May 15th

Even though it was pouring with rain this morning we decided to walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and were lucky that the rain stopped just as we reached the railway crossing and it remained dry until we almost got back to our car. We had excellent views of the Grasshopper Warbler as it moved from one singing perch to another and reeled almost non-stop. Other birds seen included 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Mallard, 9 Whitethroats, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap, 1 Marsh Harrier, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Stonechats, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cuckoo and 7 Linnets.

Derek Smith was also out in the rain this morning and between 0400 and 0900 walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Minnis Bay and back via Coldharbour and the railway embankment. His highlights included 1 Fulmar W, 2 Little Egrets, 7 pairs of Tufted Duck, 46 Sanderling at Minnis Bay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Turtle Dove, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler at Coldharbour, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear and 2 Stonechats at Plumpudding.

May 14th

It felt more like February than May this morning with overcast conditions and a cold northerly wind blowing in off the sea. On our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons we saw 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Whitethroats, 7 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 4 Stonechats, one male and three juveniles, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Common Tern, 3 Lapwings, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grasshopper Warbler heard and seen and 3 Cuckoos.

Male Stonechat

May 13th

It was dull and showery this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and counted 10 Whitethroats, 10 Mallard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Cuckoos, 5 Swallows, 11 Linnets, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Stonechats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Shelduck, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Corn Bunting and 5 Goldfinches.

Juvenile Stonechat

May 12th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to Reculver. We recorded 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Whitethroats, 5 Cuckoos, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 9 Swallows, 9 Mallard, 2 Lapwings, 14 Linnets, 4 juvenile Stonechats, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 White Wagtails, 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 3 Swifts W, 1 Kestrel, 22 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 4 Common Terns, 1 Wheatear, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

White Wagtail - Matt Hindle

Later in the morning Matt found a male Grey Wagtail singing in the May Street sewage works.

This aftermoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 5 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Mallard, 2 Coot, 1 Kestrel and 1 Hobby.

Great Crested Grebe family

May 11th

We spent a pleasant morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Swallows, 13 Reed Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Mallard, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Jays, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Turtle Dove purring intermittently during the morning, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Buazzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 37: Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 6, Reed Warbler 11, Sedge Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 3, Jay 2.

A Jay with a tick above its eye

On a warm and breezy afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail, 124 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Kestrel, 36 Turnstone, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Little Egret. We also saw 3 Hairy Dragonflies.

Sanderling

May 10th

After the heavy overnight rain had passed through Matt had an early morning walk from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 9 Common Sandpipers, 17 Swallows W, 4 Wheatears, 3 House Martins W, 9 Ringed Plovers W, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Tufted Ducks, 3 Swifts W, 2 Yellow Wagtails,  1 male Grey-headed Wagtail and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers E.

He then met us at Shuart and we all walked to Plumpudding and back by way of Brooksend and Netherhale. We counted 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaffs, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Mallard, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 19 Swallows, 2 Greylag Geese, 12 Tufted Ducks, 3 Corn Buntings, 12 Swifts, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers, 8 House Martins, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Coot and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Male Reed Bunting

 

Female Wheatear - Matt Hindle

Alex Perry saw a Hobby (169th) at Reculver during the day.

May 9th 

With thunder storms passing to the south and east of us Matt walked from Bishopstone to Plumpudding and back via the railway embankment and we walked in from Chamber's Wall and back towards Reculver with him. Between us we counted 82 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Redpolls W, 78 Swallows W, 11 Swifts W, 4 Corn Buntings, 18 Yellow Wagtails W including a male Grey-headed Wagtail, 60 Sand Martins, 6 Gannets E, 8 Blackcaps, 2 Kestrels, 6 Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpipers, 25 Reed Warblers, 13 Wheatears, 48 Sedge Warblers, 3 Stonechats, 2 Lapwings, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Tufted Ducks, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (166th), 3 Canada Geese, 4 White Wagtails, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Jays, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Whinchat (167th), 2 Common Buzzards and 13 Sanderling.

Male Grey-headed Wagtail - Matt Hindle

Whilst I was out, I had a message from Chris Tedder to say that she had just seen a Spoonbill flying S at Reculver. Later she also saw 2 Little Terns (168th) flying E and fishing as well as her first Hairy Dragonfly of the year.

Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back along the embankment and his highlights were 5 Wheatears, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Cuckoos.

Derek Smith was also out between 0630 and 1000 and walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend and Netherhale. He recorded 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzards, 7 pairs of Tufted Duck, 72 Sanderling, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Wheatears, 7 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Willow Warblers.

May 8th

We had a unexpected visitor to our garden at lunchtime just after the rain had stopped. A Turtle Dove.

 

Turtle Dove

On a blustery but much milder afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 2 Blackcaps, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Jays, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Garden Warbler. 

May 7th

We had limited time this morning so we began our walk earlier than usual and walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldhabour. We recorded 1 male Greenland Wheatear on the grass by the Towers, 21 Linnets, 11 Whitethroats, 11 Swallows flying W, 1 Common Sandpiper flying W, 3 Stonechats, 4 Shelduck, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 2 Lapwings, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 3 House Martins flying W, 1 Sand Martin, 6 Swifts flying W, 1 Kestrel and 1 Blackcap.

Ringed Plover

This afternoon we had a walk around at Reculver and saw 36 Swifts flying W, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 8 Reed Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Coot, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warblers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Willow Warbler.

May 6th

After our first significant rain for a month yesterday evening this morning dawned bright and calm as we walked from Shuart to Plumpudding lagoon. Birds we saw included 2 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 23 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 13 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 20 Goldfinches, 15 Swallows, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Lapwings, 2 Grey Partridges, 10 Sedge Warblers, 10 Linnets, 29 Turnstone, 19 Swifts flying W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, 18 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Curlew, 7 Whimbrel, 9 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 House Martin W, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrrier, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Chiffchaff.

Whimbrel

Curlew

This morning we received information concerning a first year Reed Warbler we ringed at Shuart on 31st August 2018. It had been controlled at Lancing College, West Sussex on 1st May 2021.

May 5th

It was sunny this morning with a cold, eyewatering westerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. We counted 19 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches, 13 Whitethroats, 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swallows, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 17 Sedge Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Swift W, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 8 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Little Egret, 76 Sanderling, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Mediterranean Gull.

The variety in the plumages of Sanderling during May

May 4th

With a westerly gale blowing this morning we began at Reculver where we recorded 2 Shelduck, 1 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 House Martins W, 5 Sandwich Terns, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Swallows, 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mallard, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Coot, 2 Sedge Warblers and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

We then drove over to Minnis Bay where we had a 45 minute seawatch and recorded 2 Common Terns flying W, 1 Swallow, 4 Dunlins flying W, 5 Sandwich Terns flying W and 2 Manx Shearwaters flying W with one flying back E later (165th). 

After this we had a walk around the Shuart area and counted 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Mallard, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Swallows, 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Blackcaps.

May 3rd

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. We saw 6 Goldfinches, 21 Swallows W, 25 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 7 Mallard, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Siskin W, 6 Lapwings W, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Sandwich Terns, 110 Sanderling, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Stonechats carrying food, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 female Wheatear, 7 Sand Martins W, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Linnets, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull W, 1 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the Oyster Farm, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 24 Sedge Warblers and 1 Cuckoo.

Earlier in the morning Matt had found a Garden Warbler singing at Reculver.

Sandwich Terns

May 2nd

We spent our first morning of the year ringing on the Marsh south of the railway. It was relatively quiet but we did see 8 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whimbrel W, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Swallows W, 10 Linnets, 3 Shoveler, 1 Mallard, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawks.

Birds ringed 14: Wren 2, Whitethroat 3, Reed Bunting 1, Linnet 4, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Blackbird 1.

Male Whitethroat

 Derek Smith was out from 0600 to 0900 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back via Brooksend. He counted 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 11 Shelduck flying E at sea, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 46 Sanderling, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Cuckoos, 34 Stock Doves, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Stonechats, 22 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Redpolls W and 4 Corn Buntings.

May 1st

Matt was out very early and walked from Bishopstone to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. We walked in from Chamber's Wall where we met him and walked part of the way back to Reculver. Birds he saw included 1 Garden Warbler singing at Bishopstone (163rd), 70 Whitethroats, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Common Sandpiper (164th), 11 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sandwich Terns E, 3 Shelduck, 21 Swallows W, 34 Sand Martins, 41 Sedge Warblers, 3 Stonechats, 4 Tufted Duck, 18 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel W, 21 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Coldharbour, 2 Cuckoos, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Grey Herons, 1 House Martin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Greylag Geese, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Fulmar, 1 Little Egret, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Gadwall, 1 Pochard and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Swallows nesting at Chamber's Wall crossing

Derek Smith was also birding this morning and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and then on to Plumpudding and Netherhale. He recorded 2 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Greenshank W, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, the one at Coldharbour and another at Plumpudding, 40 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 24 Reed Warblers, 36 Sedge Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps and 1 Lesser Redpoll W.