August 15th

It was much less hot and humid this morning and we even had two or three drops of rain as we walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 12 Swallows W, 1 House Martin W, 2 Sand Martins W, 15 Goldfinches, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Little Egrets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Linnets, 71 Golden Plovers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Greenshank, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Meadow Pipits and 1 Common Gull.

Meadow Pipit

Dave Smith was out in the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area for nearly three hours from 0515. He recorded 1 Grey Partridge calling, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Chaffinches and 10 Corn Buntings.

 August 14th

On another steamy morning with the temperature reaching 26℃ by 0800 we were out early and walked at Chamber's Wall and Reculver. It was much quieter than yesterday but we did manage to see 28 Goldfinches, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 59 Linnets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Swallows, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Skylark

August 13th

It was even hotter this morning so we were out early and walked at Chamber's Wall from the farm to the railway line. We saw 24 Goldfinches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Reed Warblers, 4 Skylarks, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 11 Linnets, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Pied Flycatcher (174th), 1 Golden Plover and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Derek Smith was out this morning between 0540 and 0940 and covered most of the eastern half of the Marsh from Shuart to Brooksend and Coldharbour. He recorded 4 Common Buzzards, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Green Sandpipers, 16 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 7 Cetti's Warblers and 14 Corn Buntings.

Dave Smith was also out from 0510 for five hours and covered the Shuart and Plumpudding area. He saw 1 Turtle Dove, 10 Golden Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 20 Whitethroats, 1 Song Thrusk, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 1 Stonechat, 7 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Corn Buntings.

Pied Flycatcher

 Last evening I received information about the colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull we saw on the beach at Reculver on July 25th. It had originally been ringed at Antwerp in Belgium as a third calendar year bird on 12th May 2019. In the intervening time it had been seen on a number of occasions at Icklesham in East Sussex in 2020 and 2021 and on 17th March 2020 at Newton on the Isle of Wight. However on 20th December 2021 it was observed at Ria A Coruna, Santa Cruz de Oleiros, A Coruna, Galicia, Spain which is 1,144 km SW of Reculver.

Mediterranean Gull 3HK3

August 12th

It was even hotter and more humid this morning as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds I saw included 17 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 13 Whitethroats, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Linnets, 39 Goldfinch, 1 Hobby, 6 Mallard, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Sedge Warblers, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Redshank, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Swallow.

Redshank in Coldharbour

August 11th

An early morning walk from Reculver to Coldharbour avoiding the worst of the heat produced 3 Little Egrets, 31 Linnets, 3 Turnstone, 7 Oystercatchers, 6 Sandwich Terns, 11 Goldfinches, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Grey Heron and 22 newly arrived Golden Plover on a recently harvested wheat field. Other birds seen included 24 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Redshank, 5 Coot, 2 Stonechats, 3 Whitethroats and 2 Wheatears. 

Wheatear at the Towers

Reculver Towers

 Dave Smith was out early and covered Minnis Bay and Plumpudding and saw 2 Mute Swans, 8 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Gull, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 13 Whitethroats, 4 Common Redstarts (173rd) on the railway embankment and 17 Corn Buntings.

August 10th

On our walk this morning from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour we saw 8 Yellow Wagtails, 42 Goldfinches, 14 Linnets, 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 9 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Coot, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Redshank, 7 Pied Wagtails, 3 Dunlin, 5 Sandwich Terns, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Turtle Dove still at Chamber's Wall.

Sandwich Tern

August 9th

There was a pleasant easterly breeze this morning although it remained very warm on our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we counted included 1 Swallow, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Sedge Warblers, 16 Goldfinches, 10 Reed Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 51 Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Pied Wagtails, 11 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 11 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 7 Mute Swans.

Whimbrel at Coldharbour

August 8th

We spent an increasingly warm morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Hobby, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Water Rail, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Ravens, 20 Sand Martins, 14 Sedge Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Blackcaps, 15 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Curlew.

Birds ringed 33: Willow Warbler 2, Wren 2, Reed Warbler 9, Chaffinch 1, Whitethroat 4, Sedge Warbler 4, Blackcap 3, Robin 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1, Kingfisher 1.

Lesser Whitethroat

Kingfisher

August 7th

It became increasingly warm as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning. There were a few more birds to be seen and we managed to count 17 Linnets, 29 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Sedge Warblers, 9 Whimbrel, 1 Turtle Dove calling at Chamber's Wall, 16 Reed Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 3 Coot, 3 juvenile Dunlin in Coldharbour, 4 Redshank, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Little Ringed Plover in Coldharbour, 5 Swallows, 1 Greenshank W, 31 Corn Buntings, 1 Stonechats, 5 Little Egrets and 1 Kestrel.

Juvenile Dunlin

August 6th

On another sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 25 Goldfinches, 33 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 7 Reed Warblers, 15 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Sedge Warblers, 4 Coot, 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Redshank, 14 Ringed Plovers, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 13 mainly juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Turnstone, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper and 8 Corn Buntings. 

Redshank

Dave Smith was out at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding from 0525 and recorded 1 Cuckoo, 3 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 2 Kittiwakes E, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull E, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 8 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, 8 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Pied Wagtail.

August 5th

After overnight showers it was sunny this morning with a chilly northerly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. It was relatively quiet but we did see 10 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Kestrels, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, including 13 juveniles, 9 Oystercatchers, 12 Swallows, 4 Coot and 6 Reed Warblers.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

August 4th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 28 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Linnets, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Coot, 24 Corn Buntings, 200 Starlings, 1 juvenile Common Gull, 8 Ringed Plovers, 87 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Coldharbour, 8 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Ringed Plover in Coldharbour, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 1 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

An evening walk inland at Reculver produced 1 Jay, 3 Kestrels, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Ravens, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Sand Martins, 44 Stock Doves, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Willow Warbler.

Reculver - Anne Hindle

August 3rd

We spent another warm and breezy morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Hobbies, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Ravens, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Kestrels, 30 Goldfinches, 40 Linnets, 35 Sand Martins, 5 Whimbrel flying W, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Jays, 1 Little Egret and 2 Red Kites.

Birds ringed 24: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 5, Reed Warbler 7, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 2, Garden Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackbird 1.

First year Garden Warbler

First year Whitethroat

August 2nd

It was warm and breezy this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver and then inland. Birds we saw included 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Pied Wagtails, 14 Sand Martins, 7 Little Egrets, 18 Linnets, 10 Stonechats, including at least 5 juveniles, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Kestrels, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 juvenile Cuckoos, 2 Ravens, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Mallard and 1 Willow Warbler.

This afternoon Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 adult and 2 juveniles, 140 Mediterranean Gulls on beach at Coldharbour,  3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Rock Pipit, 20 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 2 Stonechats, 3 Corn Buntings and 2 Kestrels.

August 1st

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where there had been an overnight arrival of warblers. We recorded 80 Reed Warblers, 30 Sedge Warblers, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 16 Whitethroats and 1 Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds seen included 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Greenfinches, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 8 Goldfinches, 6 Mallard and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 119: Willow Warbler 3, Wren 2, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 63, Sedge Warbler 16, Blackcap 10, Cetti's Warbler 6, Whitethroat 11, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 2, Great Tit 1, Reed Bunting 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Blackbird 1.

Willow Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

Dave Smith was also out early this morning and at Minnis Bay and Plumpudding saw 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 10 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Whimbrel, 10 Turnstone, 8 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 30 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Whitethroats and 3 Yellow Wagtails.