September 15th
Forty seven years ago today saw one of the most impressive falls of birds ever at Reculver, but I was in the early stages of birdwatching and probably missed a great deal and also was the only person birding. As I remember, the day started with strong winds and pouring rain and with virtually no birds. The weather cleared after lunch and the wind dropped at which point birds started falling out of the sky. I only birded around Reculver Towers and about one hundred yards along the seawall but had impressive counts of 93 Redstarts, 120 Robins, 70 Wheatears mostly on the beach and around the breakwaters as well as 100+ Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, 11 Garden Warblers and 52 Tree Pipits with smaller numbers of other warblers. Highlights for me were to be found in the allotments of the coastguard cottages which were then where the grass is behind the Towers. Here I found 3 new species for me namely 2 juvenile Bluethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 16 Siskins. I only wish I had been a more experienced birder as I am sure there were other good birds to be found that afternoon.
This morning started wet and windy also with little to be seen. A wet walk around Reculver produced 1 Sandwich Tern W, 8 Swallows W, 9 House Martins W, 7 Pied Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Goldfinches.
Later this morning at Bishopstone there was 1 Pied Flycatcher, 18 Siskins W, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests.
This afternoon, with the sun shining, we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 10 Swallows W, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 62 Siskins W, 3 Kestrels, 43 Mallard, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank, 39 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 36 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 55 Ringed Plovers, 30 Sanderling and 1 Sandwich Tern E.

Juvenile Turnstone

Adult Turnstone moulting into winter plumage

September 13th
On an increasingly breezy and showery morning Matt walked around the Reculver Bushes and then we  walked up to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. We saw a good variety of species including 2 Pied Flycatchers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 247 Siskins W, 3 Grey Wagtails W, 3 Kingfishers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1,500 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Teal, 300 Sand Martins W, 9 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 9 Redshank, 42 Ringed Plovers, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Dunlin, 9 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Sanderling, 8 Golden Plovers, 82 Mallard, 2 Swifts W, 3 Curlew, 13 Mute Swans, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whinchats, 4 singing Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Garden Warblers, 44 House Martins W, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Lesser Redpoll W (179th), amazingly our first one of the year.
This afternoon we walked from Shuart to the sea and recorded 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 34 Siskins W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Sparrowhawk.

September 13th
On a quiet, dull morning we walked from Chamber's Wall along the seawall and also visited Reculver on the way home. We saw 1 Pied Flycatcher, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 36 Swallows W, 5 Cormorants, 3 Whitethroats, 5 Sand Martins W, 2 Grey Partridges, 58 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Reed Buntings, 5 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 1 male White Wagtail, 19 Mute Swans, 22 Oystercatchers, 73 Mallard, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 18 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 37 Siskins W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 male Common Redstart, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Kestrel, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Coot, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Reed Warbler.

Mallard

At Bishopstone, just before the rain arrived at midday, a pulse of House Martins and Swallows numbering about 1,000 of each flew W over our garden. There was also a Garden Warbler and 2 Blackcaps feeding on elderberries in our back garden.
Derek Smith spent six hours from 0630 covering the area from Shuart to the sea and along the railway embankment and up to Brooksend. He saw 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin in off the sea chasing a Siskin, 600 Swallows W, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 1 Common Redstart, 16 Whinchats, 10 Wheatears, 16 Blackcaps, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 22 Chiffchaffs, 8 Willow Warblers, 4 singing Cetti's Warblers and 248 Siskins W.

 

September 12th
We were in the wrong place this morning because Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and saw 2 Firecrests, 1 Wryneck (177th), 1 Dotterel flying E (178th) and 1 Common Redstart.
We walked the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall loop in increasingly windy and wet conditions and recorded 2 Chiffchaffs, 48 Siskins W, 14 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Blackcap, 77 Swallows W, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Redshank, 16 Oystercatchers, 3 Wheatears, 1 Little Egret, 35 Mallard, 7 Cormorants, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels and 1 Whitethroat.  
Micky Baldock also had a Dotterel flying W over the cliffs at Reculver which is likely to have been the same bird Derek saw earlier.

Reed Bunting

The full list of Derek's birds seen between Shuart and Plumpudding and on the railway embankment and Brooksend between 0630 and 11000 was as follows: 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Dotterel E, 800 Swallows W, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 1 Wryneck at the Stables, 5 Wheatears, 2 Common Redstarts, 14 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 30 Long-tailed Tits and 364 Siskins W.

Wryneck - Derek Smith

September 11th
On yet another beautiful morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then walked round Reculver. Birds we counted included 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 42 Mallard, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 29 Linnets, 5 Siskin, 4 Redshank, 11 Reed Buntings, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Cormorants, 7 Whinchats, 23 Oystercatchers, 31 Ringed Plovers, 11 Teal, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Pied Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear.
At Reculver we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Black Redstarts, 31 Goldfinches, 1 Sandwich Tern W, 1 Little Owl and 1 Curlew.

Pied Flycatcher

September 10th
On a beautiful early autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and around Coldharbour before walking along the seawall. Birds we saw included 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Robins, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Blackcap, 19 Linnets, 6 Cormorants, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Reed Buntings, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Redshank, 2 Teal, 1 Ringed Plover, 20 Swallows, 3 Gadwall, 10 Mallard, 1 Spotted Flycatcher on the shingle bank at Coldharbour, 19 Oystercatchers, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose W, our first of the autumn, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Siskins, 3 Goldfinches, 4 Coot and 1 Common Buzzard.
Derek and Micky birded the Glen this morning and we had a look this afternoon and between us we saw 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Siskins.

Spotted Flycatcher
 

September 9th
It was relatively quiet at Shuart this morning with no new overnight migrants apparent. We saw 23 Siskins W, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Reed Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 180 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Ringed Plovers, 15 Swallows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Gadwall and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Birds ringed: Reed Warbler 3, Blackcap 2, Dunnock 3.

Male Blackcap

Derek Smith was out for 5 hours this morning and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall. He counted 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Gannets E, 55 Common Scoter E, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Common Redstarts, 2 Whinchats, 13 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 36 Siskins W.
We went out again later and walked around Reculver, Bishopstone and the Oyster Farm. We saw 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Gannets E, 5 Pied Wagtails, 35 Goldfinches, 1 male Common Redstart, 10 Whinchats, 15 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap, 3 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 13 Little Egrets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Corn Buntings and 1 Common Sandpiper.



September 9th
We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Siskins, 12 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Golden Plover, 5 Common Buzzards, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Goldfinches, 30 House Martins, 40 Swallows and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed: Long-tailed Tit 3, Wren 1, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 7, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

Robin - Matt Hindle

After ringing Matt had a walk at Reculver and saw 8 Common Scoter E, 1 Guillemot, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Common Buzzards, 30 Goldfinches, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Black Redstart.
This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment and counted 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 70 House Martins,1 Whitethroat, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 25 Oystercatchers,1 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 51 Ringed Plovers, 5 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 1 Teal, 40 Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Blackcap.

September 7th
There was not much doing on the Marsh south of the railway this morning just 54 Golden Plovers, 36 Siskins W, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 6 Cormorants, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Grass Snake.

Birds ringed: Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 1, Whitethroat 3, Dunnock 2.

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Chamber's Wall and Plumpudding and saw 4 Little Egrets, 1 juvenile Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs and 102 Siskins W.
This afternoon we had a walk around Reculver and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Common Terns and 2 Sandwich Terns.

September 6th
With a fresh NW wind blowing this morning it was a toss up as to whether we went to the Towers for a seawatch or ringing at Shuart. We chose Shuart where we saw 1 Raven, 1 Garden Warbler, 26 Blackcaps, 1 Firecrest, 26 Siskins W, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Swallows, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Kingfisher, 15 House Martins, 1 Jay, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Hobby and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Birds ringed: Wren 3, Blue Tit 2, Blackcap 13, Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Dunnock 4, Blackbird 3.

This morning at Grenham Bay Terry Wilson recorded 25 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 20 Siskins W and 1 Wheatear.
During the afternoon Matt covered most of the western half of the area and counted 3 Jays, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Whitethroats, 14 Siskin, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Reed Warblers, 4 Grey Partridges, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Blackcap, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Little Egrets, 6 Sandwich Terns, 24 Golden Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 2 Wheatears, 1 Teal, 1 Whinchat, 1 Sparrowhawk and 22 Common Scoters.
This evening Dave Smith found a Snow Bunting running about on the promenade at Bishopstone. This is the earliest record for the area beating 16th September in 1972 and 73 by ten days.

September 5th
This morning we walked again from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 7 Cormorants, 1 Black Redstart, 7 Mute Swans, 6 Oystercatchers, 8 Swallows W, 9 Little Egrets, 55 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 19 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 34 Mallard, 1 Little Owl, 3 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot and 1 Little Grebe.

Black Redstart

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and Potten Street between 0630 and 1000. Birds he saw included 4 Grey Herons, 2 Sparrowhawks N, 3 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hobbies, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Kingfishers, 11 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 3 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 31 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 38 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Goldcrests and 243 Siskins W.



September 4th
On another cool morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 22 Swallows W, 6 Little Egrets, 4 Wheatears, 15 Mute Swans, 1 Little Owl, 22 Linnets, 9 Cormorants, 5 Oystercatchers, 7 Redshank, 15 Mallard, an over optimistic male Sparrowhawk chasing a Turnstone over the sea, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Curlew, 18 House Martins in a tight flock flying W, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Whinchats.

Whinchat

Micky Baldock spent 5 hours at Reculver today and counted the following mainly flying W; 20 Arctic Skuas,  6 Great Skuas, 15 Sandwich Terns, 14 Gannets and 10 Teal.



September 3rd
With an autumnal feel in the air this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the railway embankment to Coldharbour. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 14 Linnets, 10 Cormorants, 109 Swallows W, 4 Mute Swans, 21 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Wheatear, 5 Wigeon W, 1 Redshank, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 8 Long-tailed Tits. At Reculver we recorded 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Wheatears and 1 Black Redstart.

Winter plumaged Starling

Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding this morning and counted 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps. 6 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 450 Swallows W.
After this Derek  walked around the Shuart area and recorded 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 10 Willow Warblers, 31 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 5 Goldcrests, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Whitethroats, 22 Long-tailed Tits and 18 Siskins W.
At Netherhale and Brooksend he saw 1 Hobby W, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 14 Siskin, 12 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 62 Pied Wagtails in a ploughed field, 2 Grey Wagtails W and 1 Wheatear.

Spotted Flycatcher - Derek Smith

Pied Flycatcher - Derek Smith

September 2nd
On a sunny morning with a gentle NW breeze blowing we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 10 Sand Martins, 25 Oystercatchers, 2 Kestrels, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Little Owls, 10 Mute Swans, 5 Cormorants, 2 Pied Wagtails, 10 Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Redshank, 43 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Wheatears, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Curlew, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Swallows W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat and 2 Turnstone.

Whinchat on Yellow Horned Poppy

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. At Chamber's Wall as we arrived there was a Honey Buzzard (176th) drifting over and giving good views. There was also a large westerly passage of Swallows and in the time we were there about 1,000 flew past. Other birds seen included 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Whitethroats, 20 House Martins, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Reed Warbler, 32 Mallard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Shelduck and 1 Common Buzzard.
Marc Heath came out to see if he could see the Honey Buzzard but instead found an Osprey flying N at Shuart and what was probably the same bird was seen later by Micky Baldock flying in off the sea at Reculver.

September 1st
Matt and I arrived at the Towers at 0700 and had a seawatch for an hour and a quarter. It was pretty slow but we did see 1 Fulmar, 1 Curlew, 1 Guillemot E, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Swifts S, 25 Swallows W, 1 adult Peregrine, 3 Great Skuas W, 1 Arctic Skua W, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Gannet and 10 Dunlin. It was also quiet at the Reculver bushes where we only found 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Wheatear.
We then drove over to Chamber's Wall and walked out to Coldharbour seeing 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Shelduck, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Mallard, 28 Oystercatchers, 9 Cormorants,1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlins, 1 immature Peregrine harrying the Oystercatcher and Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Reed Warbler, 20 Swallows W, 2 Grey Wagtails W and 1 Siskin W.
Micky Baldock spent a good deal of time at Reculver today and saw 5 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 50 Common Terns, 15 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Terns and 1 Roseate Tern flying W.