October 15th
It was mild and sunny as we spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Kingfisher, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Bramblings, 17 Redpoll W, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Redwings W, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Jays, 217 Chaffinches W, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 35 Siskins W, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests, 77 Mallard, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Stonechat, 9 Song Thrushes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Wigeon, 21 Magpies W, 2 Kestrels, 2 Mistle Thrushes 2 Common Buzzards, 240 Starlings W, 11 Skylarks, 10 Goldfinches W and 1 female Pintail N.

Birds ringed 12: Goldcrest 5, Chiffchaff 2, Firecrest 1, Chaffinch 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1, Blackbird 1.

Redwing

This morning Dave Smith saw a Yellow-browed Warbler and heard a Bearded Tit at the Oyster Farm.

October 14th
On a sunny, mild but increasingly breezy morning we had a ringing session south of the railway. Between 0620 and 1020 we recorded 1 Little Owl, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Redwings, 1 Grey Partridge, 110 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Heron, 19 Greylag Geese, 3 Redpoll, 1 Brambling, 2 Goldcrests, 14 Song Thrushes, 13 Mute Swans, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Swallows W, 1 Tree Sparrow, 69 Golden Plovers, 45 Goldfinches, 40 Reed Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 68 Skylarks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Siskins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail and 35 Linnets.

Birds ringed 30: Goldcrest 1, Wren 1, Robin 1, Reed Bunting 14, Chaffinch 4, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 2, Tree Sparrow 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Tree Sparrow



Derek Smith completed his usual walk from Shuart and along the railway embankment and counted 11 Wigeon, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jays, 1,200 Starlings W, 1 Kingfisher, 41 Skylarks W, 14 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker W, 4 Stonechats, 2 Bearded Tits W, 14 Greenfinches W, 17 Redpoll W, 36 Siskins W, 69 Goldfinches W, 1,606 Chaffinches W, 1 Brambling W, 1 Tree Sparrow, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 24 Chiffchaffs, 19 Goldcrests and 7 Reed Buntings.

 

Male Bearded Tit

Painted Lady

 

October 13th
We spent the morning ringing at Shaurt where we saw 1 Kestrel, 5 Redpoll W, 15 Bramblings W, 21 Redwings W, 23 Siskins W, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Snipe, 3 Stonechats, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 31 Chaffinches W, 25 Goldfinches W, 1 Grey Heron, 38 Skylarks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 12 Song Thrushes, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 19 Greylag Geese, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 alba Wagtails, 33 Linnets, 5 Swallows W, 17 House Martins W, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 22: Goldcrest 1, Wren 2, Chiffchaff 3, Robin 1, Reed Bunting 6, Stonechat 2, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 3.

First winter male Stonechat



Derek Smith and Patrick Giles walked from Shuart and then along the railway embankment and saw the following birds mainly flying west. 930 Starlings, 12 Chiffchaffs, 23 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtails, 122 Siskins, 38 Goldfinches, 1,477 Chaffinches, 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Skylarks, 11 Reed Buntings, 21 Meadow Pipits, 7 Swallows, 73 House Martins, 51 Redpoll, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Redwing, 6 Song Thrushes, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats, 6 Greenfinches and 1 Marsh Harrier.

This afternoon we walked along the cliffs at Bishopstone and found 2 Stonechats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret and 1 Goldcrest and then moved on to the Reculver bushes where we saw 1 Brambling, 1 Fieldfare and 4 "continental" Blackbirds.

October 12th
On a fine autumn morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. At the moment the Environment Agency are completing their pre-winter beach restructuring which means quite a lot of disturbance. However we managed to record 530 Starlings, 2 Goldcrests, 65 Meadow Pipits W, 14 alba Wagtails W, 17 Cormorants, 140 Linnets, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Grey Herons, 10 Mute Swans, 6 Corn Buntings, 4 Redshank, 4 Chiffchaffs, 22 Ringed Plovers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turnstone, 32 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 immature Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 8 Skylarks W, 16 Wigeon, 35 Carrion Crows, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Swallows W, 1 Little Owl, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Common Buzzard.

Mallard

Derek Smith was also birding this morning and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment and then back via Plumpudding. He saw 2 Pink-footed Geese in a ploughed field at Shuart, 1 Merlin, 6 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards, 26 Chiffchaffs and 14 Goldcrests. He also recorded the following birds flying W: 550 Starlings, 31 Skylarks, 11 Redpoll, 38 Siskin, 225 Chaffinches, 7 Greenfinches, 46 Goldfinches and 6 Reed Buntings.

Pink-footed Geese

This morning Marc Heath found a Coal Tit in Reculver churchyard.

October 11th
On a dull and dreary morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the White Poplars, along the Green Wall and then along the seawall to Coldharbour. Birds we counted included 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Goldfinches, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Skylarks, 18 Mute Swans, 1,310 Starlings and 1,700 Black-headed Gulls on the newly sown fields, 7 Stonechats, 17 Cormorants, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 3 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 28 Carrion Crows, 10 Reed Buntings, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Corn Buntings, 15 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Wigeon.
Derek Smith covered the eastern half of the Marsh between 0900 and 1300 and recorded 4 Grey Partridges, 16 House Martins W, 1 Swallow W, 43 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler on the embankment, 26 Goldcrests, 42 Siskins W, 1 Brambling W, 12 Goldfinches, 37 Chaffinches and 2 Stonechats.

October 10th
It was a bit quieter than yesterday as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall but we managed to see 8 Chiffchaffs, 41 Skylarks W, 6 Goldcrests, 10 Chaffinches, 33 Corn Buntings, 40 Reed Buntings, 3 Grey Herons, 43 Starlings W, 1 Lapwing, 14 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 31 Mallard, 7 Linnets, 45 Goldfinches, 46 Carrion Crows, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 11 Mute Swans, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 22 Meadow Pipits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 16 Siskins W and 2 Peregrines.

Stonechat

Derek Smith was also out at the eastern half of the Marsh and between 0730 and 1230 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and back to Shuart via Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 34 Skylarks W, 3 Rock Pipits W, 22 Meadow Pipits W, 4 Stonechats, 86 Siskins W, 76 Goldfinches W, 12 Redpolls W, 2 Bramblings W, 49 Chaffinches W, 5 Greenfinches W, 1 Blackcap, 45 Chiffchaffs, 26 Goldcrests, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 11 Red Buntings W.
Dave Smith saw 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Wheatear, 2 Swallows W and small flocks of Redpoll and Siskins flying W.

October 9th
It was calm and overcast this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the railway embankment before returning to Coldharbour and then visiting a couple of sites at Reculver. We counted 17 Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrests, 9 Mute Swans, 42 Skylarks W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Bramblings, 31 Chaffinches W, 7 Redwings, 380 Starlings W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Buzzards, 21 Siskins W, 2 Grey Herons, 46 Golden Plovers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 15 Wigeon, 31 Mallard, 6 Stonechats, 45 Corn Buntings, 1 Gadwall, 8 Robins, 17 Reed Buntings, 50 House Sparrows, 18 Goldfinches, 2 Bearded Tits at Coldharbour, 20 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Jay.

Corn Buntings

Derek Smith was also birding this morning and walked from Shuart along the railway embankment and on to Coldharbour, Plumpudding and Netherhale. He recorded 21 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1,200 Starlings W, 32 Skylarks W, 1 Ring Ouzel at Shuart, 48 Redwings W, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 11 alba Wagtails W, 68 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Rock Pipits W, 2 Bearded Tits, 6 Stonechats, 310 Chaffinches W, 138 Goldfinches W, 87 Siskins W, 6 Greenfiches W, 5 Tree Sparrows W, 54 Chiffchaffs, 36 Goldcrests, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Reed Buntings W and 19 Corn Buntings.

October 8th
There was a much more autumnal feel to the birds this morning as we had a ringing session at Reculver. During the morning we saw 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 32 Siskins W, 5 Lesser Redpolls W, 22 Redwings, 12 Goldcrests, 2 Jays, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Snipe, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 19 Skylarks W, 11 Mute Swans, 29 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Wigeon, 6 Crossbills W (191st), 10 Mistle Thrushes, 40 Meadow Pipits, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Bramblings, 21 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzards, 12 Golden Plovers, 1 Coal Tit and 5 Long-tailed Tits.

Birds ringed 38: Chiffchaff 12, Goldcrest 9, Long-tailed Tit 2, Wren 1, Robin 2, Meadow Pipit 5, Blue Tit 1, Blackcap 3, Redwing 1, Blackbird 2.

Meadow Pipit

This afternoon Matt walked from Shuart to Chamber's Wall and back along the railway embankment and saw 9 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 50 Redwings, 3 Buzzards, 2 Siskins, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Stonechats, 4 Song Thrushes, 13 Robins, 90 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Rock Pipits, 32 Skylarks, 8 Corn Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 44 Chaffinches and 1 Sparrowhawk.

October 7th
On an increasingly blustery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back via the Green Wall and railway embankment. We saw 18 Siskin W, 116 Goldfinches W, 2 Greenfinches W, 1 Redpoll W, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Chiffchaffs, 9 Mute Swans, 8 Goldcrests, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 4 Pied Wagtails W, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Redshank, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 9 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings, 65 Starlings W,1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallows W, 6 House Martins W, 1 Blackcap and 1 Sparrowhawk.

October 6th
On a cool and breezy morning we had a ringing session at our sheltered Reculver site where we saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Goldcrests, 8 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Siskin, 1 Redwing, our first of the autumn, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Mallard, 20 Meadow Pipits and 25 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 17: Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 6, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 7, Goldfinch 1, Blue Tit 1.

This afternoon we  walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 105 Goldfinches, 6 Wigeon, 1 Redshank, 10 Corn Buntings, 3 Little Egrets, 96 Sanderling, 3 Turnstone, 2 Eider E, 1 Red-throated Diver moulting out of summer plumage, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Gannet, 7 Shelduck W and 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W.

Turnstone

October 5th
Matt and I arrived at Reculver Towers at 0700 and were later joined by Brendan Ryan and then Richard Collins. Our seawatch began very slowly and it was only after a band of rain passed through at 0900 and the wind became more northerly that birds began to appear. In a four and a half hour seawatch we saw the following flying west: 1 Curlew, 5 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Wigeon, 14 Swallows, 46 Gannets, 14 Great Skuas, 4 Dark-belied Brent Geese, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Commic Terns, 6 Arctic Skuas, 1 Manx Shearwater and 15 Pink-footed Geese.
The Lapland Bunting was still to be seen at Bishopstone.

October 4th
With a moderate W wind blowing this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour there was quite a marked westerly movement of birds including 36 Meadow Pipits, 11 Pied Wagtails, 115 Linnets, 15 Skylarks, 32 Goldfinches, 53 Chaffinches, 28 Swallows, 2 Siskins, 19 Reed Buntings and 135 House Martins.
Other birds seen were 9 Chiffchaffs, 125 House Sparrows at Reculver, 19 Mute Swans, 17 Cormorants, 26 Turnstone, 24 Ringed Plovers, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Little Owl, 2 Grey Herons, 46 Carrion Crows, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Goldcrests, 26 Mallard and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
The Lapland Bunting was still at Bishopstone.

Meadow Pipit

October 3rd
On a sunny and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the White Poplars before visiting Reculver on the way home. We saw 11 Chaffinches, 31 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Swallows, 21 Goldfinches, 1 Stonechat, 38 Reed Buntings, 15 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 5 Mute Swans, 13 Magpies, 3 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard and 3 Goldcrests.
Dudley Cox saw the Lapland Bunting at Bishopstone and also had a Great Skua fly W.

October 2nd
The weather this morning was completely different to yesterday with bright sunshine and a fresh W wind. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver and saw 3 Kestrels, 11 Chiffchaffs, 18 Skylarks, 630 Swallows W, 840 House Martins W, 1 Sand Martin W, 6 Blackcaps, 24 Chaffinches, 70 Mallard, 2 Kingfishers, 11 Mute Swans, 119 Linnets, 45 Reed Buntings, 14 Goldfinches, 15 Little Egrets, 4 Redshank, 55 House Sparrows, 6 Corn Buntings, 4 Sandwich Terns W, 35 Meadow Pipits, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Turnstone, 1 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Wigeon and 1 Grey Heron. We also found a late Clouded Yellow.

Clouded Yellow

October 1st
We arrived at Reculver this morning in overcast conditions and with persistent drizzle falling and were greeted by the amazing sight of about 5,000 House Martins and 600 Swallows filling the sky as they circled and fed beside the Towers and over the caravans and nearby maize field. Large numbers of them also perched on the wires, on the grass behind the Towers and on the maize and were still there when we returned from our walk to Coldharbour.
Other birds we counted included 2 Pied Wagtails, 12 Redshank, 15 Cormorants, 27 Meadow Pipits, 43 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 47 Linnets, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Gannets E, 2 Sanderling, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 42 Mallard, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Skylarks, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Swift and 1 male Wigeon.