July 31st

It was still sunny and hot this morning but there was a very welcome cooling breeze blowing in off the sea as we walked along the seawall at Reculver. As we drove down to Reculver we saw a Hobby flying across the fields and out to the Sand Martin colony at Bishopstone. After this we counted 27 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Goldfinches, 12 Swallows flying W and 7 Stonechats in two family groups of 5 juveniles together and an adult with a recently fledged juvenile. We also saw 1 adult Kittiwake flying E, 6 Cormorants, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Shelduck with 5 young, 17 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Whimbrel flying W and 2 adult Common Gulls flying W. We also recorded 1 Clouded Yellow and 2 Wall Brown butterflies.

Juvenile Stonechat

 

Clouded Yellow

 July 30th

After yesterday's extremely hot weather it was a little more bearable this morning as we walked at Reculver. We recorded 1 Grey Heron, 54 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag Geese, 6 Gadwall, 62 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 1 Jay and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

 July 29th

Anne and I were our early at Reculver to avoid the worst of the heat. On our walk at Reculver we saw 3 Cetti's Warblers, 66 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Linnets, 2 Snipe, 42 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Lapwing and 1 Jay. 

On the shore by the car park we saw 13 Mediterranean Gulls with one sporting a white colour ring on its left leg which appears to show 9XF3, but I can't discover where it was ringed. Can any one help?

 

 

Mediterranean Gulls

Nick Hando walked from Potten Street to Chamber's Wall and along the railway embankment east for a mile. He counted 1 Clouded Yellow, 7 Painted Ladies, 5 Red Admirals, 3 Large Whites, 25+ Small Whites, 4 Gatekeepers, 15 Holly Blues, 3 Common Blues and 7 Hummingbird Hawk Moths. Also, at Minnis Bay, he counted 22 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Curlew.

 July 28th

On a sunny and hot morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and saw 28 Linnets, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Whitethroats, 19 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Common Terns and 4 Swallows flying W.

Starlings on theTowers

Mediterranean Gull

Nick Hando was also out between Brooksend and Shuart and saw 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 female Clouded Yellow butterfly and 2 Hummingbird Hawk moths.

 July 27th

On a warm and breezy morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Grey Heron, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 52 Coot, 4 Grey Partridges, 3 Mute Swans, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 32 Mallard and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Painted Lady on Hemp Agrimony

 July 26th

There was a temporary change in the weather this morning with a cool westerly breeze and even a few drips of rain. Our walk at Reculver was uneventful as all we saw was 2 Little Egrets, 4 Tufted Duck, 58 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 10 Sand Martins, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 45 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Kestrel.

Matt was out later in the morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding where he recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Gull, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 75 Sandwich Terns, 7 Common Terns, 20 Great Black-backed Gulls, 33 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Stonechat. He also found 6 Sea Holly plants.

 

Sandwich Tern - Matt Hindle

 July 25th

On a glorious summer morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a quick look at the sea. We saw 2 Kestrels, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Gadwall, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Pied Wagtails, 58 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Partridges, 2 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Oystercatchers and 5 Mediterranean Gulls.

Derek Smith was out at 0515 and walked from Minnis Bay to Chamber's Wall. He counted 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls E, 46 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Minnis Bay, 2 Common Terns, 6 Sandwich Terns, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 31 Ringed Plovers, 26 Sanderling, 3 Redshank, 9 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Wagtails W and 2 Stonechats. 

 July 24th

On a warm morning we ringed at Shuart where we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 15 Sedge Warblers, 40 Reed Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 20 Linnets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Swallows, 4 Skylarks, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 Cetti's Warblers.

Bird ringed 71: Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Reed Warblers 38, Sedge Warbler 12, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 9,  Cetti's Warblers 2, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 2, Robin 2 and Dunnock 1.

Willow Warbler

 July 23rd

We spent an overcast morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we saw 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kestrel, 1 wing-tagged Marsh Harrier, 15 Linnets, 50 Whitethroats, 15 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers and 1 Common Tern.

Birds ringed 62: Wren 1, Whitethroat 37, Reed Warbler 14, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 4, Robin 1, Reed Bunting 1, Dunnock 3.

Juvenile Whitethroat

 July 22nd

We spent the morning ringing at another of our sites at Shuart where we saw 50 Whitethroats, 30 Blackcaps, 30 Reed Warblers, 25 Sedge Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 145: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Whitethroat 47, Blackcap 28, Lesser Whitethroat 5, Reed Warbler 25, Sedge Warbler 21, Robin 4, Blue Tit 5, Cetti's Warbler 1, Linnet 3, Dunnock 3.

 We also retrapped a male Reed Warbler that we also caught on July 1st and had originally been ringed in Belgium.

 July 21st

We spent the morning ringing at one of our sites at Shuart where there were good numbers of acrocephalus warblers. We saw 1 Greenfinch, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 30 Sedge Warblers, 50 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lapwings, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Buzzards, 5 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 94: Wren 3, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 46, Whitethroat 6, Sedge Warblers 24, Cetti's Warbler 5, Goldfinch 5, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 1.

First year Grasshopper Warbler

 July 20th

Matt was out at Reculver this morning and counted 5 Little Grebes, 2 Tufted Duck 48 Coot, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Lapwing, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 350 Rooks, 150 Jackdaws, 21 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Jays, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers, one with red wing tags.

 July 19th

With a fresh northerly wind blowing we spent an hour seawatching at Reculver from 0800 but it was very slow. All we saw was 97 Black-headed Gulls E, 8 Oystercatchers E, 7 Mediterranean Gulls E, 3 Curlew E and 2 Little Egrets. 

 July 18th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 50 Coot, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 Mallard, 3 Kestrels, 1 Raven, 1 Peregrine, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 12 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk and 8 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 57: Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 1, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 18, Blackcap 10, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 5, Blue Tit 6, Robin 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 5. 

 July 17th

There was still a cool northerly breeze blowing this morning as we walked at Reculver and recorded 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Lapwings, 4 Goldfinches, 24 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 49 Coot, 15 Greylag Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swans, 3 Little Grebes, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker and 5 Skylarks.

 July 16th

With the tide out and a cool northerly breeze blowing we walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 21 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Peregrine, 6 Stonechats, 2 Ringed Plovers, 15 Cormoranats, 2 Meadow Pipits and 4 Linnets.

 July 15th

On an overcast and windy morning at Reculver we saw 6 Cormorants, 19 Mallard, 58 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 15 Greylag Geese, 4 Sand Martins, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Whimbrel flying W. 

At the same time Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 2 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Terns, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull - Matt Hindle

 July 14th

With a fresh and cool northerly wind blowing this morning we had a walk inland at Reculver and then had a half hour look at the sea. We saw 21 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Sand Martins, 1 Gadwall, 53 Coot, 3 Pied Wagtails, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Cetti's Warbler. At the sea 55 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull flew E along the shore.

 July 13th

There was a different feel to the weather this morning with cloud and a very fresh easterly wind blowing. Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and we spent an hour seawatching at Reculver. Matt's final totals were 3 Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 Mediterranean Gulls E, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E, 2 Redshank. 4 Curlew, 4 Common Terns, 1 Kestrel, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns E and 1 Whimbrel E.

 July 12th

We completed the same walk as yesterday morning and saw 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 10 Sand Martins, 3 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 48 Coot, 12 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Hobby. 

Female Tufted Duck with 3 ducklings

 

 July 11th

With a fresh, cooler NE wind blowing Matt walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and back. He counted 2 Swifts, 179 Mediterranean Gulls, 15 Sandwich Terns, 11 Little Egrets, 10 Shelduck, 4 Teal, 1 Common Tern, 350 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Spoonbill flying north and then west at Coldharbour (167th), 1 Peregrine, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Gadwall.

Adult Mediterranean Gull - Matt Hindle

 I walked at Reculver and then had a 30 minute seawatch. Birds I saw included 1 Hobby, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Kestrels, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 48 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Lapwing, 6 Mallard and 1 Chiffchaff. On the sea I saw 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying E, 24 Common Scoter E and 2 Mediterranean Gulls E.

Nick Hando was also out at Minnis Bay this morning where he saw 39 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Little Egrets, 70 Common Scoter flying E in four groups, 5 Sandwich Terns and 2 Whimbrel.

 July 10th

Forty minutes at Reculver this morning produced our first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the year flying W, 2 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 6 Cormorants and 4 Common Scoter flying W. 

 July 9th

We were out early this morning to avoid the worst of the heat and walked along the seawall from Reculver. We saw 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 1 Curlew W, 2 Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 juvenile Black Redstart briefly on the rocks by the car park, 1 Pied Wagtail and 6 Mediterranean Gulls. 

 July 8th

It was another hot and sunny morning but with a cooling NW breeze blowing in off the sea. On our walk along the seawall from Reculver we counted 2 Whitethroats, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Egrets, 2 juvenile Shelduck, 2 Swallows, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Cormorants, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 15 Linnets, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Stonechat, 1 Common Tern, 5 Sand Martins and 1 female Marsh Harrier.

Nesting Ringed Plover

 

 July 7th

We spent a relatively slow morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 3 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 2 Common Terns, 30 Sand Martins, 42 Coot, 5 Little Grebes, 11 Greylag Geese, 11 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Swifts, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 16: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 2, Blue Tit 2, Blackcap 5, Reed Warbler 2, Blackbird 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker

 

Emperor Moth caterpillar

 July 6th

On a scorching morning we walked at Reculver where we saw 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 52 Coot, 12 Greylag Geese, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Blackcaps, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Corn Buntings. 

 July 5th

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 41 Coot, 14 Tufted Duck, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Gadwall, 2 Ravens, 30 Sand Martins, 1 Jay, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Swifts.

Birds ringed 26: Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 11, Cetti's Warbler 3, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 3, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

 July 4th

On another sunny morning with a light westerly breeze blowing we walked at Reculver where we recorded 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 22 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Sand Martins, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 juvenile Little Egrets, 11 Greylag Geese, 2 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 42 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Lapwing, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Hobby, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels and 6 Mediterranean Gulls.

 July 3rd

We spent the morning ringing at one of our Shuart sites and saw 1 Grey Heron, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Swallows, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 20 Linnets, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25 Reed Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Sedge Warblers.

Birds ringed 35: Wren 1, Reed Warbler 19, Cetti's Warbler 8, Blue Tit 1, Whitethroat 3, Sedge Warbler 2, Linnets 1.

Adult male Sedge Warbler

 July 2nd 

It was warm and breezy this morning on our walk at Reculver after which we had a quick look at the sea. We counted 3 Blackcaps, 3 Kestrels, 20 Sand Martins, 3 Chiffchaffs, 41 Mallard, 12 Tufted Ducks, 4 Gadwall, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 52 Coot, 11 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Swifts flying W and 1 Jersey Tiger Moth. 

 July 1st

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Barn Owl, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Common Terns, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warblers, 15 Reed Warblers, 15 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Blackcaps.

Birds ringed 39: Wren 1, Whitethroat 12, Great Tit 1, Linnet 6, Blue Tit 2, Cetti's Warbler 3, Reed Warblers 10, Sedge Warbler 1, Goldfinches 2, Blackcap 1. 

We also caught a Belgian ringed Reed Warbler. 

Juvenile Whitethroat