 3 Whimbrel, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Oystercatchers, 32 Common Scoter (10W and 22E), 72 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Great White Egret flying W, 1 Swift, 1 Avocet flying W, 5 Sand Martins, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and 1 Fulmar.

July 11th

On a warm and sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 11 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Whitethroats, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 4 Swallows W, 3 Swifts W, 6 Common Terns, 2+ Bearded Tits calling in reed bed behind Coldharbour and 1 Sand Martin.

Drake Tufted Duck in the Wantsum

Dave Smith was also out, earlier than us, and between 0500 and 0800 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. His highlights were 2 Shoveler W, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 70 Swifts W, 11 Avocets, 12 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows and 3 Corn Buntings.

July 10th

It was a showery and breezy morning as we walked to Coldharbour and back and managing to get soaked. Birds we saw included 4 Pied Wagtails, 37 Linnets, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Swifts W, 64 Sand Martins feeding along the beach, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers and 10 Common Terns from Stodmarsh including 4 newly fledged young. We also recorded 6 Skylarks, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Shelduck, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Avocets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Chiffchaff.

Juvenile Common Terns

 Matt also found our first migrant Willow Warbler of the autumn in bushes south of the railway.

July 9th

On a still but damp morning we walked at various sites at Reculver and counted 5 Whitethroats, 2 Linnets, 4 Skylarks, 2 Blackcaps, 25 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Little Egret and 2 Common Terns.

Matt was also out and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and Plumpudding and recorded 2 Redshank, 1 female Goosander, 9 Avocets, 1 Shelduck, 4 Curlew, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, Common Terns, 1 Lapwing, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Sandwich Terns and 1 Marsh Harrier.

During the afternoon a flock of 14 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew W over our garden at Bishopstone.

July 8th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 140 Sand Martins, 2 Greenshank, 3 Shoveler, 28 Mallard, 13 Coot, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1,100 Swifts moving W, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Common Tern, 1 Hobby, 2 Kestrels, 1 Little Ringed Plover W and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Birds ringed 34: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 9, Robin 4, Reed Warbler 2, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 1, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 3, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 3.

July 7th

This morning we managed to avoid the heavy showers, that were passing to the south of us, as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. The bird of the morning was a totally unexpected, July female Goosander roosting at the edge of  Coldharbour lagoon (167th). We wondered whether it was ill or injured but Matt later saw it swimming strongly in the lagoon after we had left.

Female Goosander

Other birds we saw included 2 Swallows, 9 Skylarks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Goldfinches, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Avocets, 2 Coot, 3 Common Terns, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Shelduck, 3 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 168 Swift flying W and 2 Tufted Duck.

Avocet brooding young

July 6th

It was a another showery and blustery morning with winds forecast to reach 40 mph at 1100. We only walked along the seawall up to the Green Wall and then battled back against the wind. All we counted was 32 Swifts W, 8 Linnets, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 1 Sand Martin, 8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull E, 1 Stonechats and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Reculver Towers

July 5th

We spent 40 minutes at Reculver this morning in pouring rain but only saw 2 Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Sandwich Terns W and 2 Oystercatchers.

July 4th

After voting we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour on a bright but very breezy morning. We saw 1 Curlew, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Whitethroats, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 15 Linnets, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Mallard, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Swifts W, 9 Meadow Pipits, 2 Coot, 8 Avocets, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns, 7 Skylarks and 1 Grey Heron.

 July 3rd

This morning at Reculver we saw a Hobby fly high out to sea and then return low to hunt Sand Martins at the colony at Bishopstone.

July 2nd

It was chilly this morning with a north westerly wind blowing as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Whitethroats, 15 Linnets, 3 Stonechats, 1 Mallard, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 4 Skylarks, 7 Meadow Pipits, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W, 3 Coot, 8 Avocets, 4 Shelduck, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 male Marsh Harrier.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull

 We have received the ringing details of a male Sedge Warbler we controlled on the Marsh on June 29th. It had been ringed as a juvenile by Jan Pritchard at Waterham on the 8th July 2023.

July 1st

Dave Smith was our from 0445 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour. His highlights included 5 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 4 Turtle Doves together in bushes at Coldharbour, 314 Swifts flying W, 6 Avocets, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 6 Swallows, 3 House Martins and 2 Corn Buntings.