June 30th
On a cooler morning we walked inland at Reculver and then looked at the sea. We saw 1 Blackcap, 4 Kestrels, 3 Chiffchaffs, 60 Sand Martins, 4 Goldfinches, 42 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Gadwall, 40 Coot, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 3 Whitethroats, At the sea we counted 7 Swifts flying W and 5 Mediterranean Gulls.
June 29th
On another sunny morning but with a welcome, cooling, westerly breeze blowing we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We saw 1 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Linnet, 7 Whitethroats, 13 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Stonechats, 2 Shelduck, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Mallard, 8 Cormorants and 2 Common Terns.
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| Male Stonechat |
June 28th
On a slightly less hot and humid morning and with a light westerly wind blowing we walked out on to the Marsh at Reculver. We saw 2 Kestrels, 10 Sand Martins, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lapwing, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Blackcap, 64 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Gadwall, 6 Mute Swans and 38 Coot.
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| Female Banded Demoiselle |
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| Dryad's Saddle |
Nick Hando walked at Minnis Bay this evening and saw a Cattle Egret (166th) fly in off the sea at 2050.
June 27th
After overnight thunder and rain it was slightly less hot and humid this morning as Matt walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. His highlight was hearing a Quail (165th) singing in a field south of Coldharbour. Other birds he recorded were 7 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Avocets, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Redshank, 2 Shelduck with 7 young, 6 Oystercatchers with 1 young, 1 Mallard with 5 young, 1 Corn Bunting and 15 Swifts.
We also received the details of a male Whitethroat we controlled at Reculver yesterday that had originally been ringed at Stodmarsh on 25th August 2025 by Nick Tardivel.
June 26th
We had an early morning ringing session at Reculver where we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Whitethroats, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Mute Swans, 8 Greylag Geese, 8 Tufted Duck, 35 Coot, 1 Corn Bunting, 64 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 17 Lapwings W, 2 Swifts, 4 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Birds ringed 27: Long-tailed Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Reed Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Blackcap 5, Cetti's Warbler 3, Sedge Warbler 1, Robin 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 6.
June 25th
The heat wave continues but with a pleasant, easterly breeze blowing off the sea we are not suffering as much as those further inland. This morning we walked at Reculver where we saw 30 Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Redshank, 8 Greylag Geese, 62 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Pied Wagtail, 37 Coot, 1 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 5 Swifts and 9 Goldfinches. We then spent forty minutes looking at the sea but other than one or two Herring and Black-headed Gulls all we saw was 1 Mediterranean Gull flying W and a group of 12 Gannets flying high E.
June 24th
On another scorching and humid morning I walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 9 Whitethroats, 18 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats, 1 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 16 Cormorants, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Shelduck, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Blackcap. There were also quite a few butterflies to be seen including at least 6 Painted Ladies and 5 Marbled Whites.
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| Painted Lady |
June 22nd
With a cooling NE breeze blowing we spent the early morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Curlew, 2 Swifts, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Barn Owl, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 10 Goldfinches, 15 Linnets, 12 Reed Warblers, and 2 Sedge Warblers.
Birds ringed 25: Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 9, Cetti's Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 1, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 1, Stock Dove 1.
June 21st
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Common Terns, 2 Curlew, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swifts, 2 Kestrels, 12 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 5 Ravens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Hobby.
Birds ringed 37: Wren 1, Reed Warbler 12, Chaffinch 1, Sedge Warbler 4, Whitethroat 9, Cetti's Warbler 2, Linnet 1, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 2.
June 20th
It was sunny again this morning but there was a pleasant westerly breeze blowing as I had a short walk at Reculver. I saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Sand Martins, 8 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 41 Coot, 82 Mallard, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Little Egret.
June 19th
On a hot and humid morning we hat a limited walk along the seawall from Reculver. Birds we saw included 12 Swifts screaming around the Towers, 1 Little Egret, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Herons, 14 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat and 13 Mediterranean Gulls calling and flying E.
Matt had been out at Reculver before us and had recorded 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Lapwings, 8 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 76 Mallard, 32 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Corn Bunting, 30 Sand Martins, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Kestrels, 1 Gadwall, 4 Little Grebes, 6 Common Terns and 1 Swift.
June 18th
We spent a humid morning ringing at one of our sites at Shuart where we saw 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Common Buzzards, 35 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Hobby and 1 Greenfinch.
Birds ringed 68: Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 11, Whitethroat 31, Linnet 1, Cetti's Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 2, Blue Tit 4, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Great Tit 1, Blackcap 3, Goldfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 4, Blackbird 1.
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| Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat |
June 17th
On an overcast morning we had a walk at Reculver and then looked at the sea where the tide was out. We counted 8 Greylag Geese, 81 Mallard, 29 Coot, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Skylarks, 6 Mute Swans, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Sand Martins, 6 Little Grebes, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 8 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Gadwall, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Curlew W and 2 Common Terns.
June 16th
This morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret, 4 Skylarks, 2 Kestrels, 7 Greylag Geese, 20 Sand Martins, 42 Coot, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 8 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 68 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Jay and 1 Common Buzzard.
June 15th
On an overcast morning with the occasional shower we walked from Reculver along the seawall. We saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Goldfinches, 14 Linnets, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Cormorants, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 adult and 1 juvenile Stonechat,1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 second calendar year Mediterranean Gull, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Terns and 2 Meadow Pipits.
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| Juvenile Grey Heron |
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| Southern Marsh Orchid - Derek Smith |
June 14th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 6 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Tufted Duck, 31 Coot, 8 Greylag Geese, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Corn Buntings, 6 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 20 juvenile Sand Martins, 3 Jays, 1 Barn Owl, 29 Lapwings, 22 Swifts, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Mute Swans and 1 Common Tern.
Birds ringed 25: Wren 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 2, Reed Warbler 5, Cetti's Warbler 3, Sedge Warbler 2, Blackcap 4, Robin 1, Dunnock 4.
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| Male Sedge Warbler |
June 13th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked at Reculver and then had a quick look at the sea. We saw 3 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Greylag Geese, 28 Coot, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 34 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Gadwall, 2 Pied Wagtails, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Skylarks, 2 Common Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Curlew flying W.
June 11th
With heavy rain threatened for later this morning we managed a dry walk along the seawall from Reculver. We saw 3 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 7 Whitethroats, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Swallow, 1 Little Owl, 5 Meadow Pipits, 20 Swifts, 2 Shelduck, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stonechats, 3 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Terns and 1 Blackcap.
June 10th
This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and saw 1 Kestrel, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Oystercatchers, 9 Cormorants, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Common Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Linnets, 64 Swifts feeding over an oil seed rape field, 4 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Swallows, 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warblers and 20 Sand Martins.
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| Female Stonechat |
June 9th
On a sunny morning with a chilly west wind blowing we walked at Reculver and counted 26 Sand Martins, 1 Chiffchaff, 22 Mallard, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Greylag Geese, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Shelduck, 14 Coot, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Gadwall, 3 Swifts, 2 Common Terns, 4 Skylarks and 4 Linnets. On the sea we saw 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Fulmars flying W, 2 Common Terns and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Matt was out later this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where he recorded 2 Little Egrets, 360 Swifts feeding and moving W, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Avocets with 4 young, 3 Oystercatchers with 2 young, 2 Redshank, 1 Mallard with 5 young, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Stonechats and 1 Common Buzzard.
June 8th
With heavy rain threatened for later this morning we managed a dry walk at Reculver where we recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 42 Mallards, 4 Blackcaps, 9 Greylag Geese, 12 Coot, 18 Sand Martins, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Grebe feeding 4 tiny young, 70 Swifts feeding on insects over an oil seed rape field, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck and 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea.
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| Mute Swan cygnets |
June 7th
Although it was sunny this morning there was a chilly westerly breeze blowing as we walked at Reculver and then had a brief look at the sea. We counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Sparrowhawk, 16 Coot, 9 Greylag Geese, 5 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 4 Sand Martins, 18 Mallard, 4 Skylarks, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Linnets, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Shelduck, 2 Fulmars W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Common Tern.
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| Male Shelduck |
June 5th
On a bright and sunny morning I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 42 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Cormorants, 4 Common Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Swift W, 1 Oystercatcher and 2 Grey Partridges. In addition, at Reculver, I found 7 Bee Orchids and at Coldharbour 65 Pyramidal Orchids.
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| Bee Orchid |
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| Pyramidal Orchid |
June 3rd
On a morning with a chilly westerly wind blowing we walked along the seawall at Reculver. Birds we saw included 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 1 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 7 Cormorants, 2 House Martins flying W, 1 Little Egret, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Avocets feeding in the Oyster Farm lagoons, 6 Linnets, 4 Common Terns, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Chaffinches and 3 Shelduck.
June 2nd
We had intended to have a walk at Reculver this afternoon but when we arrived it was obvious there was a thunderstorm arriving from the west. As we sat in our car the heavens opened and there was torrential rain, thunder and lightning and for about ten minutes our car was battered with pea sized hale stones. On leaving Reculver after the storm the road to it were well and truly flooded. The only birds we saw were 70 Herring Gulls sitting on the sea and two Common Terns.
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| Approaching thunder storm |
June 1st
The month began sunny and warm but with not a great deal to see as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. We counted 12 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Shelduck, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 3 Stonechats, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 1 Swallow and 1 immature Kittiwake flying W.
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| Male Stonechat |
