June 15th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 14 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 8 Mute Swans, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Mallard, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Sand Martins, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Moorhen, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 4 Skylarks, 2 House Martins, 5 Goldfinches and 1 Whitethroat.

Birds ringed 36: Chiffchaff 5, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Robin 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 3, Blue Tit 3, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 11, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

Cetti's Warbler

During our ringing this morning we retrapped a male Reed Warbler we first ringed as a breeding adult in 2013 and which we have retrapped breeding at Reculver in every year since. Reed Warblers migrate to spend the winter in West Africa by crossing the Sahara refuelling in southern Europe and Morocco on the way. The flight to West Africa is approximately 4,500 km. Our bird has made this flight there and back at least eight times which is a staggering 72,000 km. This does not include the distance it flies in Africa or whilst breeding at Reculver. Its weight today was just 11.4 grams.

June 14th
It was another warm and sunny morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 20 Skylarks, 14 Reed Warblers, 10 Linnets, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Coot, 1 juvenile Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull, 6 Turnstone, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Blackcap and 1 Kestrel.

Woodpigeon

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 3 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Mute Swans, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 12 Sand Martins, 6 Reed Warblers and 1 Whitethroat. We also found a Norfolk Hawker.

June 13th
On a glorious summer's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back and saw 15 Skylarks, 17 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 14 Whitethroats, 3 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 12 Linnets, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 juvenile Stonechats, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying high east and calling, 10 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 11 Turnstone, 1 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Blackcap.

Juvenile Stonechat

This afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull flew over at Bishopstone.
Later we had a walk inland from Reculver and saw 1 Corn Bunting singing, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blakccaps, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Mute Swans and 6 Reed Warblers. Threre were also quite a few butterfles to be seen including 30 Meadow Browns, 4 Large Skippers, 1 Small Heath, 2 Red Admirals and 1 Peacock.

Large Skipper

June 12th
On a warm but breezy morning the highlight was hearing a Quail (165th) calling in the grass field east of the White Poplars. This is the first record here since 2015 and the first one I have heard on the Marsh since 2012.
Other birds we recorded included 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Blackcap, 9 Reed Warblers, 9 Goldfinches, 18 Skylarks, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Chaffinches, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Swallows, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 8 Linnets, 4 Reed Buntings, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mallard, 1 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Mistle Thrush.

June 11th
It was a murky morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 14 Skylarks, 7 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Swallows, 12 Goldfinches, 9 Whitethroats, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Moorhen, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 10 Mallard, 8 Meadow Pipits, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns flying E, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Gadwall, 1 Little Egret, 1 Coot, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Swift, 3 Chaffinches and 2 Common Buzzards.

Adult Little Egret

Gadwall on the shore

June 10th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver south of the railway and managed to avoid any of the threatening showers. Whilst there we saw 14 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 200 Swifts feeding over the grass fields, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Terns, 1 Hobby, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 5 Lapwings W, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Mallard, 6 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron and 3 Chaffinches.

Birds ringed 16: Wren 2, Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Robin 1, Goldfinch 2, Blue Tit 2.

Common Whitethroat

This afternoon we had a walk between Brooksend and Shuart and saw 2 Common Buzzards, 50 Swifts, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Kestrels, 2 Chaffinches and 12 Swallows. We also found about 20 Bee Orchids.

Bee Orchid

June 9th
The weather had improved overnight and it was a nice sunny morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. We recorded 6 Goldfinches, 16 Reed Warblers, 19 Skylarks, 16 Whitethroats, 5 Chaffinches, 3 Swifts, 2 Moorhens, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Swallows, 17 Linnets, 2 Coot, 7 Reed Buntings, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Shelduck, 1 Mute Swan, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Tern, 4 Stonechats, including a pair of "rubicola" birds feeding a second brood, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Blackcap.

A tatty male "rubicola" Stonechat at the end of the nesting season

Small Tortoiseshell

June 8th
On a morning that felt more like March than June with a fresh and chilly northerly wind blowing in drizzle we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We counted 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Skylarks, 11 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Linnets, 6 Chaffinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Coot, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinches and 2 Grey Partridges.
We also counted 25 Pyramidal Orchids in flower at Coldharbour.

Pyramidal Orchid

June 7th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 6 Blackcaps, 16 Sand Martins, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Skylarks, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove purring, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldfinches, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard and 5 Swifts flying W.

Birds ringed 19 : Chiffchaff 5, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 2, Cetti's Warbler1, Great Tit 4, Blackbird 1.

June 6th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and out to the seawall. Birds we saw included 8 Chaffinches, 65 Swifts flying W, 2 House Martins W, 2 Swallows W, 16 Sand Martins feeding in the lee of the hedges, 5 Blackcaps, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Corn Buntings, 12 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatchers, 24 Stock Doves, 1 Moorhen, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Kestrel. We also saw our first 2 Meadow Browns of the year.
As we arrived home at Bishopstone the local gulls went mad and a Red Kite flew W over the garden.

June 5th
We had rain for the first time for nearly a month overnight even if it was only 0.75mm. This morning dawned cool with a very fresh westerly wind and still the threat of showers. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Goldfinches, 8 Reed Buntings, 9 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Cuckoos, 10 Whitethroats, 13 Linnets, 2 Moorhens, 3 Swallows, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Coot, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Cormorants, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Swifts W and 1 Blackcap.

Carrion Crow prospecting for nests to raid

June 4th
There had been a change in the weather overnight so as we walked inland at Reculver there was a cool and blustery northerly wind blowing. On our walk we counted 7 Chaffinches, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 80 Rooks, 50 Jackdaws, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Moorhens, 2 Swallows, 7 Skylarks, 2 Kestrels, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Sand Martins, 12 Swifts W, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker.

June 3rd
On the first cloudy morning for a while we completed our usual walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Blackcaps, 21 Reed Warblers, 3 Chaffinches, 7 Sedge Warblers, 9 Skylarks, 6 Reed Buntings, 12 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Coot, 9 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Mallard, 1 Fulmar E, 19 immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach, 1 Redshank and 3 Goldfinches.

Second summer Great Black-backed Gulls

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and I managed to photograph a Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee feeding on clover. This is a species I had not noticed in the area before.

Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee

June 2nd
This morning we again walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and had very little change from yesterday. Birds we recorded included 2 Cuckoos, 9 Goldfinches, 18 Reed Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 7 Reed Buntings, 11 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Linnets, 1 Coot, 3 Mallard, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Swallows flying W, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Turnstone, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
On our drive home a Red Kite circled over the Roman Galley and then flew NW over Brook Farm arriving over our house at Bishopstone at the same time as we arrived home.

Adult Great Black-backed Gull

June 1st
The new month began in similar fashion to May with bright sunshine and a NE breeze. This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldhabour and counted 9 Goldfinches, 15 Skylarks, 4 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Buntings, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Whitethroats, 13 Linnets, 5 Chaffinches, 1 Blackcap, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 7 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Swallows, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Kestrel.
We also found that the usual patch of Pyramidal Orchids near Coldharbour are just beginning to flower.

First summer Tunstone