June 30th
The wind had subsided a bit since yesterday but it was overcast this morning with a hint of rain in the air as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we recorded included 160 Swifts feeding low over the grass fields and moving west, 13 Reed Warblers, 12 Linnets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Chaffinches, 7 Whitethroats, 5 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Oystercatchers.

Adult Sandwich Tern

First summer Mediterranean Gull

June 29th
It was another bright and windy morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 2 Chaffinches, 3 Pied Wagtails, 13 Cormorants, 2 Sedge Warblers, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Reed Buntings, 32 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 male rubicola Stonechat singing, 4 Coot, 8 Oystercatchers, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Swifts W, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 male Marsh Harrier.

Sandwich Tern

June 28th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Grey Heron, 1 singing Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches, 9 Reed Warblers, 13 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Linnets, 2 Swallows, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 41 Swifts W and 1 Reed Bunting.

Oystercatcher

June 27th
We managed an early morning walk at Reculver before the rain arrived and saw 6 Blackcaps, 14 Sand Martins, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Moorhens and 1 Common Buzzard.

June 26th
We arrived at Reculver just as the early morning thunderstorms had passed through heading over Thanet and out to the North Sea and walked along the seawall from the Towers to Coldharbour for the first time since lockdown. Birds we saw included 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Swallows, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipits, 5 Skylarks, 3 Stonechats, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Redshank, 26 Linnets, 8 Reed Warblers, 12 Swifts, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 2 Coot, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck and 2 Sandwich Terns E.

Male Kestrel

June 25th
After yesterday's excitement we reverted to our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. It was another hot morning but thankfully with a slightly cooler easterly breeze. Birds we counted included 16 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings, 17 Reed Warblers, 11 Goldfinches, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Linnets, 2 Sedge Warblers, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Swallow, 6 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 6 Meadow Pipits, 9 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 2 Pied Wagtails, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

 Mediterranean Gull

June 24th
The highlight of this morning was when Matt found a singing male Western Bonelli's Warbler (166th) at Reculver at 0600. It remained in the area singing regularly and calling until 0630 when it moved on and could not be found again. This is the third record for the area following birds at Reculver on 2nd October 1988 and another that remained at Shuart between 27th October and 9th November 1991. It is also the 11th Kent record.

A record shot of the Western Bonelli's Warbler - Matt Hindle

Other birds seen during the morning included 1 Moorhen, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Treecreeper (167th), 10 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel and 1 Common Buzzard.

June 23rd
We spent a warm and very quiet morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. Birds we saw included 2 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Tern carrying a fish to its young in the Stour Valley, 1 Moorhen, 3 Chaffinches, 6 Sedge Warblers, 4 Skylarks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard and 11 Swifts.
We also counted 2 Common Darters, 1 Norfolk Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 10 Red-eyed Damselflies and 20+ Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Birds ringed 11: Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 3, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 2, Chaffinch 1, Great Tit 1.

June 22nd
It's that time of year when there is little change in sightings from one day to the next. Resident birds and summer visitors are busy nesting and spring migration has virtually ended, so on our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm this morning we saw similar birds to yesterday. We recorded 6 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 11 Skylarks, 13 Linnets, 16 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap, 6 Goldfinches, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Turnstone, 5 Mute Swans, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Common Whitethroat

This afternoon a Red Kite flew W at Bishopstone disturbing all the local Herring Gulls.

June 21st
It was overcast and blustery this morning with a hint of drizzle in the air as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour via the Green Wall. Birds we saw included 1 male Marsh Harrier, 11 Skylarks, 4 Chaffinches, 20 Whitethroats, 14 Reed Warblers, 9 Sedge Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 59 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Swifts W, 1 female Stonechat, 12 Cormorants, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Turnstone, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Meadow Pipits and 1 Coot.

Male Linnet

June 20th
We completed our regular walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chaffinches, 11 Skylarks, 158 Swifts feeding over the grass fields as they drifted W, 4 Swallows, 18 Reed Warblers, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Reed Buntings, 4 Linnets, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 juvenile Pied Wagtail, 2 Ringed Plovers, 22 Turnstone, 1 Coot, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Mallard and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

The British Birds Rarities Committee have just published their recent decisions and have decided that the Pine Bunting that Matt caught on the Marsh on November 4th last year is a hybrid Pine Bunting x Yellowhammer on the strength of the pale yellow edges to some of its primaries. Unfortunately not an unexpected decision and the second similar hybrid to be recorded at Reculver. Hopefully third time lucky!

Pine Bunting x Yellowhammer hybrid

 

June 19th
There were a few showers about this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Blackcap, 9 Chaffinches, 12 Skylarks, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Swift, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Reed Buntings, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Mallard, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Coot, 3 juvenile Stonechats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 7 Linnets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 8 Turnstones, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Kestrel and 1 Cuckoo.

A slightly bedraggled male Reed Bunting

June 18th
Matt ventured out in the pouring rain this morning and walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall. He recorded 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 4 Stonechats, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W, 8 Gadwall flying W and 1 Kestrel.
Anne and I arrived at Chamber's Wall after lunch on a bright and breezy afternoon and walked up to Coldharbour. We counted 12 Whitethroats, 11 Reed Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 41 Swifts feeding over the grass fields whilst moving west, 1 female Marsh Harrier hunting along the dykes, 1 Moorhen 3 Goldfinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swallows, 4 Chaffinches, 1 singing Yellow Wagtail, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Little Egret, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Coot, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 2 Curlews flying W, 2 Reed Buntings and 1 Chiffchaff.

Singing male Yellow Wagtail

June 17th
We spent another morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Wagtail, 14 Blackcaps, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying W, 1 Moorhen, 6 Reed Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 male Turtle Dove singing and and doing its display flight, 6 Goldfinches, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Jays, 4 Skylarks, 12 Sand Martins, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Swallows, 5 Long-tailed Tits and 5 Mute Swans.

Birds ringed 27: Wren 3, Chiffchaff 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 7, Robin 2, Reed Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 3.

Juvenile Robin

June 16th
On another sunny and warm morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhrbour and back. We counted 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 7 Chaffinches, 17 Reed Warblers, 21 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 1 Coot, 4 Sedge Warblers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 Mute Swan and 5 Swallows.
We also saw our first Clouded Yellow butterfly of the year whilst the patch of Pyramidal Orchids at Coldharbour had increased to 42.

Meadow Pipit

Ringed Plover