June 30th
This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour in warm, sunshine, but were plagued by thousands of pollen beetles. Sunglasses were the order of the day! We saw 63 Starlings W, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Mute Swans, 4 Pied Wagtails, 11 Cormorants, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Owls, 5 Little  Egret, 2 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 7 Oystercatcher, 8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Curlew, 4 Turnstone, 1 Teal and 3 Sandwich Terns W.

Meadow Pipit

On our way home we dropped in at Bishopstone where the Icterine Warbler was singing non stop but only showing occasionally.
On the beach at Reculver we found 2 dead Starry Smooth-hounds.

Starry Smooth-hound

On June 16th I photographed a colour-ringed female Ringed Plover on the beach at Reculver. I have seen  it on a number of occasions since, including this morning. This afternoon I received its ringing details from the BTO. It had been ringed as an adult on 22nd September 2011 at Black Point, Hayling Island, Hampshire, 165 km WSW.



June 29th
Derek Smith was at Bishopstone this morning between 0500 and 0700 and had good views of the Icterine Warbler singing in bright sunshine.

Icterine Warbler - Derek Smith

We spent the first part of the morning ringing at Shuart which was extremely quiet. We saw 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Mallard, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Siskin W, 67 Starlings W and 9 Lapwings.

June 28th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 60 Sand Martins, 12 Blackcaps, 4 Jays, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Tufted Ducks, 4 Mute Swans, 4 Coot, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 12 Lapwings, 1 Red Kite flying W, 1 Siskin W, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Swifts and 6 Long-tailed Tits.

Male Greenfinch

We had a bit of excitement this afternoon when Barry Wright and John Tilbrook, who were visiting the area, found a superb male Icterine Warbler (168th) singing from the trees and bushes between Bishopstone Lane car park and Bishopstone Manor. The bird sang almost continually for over an hour whilst I was there and also gave good views as it pushed its way through the foliage. This is the 8th record of this species for the area.

Icterine Warbler - Barry Wright



June 27th
On yet another beautiful morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland. We recorded 7 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 11 Linnets, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Shelduck, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Ringed Plovers, 4 Cormorants, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Common Terns, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 4 Coot and 20 Sand Martins.

Common Tern

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0500 and 0930 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Chamber's Wall before returning via the Green Wall. He saw 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew E, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Grey Partridges, 42 Starlings W, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 88 Swifts W, 6 Chiffchaffs, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 41 singing Reed Warblers, 28 singing Sedge Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.



June 26th
We spent a humid morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 29 Swifts, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Lapwings W, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Mallard and 1 Kestrel.

June 25th
On a beautiful summer's morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. It is still relatively quiet but we did see 21 Linnets, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Goldfinches, 103 Starlings W, 8 Cormorants, 7 Swifts W, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Swallows W, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Shelduck, 1 Sandwich Tern W, 1 Little Owl and 30 Sand Martins. We also saw our first Clouded Yellow of the year and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth.

June 24th
On a much more pleasant morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and around Coldharbour before making a brief visit to Reculver on the way home. We saw 14 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 14 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Cormorants, 10 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 8 Swallows W, 9 Shelduck, 2 adults with 7 ducklings, 181 Starlings W, 11 Swifts W, 1 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 16 Tufted Ducks, 4 Coot and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Shelduck - male with three ducklings and female with four



June 23rd
On a morning that felt more like autumn than summer we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with a cool, fresh NW wind blowing in off the sea. We didn't see a great deal but birds we did see included 7 Curlew W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Cormorants, 1 Little Owl, 4 Little Egrets, 9 Linnets, 7 Shelduck, 9 Oystercatchers, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Terns, 1 Turnstone and 1 Gannet E.

Little Egret



June 22nd
On a cool and drizzly morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We saw 2 Goldfinches, 2 Lapwings W, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Mallard, 4 Cuckoos made up of 3 males and 1 hepatic female, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 19 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Cormorants, 1 Common Tern, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Swifts, 30 Sand Martins, 4 Tufted Ducks and 4 Little Grebes.

Yellow Horned Poppy

Sea Holly - the only plant at Reculver

June 21st
We were going to go ringing at Reculver this morning but it proved to be too windy so instead we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour as well as walking inland. Birds we saw included 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Buzzard, 13 Swifts W, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Little Owl, 6 Shelduck, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 4 Cormorants, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Goldfinches, 7 Curlew W, 4 Turnstone, 1 Common Tern, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Mallard and 2 Ringed Plovers.

Ringed Plover - so far the local dog walkers have missed stepping on its nest

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0500 and 0930 and walked from Shuart to the sea, along the seawall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall and the railway embankment. He recorded 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew E, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Grey Partridges, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 88 Swifts W, 6 Chiffchaffs, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 41 Reed Warblers, 28 Sedge Warblers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

June 20th
This morning we walked from Shuart to the sea and saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Mallard.
Orchids seem to be a bit few and far between this year, although we did find 26 Southern Marsh Orchids we could not find any Bee Orchids and only 5 Pyramidal and 1 Common Spotted Orchid.
We also found 1 Hairy Dragonfly and 1 Black-tailed Skimmer.

Recently fledged Magpie

Later Matt had a Red Kite flying W at May Street.

June 19th
We had "an away day" today visiting Bedgebury to see some dragonflies. Although the weather was not perfect there was enough sunshine and shelter to see a pleasing array of species. We counted 3 Emperor Dragonflies, 4 White-legged Damselflies, 11 Large Red Damselflies, 6 Downy Emeralds, 4 Beautiful Demoiselles, 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer and 5 Red-eyed Damselflies.
On the bird front we saw 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Nuthatches, 2 Siskins, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Coal Tits, 2 Lesser Redpolls and 1 Common Buzzard.
During the day Derek Smith visited Shuart and found a Small Blue butterfly.

Small Blue

June 18th
We spent a breezy morning ringing at Shuart where it was pretty quiet. We saw 6 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Buzzard, 13 Swifts W, 2 Mallard and 1 Kestrel. We also controlled 4 of the 70 Blue Tits that we have ringed this year in the nest boxes we have in the area.
After lunch we had a walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Shelduck, 6 Ringed Plovers, including 2 chicks, 1 Common Tern, 1 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff. We also saw 1 Emperor Dragonfly and 1 Black-tailed Skimmer.

Black-headed Gull

June 17th
It was a sunny but quiet morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. We saw 2 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Lapwings W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Tufted Duck and 1 Hobby.

Male Chiffchaff

June 16th
It was a beautiful summer's morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 9 Linnets, 2 Little Owls, 1 adult and 1 juvenile, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Oystercatchers, 11 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 3 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Ringed Plovers, including a colour-ringed female, 1 Common Tern, 8 Mallard, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Turnstone, 4 Shelduck and 2 Grey Partridges.

Colour-ringed female Ringed Plover

I was pleased when 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew over my garden at Bishopstone at 1100, but I was even more chuffed when 20 minutes later a Bee-eater (167th) flew N over the garden calling repeatedly. This is only the fourth record for the area but also my 140th species for our garden.