October 8th

The highlight of our ringing session at Shuart was catching and ringing a first year Marsh Warbler. 

First year Marsh Warbler

 Other birds we saw during the morning included 1 Kestrel, 20 Chffchaffs, 8 Redwings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 17 Redpolls, 13 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Goldcrests, 6 Stonechats. 1 Water Rail, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Fieldfares, 32 Skylarks W, 27 Crossbills W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Siskin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Chaffinches, 18 Reed Buntings, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Rock Pipits.

First year Redpoll

 Birds ringed 32: Goldcrest 2, Chiffchaff 7, Blackcap 7, Blue Tit 1, Robin 2, Reed Bunting 7, Cetti's Warbler 2, Redpoll 1, Chaffinch 1, *Marsh Warbler 1, Dunnock 1.

Yesterday I received the original ringing information of three birds that we have controlled recently. A female Firecrest we caught at Reculver on the 29th September 2025 had been ringed at Charleston Reedbed, East Sussex on 9th September and had flown 98 km NE, next a first year Reed Warbler ringed at Dungeness Bird Observatory on 9th September 2025 was caught by us at Shuart Farm on the 20th September having flown 53km NNE and finally a Blackcap we ringed on Reculver Marshes on 5th October 2024 was controlled 10km SE at Richborough on 29th September 2025.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back via Plumpudding. He saw 202 Greylag Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Canada Geese+hybrids, 1 Little Egret, 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 110 Golden Plovers, 46 Sanderling, 44 Ringed Plovers, 38 Turnstone, 15 Curlews, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Sandwich Terns, 64 Skylarks NW, 4 Grey Wagtails, 45 Meadow Pipits W, 12 Song Thrushes, 1 Crossbill W, 45 Chiffchaffs, 1 Greenfinch W, 17 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Dartford Warbler in Shuart Drove (193rd), 6 Blackcaps, 75 Chiffchaffs and 16 Goldcrest.

Brendan Ryan covered the eastern section of the Marsh this morning and his highlights were 220 Greylag Geese, 3 Canada Geese, 8 Mallard, 5 Oystercatchers, 23 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22 Carrion Crows, 38 Skylarks, 48 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Firecrests, 38 Starlings, 1 Redwing, 4 Stonechats, 3 Pied Wagtails, 23 Chiffchaffs, 2 Crossbills, 2 Siskins and 13 Reed Buntings. 

Ruff - Brendan Ryan

 This afternoon Matt walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and back and recorded 69 Chiffchaffs, 24 Robins, 15 Goldcrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Sandwich Terns, 5 Common Buzzards, 79 Skylarks, 35 Chaffinches, 8 Song Thrushes, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Kestrels, 21 Goldfinches, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Brambling, 15 Grey Partridges, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Crossbill, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 Firecrest.