September 15th

Although it was sunny this morning there was a gale force SW wind blowing as we joined Matt for a sea watch at Minnis Bay. Between 0650 and 1030 he counted 190 Swallows W, 1,477 Common Terns feeding offshore and moving W, 39 Sandwich Terns E, 6 Black Terns W, 1 immature Shag W, 5 Arctic Skuas W, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Little Terns W, 7 Common Scoter E, 800 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Golden Plover, 21 Sand Martins W, 5 House Martins W, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Manx Shearwater flew in and landed on sea (184th), 1 Snipe W, 14 Arctic Terns W, 1 Shoveler W, 2 Curlew, 1 Hobby, 3 Greenshank, 1 Gannet and 1 Great Skua (185th).

 September 14th

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 50 Blackcaps, 25 Chiffchaffs, 6 Swallows, 3 Willow Warblers, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Jay, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Kestrel, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Hobby and 20 Linnets.

Birds ringed 89: Chiffchaff 18, Long-tailed Tit 10, Willow Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 5, Blackcap 37, Goldfinch 1, Cetti's Warbler 2, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1.

First year Lesser Whitethroat

 While we were ringing Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall returning along the railway embankment. He counted 23 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 184 Black-headed Gulls, 43 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel E, 24 Swallows W, 12 House Martins E, 1 Tree Pipit S, 27 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 2 Siskins W, 8 Sedge Warblers, 9 Reed Warblers, 7 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 37 Chiffchaffs.

 September 13th

On a chilly and showery morning Matt had a seawatch at Minnis Bay before meeting us at Reculver. At Minnis Bay he counted 1 Little Egret, 15 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Yellow Wagtails W, 3 Turnstone, 1 Ringed Plover, 41 Oystercatchers, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Swallows W. At Reculver we saw 50 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Swift, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail W and 1 Sandwich Tern W.

 September 12th

We spent a blustery morning at a relatively quiet Shuart. Birds we saw included 1 Green Woodpecker. 2 Willow Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 25 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Buzzards, 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Siskins W, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Swallows and 1 Hobby.

Birds ringed 18: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 2, Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 6, Blue Tit 1, Robin 2, Great Tit 1, Blackbird 1.

First year female Goldcrest

 September 11th

This morning Anne and I walked around the Reculver area and counted 2 Common Buzzards, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Swallows, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Chiffchaffs, 118 Coot, 7 Shoveler, 39 Gadwall, 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Sand Martins, 55 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 2 Mandarin Ducks, 2 Goldcrests, 18 Goldfinches, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Wheatear, 40 House Sparrows, 60 House Martins at the Towers and then flying W and 2 Golden Plovers.

House Sparrows feeding on Blackberries

 Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He recorded 12 Chiffchaffs, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kingfisher, 9 Little Egrets, 4 Redshank, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Whinchat, 5 Stonechats, 2 Kestrels, 114 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 110 Linnets, 1 Wheatear, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 67 Swallows, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Sedge Warbler, 15 Coot, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 House Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the Oyster Farm (183rd) and 1 Corn Bunting.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Plumpudding and counted 6 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 58 Lapwings W, 2 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 14 Ring-necked Parakeets, 27 Swallows W, 17 House Martins W, 11 Sand Martins W, 3 Wheatears, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethrost, 16 Chiffchaffs and 1 Firecrest. 

Wheatear - Derek Smith

 September 10th

On a cool and increasingly breezy morning we had a ringing session at Reculver. Birds we recorded included 1 juvenile Cattle Egret (181st), 2 Grey Wagtails, 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Spotted Redshank calling as it flew W (182nd), 5 Common Sandpipers, 105 Coot, 5 Little Grebes, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Stonechat, 2 Sparrowhawks, 60 Mallard, 41 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 20 Blackcaps, 1 Teal, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 41 Swallows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 House Martins, 1 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Hobby, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Greenshank and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Birds ringed 28: Chiffchaff 8, Blackcap 17, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1.

This morning Dave Smith walked at Shuart, Plumpudding and the embankment and saw 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Coot, 110 Golden Plovers, 50 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 25 Swallows E, 40 House Martins E, 5 Sand Martins E, 1 Willow Warbler, 19 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

 September 9th

This morning we had a ringing session at one of our sites at Shuart where there had been a significant overnight arrival of Blackcaps. Birds we saw included 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Jays, 15 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Willow Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 80 Blackcaps, 71 Swallows, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Ravens, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Firecrest, 3 House Martins, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby and 3 Whinchats.

Birds ringed 111, Willow Warbler 5, Chiffchaff 10, Blackcap 77, Reed Warbler 8, Sedge Warbler 3, Whitethroat 2, Blue Tit 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 1, Great Tit 2.

First year male Blackcap

 

Brendan Ryan walked from Shuart to Chamber' Wall and Plumpudding this morning and counted 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 31 Chiffchaffs, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 33 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, 3 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Spotted Flycatcher. 1 Stonechat, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Siskins W and 1 Sand Martin.

This afternoon Matt visited Reculver and saw 2 Spotted Flycatchers,  5 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Buzzards, 6 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 41 Gadwall, 60 Mallard, 8 Little Grebes, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 103 Coot, 1 Mandarin and 4 Grey Herons.

 September 8th

We spent another morning ringing, this time on the Marsh south of the railway, where we saw 1 Wheatear, 1 Grey Wagtal, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 46 Golden Plovers, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 83 Swallows S, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Curlew, 51 Lapwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Sand Martin S, 2 Siskins W and 1 Hobby.

Birds ringed 28: Chiffchaff 4, Wren 1, Reed Bunting 2, Blackcap 5, Reed Warbler 6, Whitethroat 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 3, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1. 

 September 7th

We spent an increasingly breezy and warm morning ringing at Reculver. Birds we saw included 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Greenshank W, 7 Common Sandpipers, 107 Coot, 38 Gadwall, 7 Little Grebes, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 40 Mallard, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Goldcrests, 30 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Curlew W, 6 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Swallows.

Birds ringed 65: Goldcrest 2, Willow Warbler 4, Chiffchaff 7, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 4, Blackcap 24, Robin 2, Reed Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 3, Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 1, Great Tit 4, Blue Tit 7, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Dave Smith was also out and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and the embankment. His highlights were 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 30 Golden Plovers, 110 Ringed Plovers, 70 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 21 Turnstone, 30 Sanderling, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby, 4 Swallows, 11 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest, 1 Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

 September 6th

We spent the morning ringing at another site at Shuart and there had been a decent arrival of migrants overnight. We saw 2 Kestrels, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 92 Lapwings, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Tree Pipits, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 6 Mallard, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 60 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Swallows, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Sedge Warbler, 20 Goldfinches, 6 Green Sandpipers W and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Birds ringed 82: Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 7, Wren 1, Blackcap 52, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Reed Warbler 2, Goldfinch 3, Robin 3, Whitethroat 2, Blue Tit 5, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 1.

First year Grasshopper Warbler

 Whilst we were ringing at Shuart, Derek was walking from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and the Green Wall and back along the embankment. He had a good morning and counted 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Teal E, 1 Shelduck, 6 Kestrels, 1 Hobby, 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Arctic Skua E, 64 Lapwings, 16 Ringed Plovers, 65 Golden Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover E, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Short-eared Owl in off the sea at Plumpudding and then at the Oyster Farm, 55 Sandwich Terns E, 22 Common Terns E, 3 Black Terns E, 1 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail E, 5 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 3 Stonechats, 1 Pied Flycatcher on the seawall, 11 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 13 Sedge Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Firecrest.

Short-eared Owl - Derek Smith

 September 5th

We spent a sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great White Egret flying W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 70 Linnets, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Kestrels, 2 Jays, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 Hobby, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Greenshank and 6 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 26: Blackcap 8, Reed Warbler 6, Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Sedge Warbler 4, Cetti's Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 3, Blue Tit 2.

We also caught a first year Sedge Warbler that had been ringed at Elms Farm, Icklesham, East Sussex on 31st August. It had flow 65 km NE to reach Shuart.

First year Reed Warbler

 Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back by way of Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour. He counted 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great White Egret flying W over the Oyster Farm, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 2 Whimbrel S, 68 Ringed Plovers, 18 Turnstone, 13 Sandwich Terns, 14 Common Terns, 1 Yellow Wagtail W, 1 Wheatear, 18 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Blackcaps, 17 Sedge Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 24 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrests.

 September 4th

On another showery morning we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Grey Herons, 6 Robins, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Swallows W, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 105 Common Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Tern E and 3 Gannets E.

Matt was out earlier and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 7 Redshank, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Stonechats, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Reed Warbler, 44 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 119 Common Terns, 3 Black Terns, 90 Linnets, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 64 Mallard, 3 Wheatears, 12 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Swift, 1 House Martin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Swallow, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Greenshank and 1 Curlew.

 September 3rd

With a southerly gale blowing and frequent showers Matt arrived at 0630 at Minnis Bay for a seawatch and we joined him at 0730. We remained there until 1030 as there were large numbers of terns initially feeding offshore in a large group before moving west close inshore. His final totals were 2,017 Common Terns W, 137 Sandwich Terns W, 44 Black Terns W, 7 Arctic Terns W, 2 Teal W , 7 Whimbrel, 5 Swifts in off the sea, 10 Gannets, 2 Arctic Skuas chasing terns, 15 Grey Plovers W, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits W and 1 Mediterranean Gull.

 September 2nd

On a sunny morning we walked along the sea wall and then looked at Reculver bushes on our return. We saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Redshank, 10 Swallows W, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 62 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Stonechats, 6 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Chiffchaffs.

This afternoon Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Swift flying in off the sea, 2 Little Egrets, 160 Common Terns, 16 Sandwich Terns, 7 Gannets E, 1 Common Gull, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 500 Black-headed Gulls.

 September 1st

On a breezy and sunny morning we had a walk at Reculver and counted 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 juvenile Sparrowhawk, 1 Greenshank, 90 Coot, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Little Grebes, 3 Common Sandpipers, 18 Gadwall, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Tufted Duck, 46 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Teal, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swallow and 1 Grey Heron.

This afternoon after a particularly squally shower we spent 45 minutes at Reculver where we saw five groups of Common Terns, totalling 324 birds, battling their way west against the wind. We also saw Sandwich Terns and 1 Shag (180th).

Brendan Ryan visited the area this morning arriving at Shuart at 0545 and walking to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall. He counted 5 Mute Swans, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 24 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 13 Coot, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 60 Lapwings, 1 Redshank, 130 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Little Grebes, 9 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 15 Carrion Crows, 30 Blue Tits, 1 Sand Martin, 32 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 8 Chiffchaffs, 11 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Firecrests, 5 Robins, 3 Wheatears, 7 Grey Wagtails, including a group of 5 flying W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinches, 22 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Corn Bunting and 5 Reed Buntings.

Wheatear - Brendan Ryan