May 15th

Matt walked aroung Shuart, Netherhale and Brooksend this morning and saw 7 Blackcaps, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Corn Buntings, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Stonechats, 12 Swallows, 19 Pied Wagtails and 2 Kestrels.

Dave Smith was also out at Shuart at 0430 and in 3 hours birds he saw included 26 Greylag Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Swifts, 5 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Sand Martin, 9 Swallows, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

This afternoon I had a walk at Reculver where I recorded 5 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 22 Sand Martins, 2 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 8 Reed Warblers, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Coot.

Summer plumaged Dunlin

Second summer Lesser Black-backed Gull

 

May14th

On a beautiful late spring morning Matt decided to have a change of scenery and walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and then out on to the Marsh. He counted 7 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Swifts W, 40 Sand Martins, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Corn Buntings, 5 Swallows W, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 pairs of Grey Partridges along the cliff top path, 16 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Little Owl, 4 Stonechats, 4 Wheatears, 3 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Jay.

Alex Perry also refound the male Grey-headed Wagtail at Plumpudding Stables this morning but photograped an individual that appears to be another male Grey-headed Wagtail. This bird is in a slightly different plumage to the one photographed yesterday as it has some white on the throat. Reading "Pipits and Wagtails" in the Helm Identification series it appears that first summmer males can have white on their throat.

First summer Grey-headed Wagtail - Alex Perry

Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0530 and in the next five and a half hours walked along the embankment to Coldharbour, Plumpudding and on to Netherhale. He recorded 5 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Kestrels, 2 Lapwings, 2 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Wheatear, 14 Cetti's Warblers and 18 Blackcaps.

Male Stonechat - Matt Hindle

Wheatear - Matt Hindle

May 13th

This morning Dave Smith identified a male Grey-headed Wagtail at Plumpudding stables. This is only the fifth record of this sub-species to be recorded in the area. He also found 3 Spotted Flycatchers (167th), 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Canada Goose, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 39 Swifts, 2 Coot, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 10 Sanderling, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, 18 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatears, 19 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.

Male Grey-headed Wagtail - Alex Perry

 Alex Perry found 5 Spotted Flycatchers along the railway embankment and at Chamber's Wall.

Spotted Flycatcher - Alex Perry

 Matt was also out this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to Plumpudding and Brooksend. He saw 8 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 15 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Wheatears, 14 Tufted Ducks, 3 Grey Herons, 8 Little Egrets, 30 Swallows, 2 Cuckoo, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 67 Swifts W, 50 House Martins W, 2 Common Terns, 2 Lapwings, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 male Grey-headed Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Coot, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Sand Martins W, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Turtle Dove and 2 Kestrels.

I managed to get out at 1030 and had a walk at Reculver where I saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Mallard, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 16 Linnets, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe

May 12th

On a beautiful late spring morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He recorded 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Shelduck, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Corn Buntings, 1 Tree Pipit, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Stonechats, 27 Swallows W,  2 Common Terns, 20 Swifts W, 6 House Martins W, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Wheatears, 31 Stock Doves, 3 Marsh Harriers, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Rock Pipit, 57 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers flying high W, 2 Grey Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Lapwings, 2 Kestrels and 1 Cuckoo.

I had a walk at Reculver at about 1030 and saw 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldfinches, 1 female Hen Harrier moving W (166th), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Raven being attacked by the local Carrion Crows, 6 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Linnets, 5 Mallard, 1 Coot, 9 Reed Warblers, 8 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Sedge Warblers. 

Common Sandpiper

May 11th

At about lunchtime 2 Red Kites flew W at Bishopstone.

May 10th

Dave Smith was out early this morning and in two and a half hours from 0507 he completed the Shuart circuit and saw birds including 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 15 Swifts flying W, 3 Grey Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Curlews, 6 Turnstone and 48 Sanderling. He also recorded 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 19 Whitethroats, 1 Stonechat, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.

At 0700 I counted 9 Swifts flying W at Bishopstone.

May 9th

Marc Heath saw a male Black Redstart at Hillborough at lunchtime.

May 8th

Dave Smith spent three hours at Reculver this morning and birds he saw included 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 3 Common Terns, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jays, 4 Sand Martins, 19 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Stonechats, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.

Marc Heath was also out this morning between 0530 and 0800 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Chamber's Wall. He saw 4 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Whitethroats, 17 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Swallows W, 17 Sedge Warblers, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 7 Skylarks, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel E, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Rseed Buntings, 1 Common Tern, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Mistle Thrush.

May 7th

Matt was out early this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. Birds he saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Sand Martins, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar, 1 Whimbrel E, 3 Stonechats, 2 Swifts flying W (165th),  2 Shelduck, 12 Swallows, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kestrel, 30 Sanderling, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Red Kite W, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Rock Pipit.

Dave Smith was also out early and walked around the Shuart, Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area and his highlights included 2 Greylag Geese, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Terns, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Swallows, 4 Lesser Whiethroats, 2 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Corn Bunting.

Julie Childs saw 5 Red Kites over the Thanet Way.

May 6th

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver for the first time since January and saw an excellent range of species. We counted 2 Common Buzzards, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Hobbies, 1 female Ring Ouzel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Shelduck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mallard, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Partridges, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove "purring" (164th), 2 Ravens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 21 Red Kites flying W, 2 Swallows and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 19: Long-tailed Tit 6, Blackcap 6, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Male Common Whitethroat

Garden Warbler

Female Shelduck - Matt Hindle

 Dave Smith was also out this morning and spent over 3 hours at the Towers where his highlights were 2 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers, 15 Red Kites flying W, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Hobbies, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatears and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

May 5th

On a cool morning after overnight showers Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and I met him on the seawall later. He counted 14 Yellow Wagtails flying W, 41 Swallows flying W, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Turnstones, 1 Dunlin, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Terns, 7 Tufted Duck, 30 Corn Buntings, 6 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl at Cold Harbour, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying W, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Lapwings, 3 Coot and 1 Lesser Redpoll (162nd), surprisingly our first of the year. He also recorded 1 Whimbrel flying N, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Sand Martins flying W, 1 male Ring Ouzel on the track beside the Wantsum, 1 Sandwich Tern, 5 Sanderling and  3 House Martin flying W.

Male Ring Ouzel - Matt Hindle

This afternoon at 1415 a Black Kite flew NW (163rd) over our garden at Bishopstone. This is the sixth record of this species for the Reculver area and the 145th species I've seen from my garden.

May 4th

On a cool and showery morning Matt walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall where I met him and then we both walked along the seawall to Plumpudding before returning along the railway embankment. We saw a very good range of species including 6 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 21 Yellow Wagtails flying W,  1 Garden Warbler, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Coot, 1 Little Ringed Plover flying S, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Greylag Geese, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 77 Swallows flying W, 1 Gannet, 1 Tree Pipit flying W, 5 Shelduck, 3 Stonechats, 2 Common Terns and 33 Sand Martins flying W. We also saw 60 Corn Buntings, 1 Dunlin, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Kestrels, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail flying W,  2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 30 Sanderling, 13 Turnstone, 1 Whinchat (161st), 3 Wheatears, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Plover and  1 Short-eared Owl. We also recorded good number s of Reed and Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats.

May 3rd

The chilly, northerly breeze had returned this morning and it was overcast as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. I recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Goldfinches, 17 Whitethroats, 12 Linnets, 9 Swallows, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Reed Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 63 Corn Buntings, 3 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatchers, 24 Stock Doves, 1 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Sedge Warblers and 4 Tufted Duck.

Wheatear

This afternoon a walk at Reculver produced 3 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Greenshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Pied Wagtails, 4 Reed Warblers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Swallow, 5 Mallard, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Jay.

Alex Perry found a Canada Goose in Coldharbour this morning.

Canada Goose - Alex Perry

May 2nd

It was calm and overcast this morning as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons. I saw 7 Goldfinches, 10 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 14 Reed Warblers, 10 Swallows, 1 Blackcap, 4 Mallard, 4 Coot, 2 Stonechats, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Greylag Goose, 7 Corn Buntings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 18 Sedge Warblers, 13 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 39 Stock Doves and 1 Marsh Harrier.

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Swallows, 18 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 2 Common Buzards, 2 Coot and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

David Elliott walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and saw 6 Whitethroats, 2 Corn Buntings and 3 Skylarks.

Corn Bunting - David Elliott

Whitethroat - David Elliott

May 1st

The month began a bit milder and without the chilly NE breeze of the last few days as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. I counted 22 Whitethroast, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 27 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 16 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 17 Corn Buntings, 36 Stock Doves, 51 Swallows flyng W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Stonechats, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Raven flying over Brook Farm.

Summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit

Corn Bunting

Derek Smith was out early this morning and between 0530 and 1000 he walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back along the embankment before walking to Netherhale and Brooksend. He saw 5 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 4 Shelduck, 5 pairs of Tufted Duck, 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Cuckoos, 63 Swallows W, 1 Stonechat, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling near the Chamber's Wall crossing, 1 Willow Warbler, 24 Whitethroats, 14 Reed Warblers, 34 Sedge Warblers and 1 Lesser Whitetheoat.