May 15th
Thankfully the wind had dropped overnight as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along a very overgrown Green Wall. We saw 4 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove purring at Chamber's Wall, 4 Chiffchaffs, 18 Whitethroats, 5 Lapwings, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Herons, 10 Oystercatchers, 11 Cormorants, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mallard, 1 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Linnets, 4 Shelduck and 2 Grey Partridges.

A pair of Oystercatchers

Derek Smith birded at Shuart between 0900 and 1200 and saw 5 Red Kites together flying W as well as 6 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Hobbies. He also saw lots of Azure Damselflies and his first Small Heath of the year.
We visited Shuart this afternoon and found 3 Common Buzzards, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 7 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Lapwings, 1 Little Egret circling high with a Buzzard, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

May 14th
It was unpleasant walking along the seawall today with a cold, eye-watering, northerly wind blowing. We walked up to Coldharbour and then inland from Reculver and saw 3 Blackcaps, 11 Cormorants, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Whitethroats, 8 Oystercatchers, 7 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 6 Shelduck, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Fulmar E, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Coot and 4 Goldfinches.

Turtle Doves

At about 1330, 2 Red Kites flew W behind our garden at Bishopstone.

May 13th
On a sunny and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and recorded 17 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Gannets, 1 Black Redstart, 11 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Cormorants, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Lapwings, 4 Mallard, 8 Redshank, 3 Common Terns, 13 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Ringed Plovers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 first summer Common Gull E, 2 Sanderling and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Later at Shuart we saw 5 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

May 12th
The morning began with the Nightingale again singing near the Roman Galley after which we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back. We saw 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Cuckoos, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Black Redstart, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Oystercatchers, 4 Redshank, 6 Linnets, 9 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Partridges, 10 Cormorants, 1 Shelduck, 2 Mediterranean Gulls W, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Gull E, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Jay.
Matt had a short seawatch later and saw the following flying east: 15 adult Gannets, 2 large auks and 5 Sandwich Terns.

Female Yellow Wagtail

Male Pied Wagtail

May 11th
Although it was foggy for most of the morning we ended up seeing a good range of species. The morning began with Matt finding a Nightingale (163rd) singing near the Roman Galley after which we met him at Reculver and walked up to Coldharbour. We recorded 4 Blackcaps, 2 Cuckoos, 9 Sandwich Terns flying E, 1 Black Redstart, 7 Grey Partridges, 3 Pied Wagtails, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Common Sandpipers, 14 Oystercatchers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 17 Mute Swans, 4 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Shelduck, 10 Linnets, 5 Mallard, 2 Knot, 7 Cormorants, 1 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Terns, 3 Little Terns flying E (164th), 1 Grey Heron, 20 Sand Martins, 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Bullfinches.

Knot

May 10th
Although still mild it was wet this morning as we walked from Reculver along the seawall and then inland. Birds we saw included 4 Blackcaps, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Cormorants, 8 Linnets, 1 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Mallard, 12 Sand Martins, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Chiffchaff.

Oystercatchers

May 9th
Unfortunately I had to spend the day in London and so was unable to go birding but Dave Smith was out early at Reculver and the Oyster Farm and his highlights were 7 Common Sandpipers, 1 Black Redstart, 6 Tufted Ducks, 4 Grey Partridges and 1 Cuckoo.

May 8th
On a hot morning we visited various sites in the area. At Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour we saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 13 Whitethroats, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Gadwall, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.
At Shuart we found 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Hen Harrier which was probably the ring-tail seen at a distance yesterday by Derek and Barry. I managed some unpublishable photos which however confirmed identification as the bird had the correct plumage details and five visible "fingers" on its wings.
Later at Reculver we had 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Turtle Dove at May Street.
Back home at Bishopstone there was a Coal Tit singing from our back garden, whilst this afternoon a Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier flew W..

Male Yellow Wagtail

May 7th
On a very warm morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the railway embankment and on to Coldharbour before visiting Reculver on the way home. We saw 2 Mallard, 22 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (161st), 10 Linnets, 13 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Gadwall, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Turtle Dove.
Barry Matlock also had 2 Wood Sandpipers (162nd) flying over the Towers.

Spotted Flycatcher

Grasshopper Warbler

Derek Smith walked from Shuart to the Green Wall and back between 0530 and 1130 and counted 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Tern, 6 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 ring-tail Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Whinchat, 22 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 36 Whitethroats, 26 Sedge Warblers, 16 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Chiffchaffs and 6 Cetti's Warblers.

May 6th
We spent another morning ringing in beautiful weather this time at Shuart. We saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Lapwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Jays, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 12: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 4, Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Blue Tit 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1.

Female Cetti's Warbler

May 5th
On another beautiful morning we had an early start ringing at Reculver. During the time we were there we saw 4 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Siskin, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 30 Sand Martins, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Swift W, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 3 Canada Geese E, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jays, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Partridges, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet and 4 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 14: Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Warbler 1, Great Tit 2.

Sedge Warbler

Following ringing we had a look for raptors from the layby at Shuart and saw 5 Common Buzzards but at 1115 a Black Kite flew W about 50 feet above our heads and was soon circling and gaining height above Chamber's Wall. This was almost certainly the same bird seen by Barry Matlock over Margate earlier during the morning. This was the fourth Black Kite recorded for Reculver Marshes following the previous one on May 17th last year.
This afternoon a walk around the Oyster Farm produced 2 Little Egrets, 2 Cuckoos, 20 Whitethroats, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers and 1 Sandwich Tern E.

May 4th
The day began well with the Long-eared Owl calling again at Bishopstone at 0330.
This morning we had a ringing session out on the Marsh where we saw 2 Cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 18 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Mallard, 8 Sedge Warblers, 7 Chaffinches, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lapwing, 1 Garden Warbler (159th), 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Siskin.

Birds ringed 37: Wren 2, Chaffinch 3, Whitethroat 13, Blackcap 4, Sedge Warbler 8, Reed Bunting 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 3, Dunnock 1.


Lesser Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0600 and over the next four hours walked up to the Green Wall along the railway embankment and then back along the seawall. He recorded 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Common Buzzards, 20 Oystercatchers, single pairs of Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Lapwing, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Blackcaps, 58 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 36 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warblers and 13 Chiffchaffs.
A brief walk at Reculver this afternoon produced 1 female Merlin, 4 Grey Partridges (2 pairs), 2 Grey Herons, 3 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Swifts, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
This evening at the Oyster Farm Dave Smith recorded 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 or 2 Hobbies, 1 Gadwall, 1 Greenshank and 2 Cuckoos.

May 3rd

Reculver Towers from the Green Wall

Matt arrived at Shuart 0500 and walked to the sea and then along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall where we met him. We then walked to Coldharbour and on to Reculver. Birds seen included 6 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 22 Reed Warblers, 40 Whitethroats, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 30 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Jays, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Cuckoos, 6 Lapwings, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Sanderling, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Fulmar, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Shelduck, 16 Swift W, 89 Swallow W, 150 House Martins W, 110 Sand Martins W, 3 Coot, 16 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Gadwall, 42 Corn Buntings, 1 Red Kite, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Owl, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 1 Wheatear and 1 Black Redstart.

May 2nd
It was overcast and drizzly this morning with a moderate SW wind blowing as we visited Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Reculver. Birds we saw included 6 Blackcaps, 24 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lapwing, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 49 Swallows W, 2 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Mallard, 2 Common Terns, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Cormorants, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 3 Swifts W. 5 House Martins W, 1 Red Kite, 2 Goldfinches, 30 Sand Martins, 2 Coot, 11 Tufted Ducks, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove and 1 Willow Warbler.

Turnstone

May 1st
May began with a wonderful sunny day as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We counted 13 Mute Swans, 4 Blackcaps, 22 Whitethroats, 3 Cuckoos, 10 Linnets, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Common Terns, 6 Cormorants, 11 Tufted Ducks, 9 Mallard, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Swift W, 4 Ringed Plovers, 6 Sandwich Terns, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Swallows W, 7 Sanderling, 1 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Turtle Doves and 1 Common Buzzard.

Ringed Plover

Between 0630 and 1030 Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Chamber's Wall and back via Plumpudding. He saw 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks, 1 pair of Shoveler, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 displaying Lapwing, 35 Swifts W, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Blackcaps, 38 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Reed Warblers, 42 Sedge Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs and 5 Cetti's Warblers.

Male Yellow Wagtail

At the Oyster Farm Julian and Alex Perry added 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 1 Black Redstart and 1 Fulmar.
Dave Smith was also out in the Reculver area and saw 1 Black Redstart, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Red Kite.