September 17th
After sitting at Reculver Towers for an hour yesterday afternoon in pouring rain and seeing very little we arrived there again at first light this morning in the hope that the NW wind would produce a better result. In the event after a slow start we managed to see a good range of species in the four and a half hours we were there. Virtually all birds we counted were flying W and included 12 Arctic Skuas, 116 Teal, 137 Wigeon, 38 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Great Skuas, 61 Gannets, 22 Pintail, 1 Knot, 5 Golden Plovers, 13 Common Terns,  11 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Snipe, 1 immature Long-tailed Skua (174th), 6 Swallows, 2 Turnstone, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Manx Shearwater E (175th), 2 Arctic Terns (176th), 1 summer plumaged Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar E and 1 Sandwich Tern E.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Wigeon

Whilst doing the National Beach Clean at Minnis Bay today Terry Wilson saw 20 Sanderling, 34 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Ringed Plovers.
This afternoon with heavy showers still arriving off the sea we visited Minnis Bay where we saw 8 Gannets, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Guillemots E, 1 Great Skua E and 8 Turnstone.
On our way home we stopped off at Chamber's Wall and walked to Coldharbour in unpleasant conditions but managed to see a travelling band of tits and warblers consisting of 11 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 6 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 8 Long-tailed Tits. Other birds seen included 4 Gadwall, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Wigeon.

September 16th
We spent the morning ringing at Shuart and left before the rain arrived. We saw 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 127 House Martins, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 48 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (173rd) calling and showing intermittently and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Birds ringed 20: Chiffchaff 5, Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Robin 2, Blue Tit 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 3.

September 15th
On another hot and sticky morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 8 Pied Wagtails, 16 Goldfinches, 12 Redshank, 12 Cormorants, 88 Ringed Plovers, 1 Stonechat, 46 Swallows W, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Wheatears, 3 Common Sandpipers, 38 Linnets, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Dunlin, 5 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 1 Gannet, 7 Teal, 18 Common Scoter E, 32 Golden Plovers, 2 Little Stints, 5 Mallard, 3 Grey Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Sandwich Terns and 1 Guillemot E.

Yesterday we received information about a Blackbird we had ringed at Shuart on 17th November 2014. It was found dead having flown into a tractor window at Hastberg, Leksand, Kopparberg, SWEDEN on 10th July 2016. Hastberg is 1,337 km NE of Shuart.

September 14th
After yesterday was the hottest day in September since 1911 this morning was still hot and humid as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Turtle Dove, 9 Linnets, 1 immature Peregrine, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler trying to sing, 2 Little Egrets, 18 Golden Plovers, 1 Whinchat, 11 Redshank, 7 Mallard, 9 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Gannets E, 11 Wigeon W, 2 Kestrels, 8 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 2 Little Stints, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Swallows E, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Terry Wilson was also out this morning at Grenham and Minnis Bays and counted 35 Sanderling, 20 Turnstones, 2 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 3 Knot, 2 Little Egrets and 12 Dunlin.

Wheatear

Whinchat

September 13th
We had a pleasant walk from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning and recorded 3 Chiffchaffs, 11 Pied Wagtails, 14 Mute Swans, 15 Cormorants, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Sandwich Terns E, 12 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 30 Linnets, 8 Wheatears 53 Common Scoter E, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Common Terns E, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Ringed Plover E, 1 Turtle Dove, 24 Ringed Plovers, 61 Golden Plovers, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Turnstone, 2 Little Stints, 5 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel W, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Teal, 30 Goldfinches and 1 Snipe.

Golden Plover on seawall

 

Juvenile Sandwich Tern

Dave Smith was also out before us on the Marsh this morning and saw 2 Little Stints, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plovers, 3 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Knot, 1 Greenshank, 1 Gadwall, 2 Golden Plovers, 10+ Sandwich Terns, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Wheatears.
Terry Wilson visited Grenham Bay this morning and counted 60 Turnstone on the seaweed, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Redshank, 7 Sanderling, 25 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 50+ Ringed Plovers and 12 Gannets out at sea.

September 12th
On another beautiful early autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the White Poplars. There did not appear to be much new in but we did count 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 42 Golden Plovers, 7 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 19 Mallard, 10 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 38 Linnets, 4 Wheatears, 1 Gadwall, 2 Turnstone, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Ringed Plovers and 2 Little Stints.

Juvenile Knot

September 11th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Swallows, 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 20 Blackcaps, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 1 Golden Plover and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Birds ringed 32: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 4, Blackcap 11, Reed Warbler 2, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 4, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Marc Heath was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and recorded 11 Bar-tailed Godwits E, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Owl, 3 Wheatears, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 1 Merlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 1 Greenshank, 36 Golden Plovers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Water Rail, 3 Snipe, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Knot, 8 Dunlin, 1 Grey Wagtail and 50 House Martins.

September 10th
Back at Reculver this morning we walked up to Coldharbour and back and counted 9 Pied Wagtails, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Little Owls, 2 Grey Wagtails, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Common Sandpipers, 9 Redshank, 7 Little Egrets, 11 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 2 Snipe, 57 Golden Plovers, 87 Linnets, 2 Whinchats, 37 Oystercatchers, 53 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 3 Knot, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Willow Warblers, 34 Mallard, 10 Dunlin, 2 Little Stints, 1 Greenshank, 32 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Wigeon, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Dunnocks flying W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Wheatear and 8 House Martins.

Knot

September 4th - 9th   Falsterbo, Sweden

 

Falsterbo lighthouse and ringing station

A small group of the birders and photographers scattered around the area

Anne and I have just spent five days birding and sightseeing in the Falsterbo area of Sweden one of Europe's top migration hotspots. We arrived at Copenhagen Airport in heavy rain and drove to our hotel near Vellinge but found little about due to the torrential rain. This rain however was a bonus because the next day there was a large fall of migrants, mainly Robins, of which the Falsterbo Ringing Station at the lighthouse caught 929 out of their days total of 1,180 birds ringed.
During our five days birds were continually passing over with common species like Greylag Geese, Siskins, Chaffinches, Tree Sparrows and Yellow and White Wagtails in large numbers with the occasional Tree Pipits and Crossbills.

Some of the Greylag Geese flying south

Highlights for us were totals of 2,272 Barnacle Geese, 48 Common Cranes flying S, 29 Red Kites, 189 Sparrowhawks, 76 Honey Buzzard, 100 Common Buzzard, 4 Pallid Harriers, 1 White-tailed Eagle and 3 Nutcrackers.

Falsterbo

September 9th
At Shuart this morning Matt found 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Jays, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 50 House Martins.
Later he walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to Reculver and counted 1 Hobby, 2 Willow Warblers, 11 "alba" Wagtails, 1 Gannet, 1 Wheatear, 10 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat, 15 Oystercatchers, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 99 Golden Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Knot, 2 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 1 Greenshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Kestrels, 13 Turnstone, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 9 Dunlin, 2 Little Stints and 57 Mallard.

Bar-tailed Godwit

September 8th
At Shuart this morning Matt saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 4 Ring-necked Parakeets.
This afternoon he walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 37 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Stint, 8 Dunlin, 1 Wheatear, 8 Redshank, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 1 Little Egret, 2 Knot and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Dunlin

Little Stint

September 6th
Derek Smith was out between 0830 and 1100 walking from Shuart and along the railway embankment recording 5 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Whitethroats, 7 Sedge Warblers, 9 Reed Warblers and 4 Green Sandpipers.

September 3rd
On an increasingly breezy morning we ringed at Reculver and saw 2 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Tree Pipit W, 2 Coot, 3 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl calling, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 8 Pied Wagtails W, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Birds ringed 19: Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 1, Chaffinch 2, Great Tit 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Dunnock 3, Blackbird 1.

Sedge Warbler

September 2nd
There was a different feel to the weather this morning with cloud and an increasing SW breeze as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then Reculver and back. We saw 5 Wheatears, 15 Linnets, 45 Goldfinches, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 17 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Greenshank, 77 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Stints, 6 Little Egrets, 28 Golden Plover, 8 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 60 House Martins W in a flock, 2 Turnstone, 55 Swallows W, 1 Kestrel, 6 Sanderling W, 2 Whinchats, 12 Sand Martins, 3 Snipe, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Little Owl and 2 Stonechats.

Little Stint

September 1st
We began the month with a relatively quiet morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 37 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 House Martins and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
On the way home at Reculver Matt saw 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Wagtail W and 1 Kingfisher.

Birds ringed 20: Wren 2, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 3, Robin 2, Chaffinch 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 3, Goldfinch 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Greenfinch 1, Blackbird 2.

Grasshopper Warbler