August 31st
After yesterday's washout we spent a sunny but chillier morning ringing at Reculver. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Kestrel 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 16 Mute Swans, 9 Mallard, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey heron and 6 House Martins.

Bird ringed 18: Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 3, Treecreeper 1, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 5, Great Tit 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1.

Grasshopper Warbler

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back around the Green Wall missing most of the passing showers. We saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 25 House Martins, 108 Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 13 Sandwich Terns, 4 Wheatears, 1 juvenile Knot, 3 Dunlin, 42 Ringed Plovers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby and 4 Yellow Wagtails.

Juvenile Knot

August 30th
We arrived at the Towers just after 0600 for a seawatch with a moderate northerly wind blowing but gave up after an hour and a half as it was pretty quiet. We saw 1 Gannet, 3 Great Skuas, 12 Sandwich Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas E, 1 Black Tern and 2 Teal.
After this we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour in drizzle and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 53 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 12 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plovers, 61 Golden Plover and 7 Corn Buntings.

August 29th
Whilst we were ringing at Shuart this morning we managed to see 4 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Common Buzzards, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Red-legged Partridges, 17 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 100 Goldfinches, 3 Marsh Harriers, 350 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Robins, 12 Reed Warblers, 41 Lapwings, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Grey Herons.

Birds ringed 46: Wren 2, Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Robin 4, Reed Warbler 10, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 4, Goldfinch 8, Blackcap 3, Linnet 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Greenfinch 2, Blackbird 3.

August 28th
It was still very warm this morning but quieter than yesterday as we ringed south of the railway. Birds we saw included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Golden Plover, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers and 1 Chiffchaff.

Birds ringed 27: Willow Warbler 4, Whitethroat 6, Reed Bunting 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 4, Linnet 1, Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 1.

First year Lesser Whitethroat

Derek Smith was also out at Shuart between 0615 and 0915 and recorded 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Blackcaps, 14 Sedge Warblers, 18 Reed Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

August 27th
On an increasingly warm morning we ringed at Reculver where we saw 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Willow Warblers, 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Teal, 6 Mallard, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Peregrine, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Swallows, 13 Common Buzzards including a group of 12 thermalling at 1000 and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 31: Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 1, Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 4, Reed Warbler 5, Robin 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 4.

First year Willow Warbler

The Coal Tit was in our garden a number of times this morning.
Derek Smith was out this morning between 0615 and 1100 in the Shuart area and counted 13 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Whimbrel S, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 6 Yellow Wagtails S, 5 Wheatears, 24 Reed Warblers, 9 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 19 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 8 Goldcrests.

Grasshopper Warbler - Derek Smith

August 26th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway line and saw 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warblers, 1 Tree Pipit W, 3 Tree Sparrows, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 12 Sedge Warblers, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Egret, 6 Robins, 1 Snipe, 8 Swallows W, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Whinchats, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
As we arrived home a Coal Tit flew along our back hedge calling noisily.

Birds ringed 39: Willow Warbler 8, Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 7, Reed Warbler 4, Whitethroat 4, Reed Bunting 2, Blackcap 3, Robin 2, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Chaffinch 3, Dunnock 1.



Migrant Robin

Nick Hando and family did not have much to report from Beltinge today birdwise, just 2Whimbrel W, 1 Little Egret, 2 Sandwich Terns, and 1 Coal Tit in the bushes by the beacon at Reculver Drive car park. Yesterday they had a Rock Pipit on the beach at Bishopstone.

They had more luck with the fossils today, finding 166 sharks teeth, a ray vertebra, a ray dental bar, several turtle bones and pieces of carapace, and a few fragments of chimaera jawbone. One of the sharks teeth is a monster-sized and perfectly preserved example of Striatolamia macrota.

 

Sharks tooth, ray vertebra and dental bar

 

August 25th
On a beautiful calm, early autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the White Poplars and then on to Coldharbour. We saw 2 Kestrels, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Kingfishers having a skirmish along the Wantsum, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Greenfinches, 18 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 17 Reed Buntings, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 93 Mallard, 1 Curlew, 3 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 8 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Reed Bunting

August 24th
On a cooler morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall before visiting Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 29 Goldfinches, 4 Reed Warblers, 232 Linnets, 17 Corn Buntings, 25 Reed Buntings, 45 House Sparrows, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 82 Mallard, 3 Kestrels, 1 Wheatear, 18 Oystercatchers, 4 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallows, 9 Mute Swans and 1 Grey Heron.
During the day Nick Hando visited the beach near Beltinge and saw a Green Sandpiper and 2 Sandwich Tersn whilst later at Minnis Bay there was a Whimbrel, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and 1 Little Egret.
Over our garden at Bishopstone this evening there were 10 Swallows, 1 Swift and 1 Hobby.

August 23rd
It was still pretty quiet this morning as we completed the same walk as yesterday. We saw 4 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 212 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 95 Mallard, 4 Teal, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Willow Warblers, 9 Mute Swans, 25 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Turtle Doves, 8 Swallows, 1 Whinchat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Jay. We also found a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Whinchat

August 22nd
On a very warm and humid morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then dropped in at Reculver on our way home. The bushes were almost devoid of migrants this morning but we did manage to see 2 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 220 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 83 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flying inland at Coldharbour, 1 Sedge Warbler, 15 Goldfinches, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Turnstone, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Garganey, 6 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Green Woodpecker.

A lovely morning at Coldharbour

Garganey

August 21st
Today dawned wet and overcast but the rain soon turned to drizzle and then died out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 39 Redshank, 1 Gannet, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Common Sandpipers, 2 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Sandwich Terns, 9 Grey Plovers W, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 5 Pied Wagtails, 26 Linnets, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 31 Dunlin, 11 Cormorants, 1 immature male Eider, 55 Oystercatchers, 25 Ringed Plovers, 2 Wheatears, 4 Whimbrel W, 2 Whitethroats, 56 Mallard, 10 Turnstone, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper and 7 Swallows.
At Grenham Bay, this morning, Terry Wilson saw 9 Little Egrets, 3 Wheatears, 20 Sandwich Terns and 25 Turnstones.
This afternoon we found a family group of 3 Turtle Doves still at Chamber's Wall.

Turtle Dove

August 20th
We spent a quiet morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Jay, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 18 Mallard, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Sandpipers, 7 Swallows W, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Teal, 1 Garganey, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 10 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 13: Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 3, Reed Warbler 2, Blue Tit 3, Robin 1, Chaffinch 1.

This afternoon a walk at Chamber's Wall produced 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Common Buzzards drifting west, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Swift and 1 Marsh Harrier.

August 19th
It was another bright and breezy morning as we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall via Coldharbour. We saw 3 Whitethroats, 1 Common Buzzard, 139 Common Terns W, 46 Sandwich Terns E, 5 Gannets, 2 Teal, 2 Wheatears, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Cormorants, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Ringed Plovers, 18 Oystercatchers, 14 Linnets, 1 immature male Eider, 6 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Wheatear

August 18th
On a bright and breezy morning Matt walked from Reculver along the back of the Oyster Farm to Chamber's Wall where we met him and then we all walked back to Reculver via Coldharbour and the seawall. Between us we counted 7 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Common Sandpipers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 Kingfishers, 29 Sandwich Terns, 1 Sparrowhawk, 13 Redshank, 8 Green Sandpipers, 8 Swallows, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Whitethroats, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Kestrels, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Dunlin, 25 Linnets, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 Turnstone, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Gannets and 1 Curlew.

Little Egret

August 17th
It was overcast and sometimes drizzly this morning as we walked from Reculver up to Coldharbour and back. We saw a reasonable selection of species including 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 37 Swallows W, 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Common Sandpipers, 9 Redshank, 5 Pied Wagtails, 6 Little Egrets, 37 Common Terns W, 4 Little Terns W, 11 Cormorants, 8 Ringed Plovers, 36 Mallard, 8 Oystercatchers, 5 Turnstone, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 30 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and 3 Sand Martins W.