September 30th
We spent the morning ringing at one of our Reculver sites and saw a good range of species including 600 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 2 Peregrines, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 24 Chiffchaffs, 21 Skylarks, 39 Siskins, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 40 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 20 Goldcrests, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Mute Swans, 5 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 48 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Firecrest and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 65: Chiffchaff 14, Goldcrest 11, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Firecrest 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 22, Cetti's Warbler 1, Swallow 3, Blue Tit 6, Great Tit 2, Kingfisher 1, Blackbird 1.

First year Kingfisher

Male Firecrest



The Lapland Bunting found at Bishopstone yesterday was still there today.

 

Lapland Bunting - Alex Perry

 

This morning between 0700 and 1030 Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and along the railway embankment. He saw 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Grey Partridges, 1 Snipe, 70 Swallows W, 6 Song Thrushes, 33 Skylarks, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 45 Robins, 1 Reed Warbler, 38 Blackcaps, 72 Chiffchaffs, 45 Goldcrests, 7 Cetti;s Warblers, 32 Goldfinches W, 16 Siskins W and 2 Yellowhammers.

 

Yellowhammer - Derek Smith

 

September 29th
We spent a mild and overcast morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2,500 House Martins and 210 Swallows flying SW, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Kestrels, 3 Siskins, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 1 Wheatear, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldcrests, 6 Blackcaps, 9 Skylarks, 30 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 22: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 3, Yellow-browed Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Blackcap 5, Robin 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 1.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0830 and 1130 and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and Potten Street. He saw 1,000+ House Martins flying SW, 1 Common Redstart, 8 Blackcaps, 35 Chiffchaffs and 45 Goldcrests.
This morning Jim Bloor found a Lapland Bunting below the steps at Bishopstone Glen.

September 28th
We arrived at Shuart just as it was getting light and after the overnight rain had moved through for a morning's ringing. The highlight of the morning was initially hearing and then seeing a female/first year Common Rosefinch (190th) in a hawthrorn bush. It called repeatedly for five minutes whilst in the bush and was then seen sitting at the top of another bush before it flew south. This is only the second Reculver record following one in late August 1990.
Other birds seen included 2 Tree Pipits, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 26 Blackcaps, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Mallard, 56 Skylarks, 9 Song Thrushes, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 12 Swallows, 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and 200 House Martins W.

Birds ringed 43: Long-tailed Tit 2, Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 2, Wren 1, Blackcap 14, Reed Bunting 10, Goldfinch 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Robin 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 3, Song Thrush 3.

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 122 Swallows W, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Kestrels, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Gannets, 1 Turnstone, 600 House Martins W, 3 Grey Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Common Buzzard.

September 27th
We spent the morning ringing south of the railway where we saw 3 Grey Herons, 1 Goldcrest, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Partridge, 15 Meadow Pipits, 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 27 Skylarks, 2 Blackcaps, 43 Linnets, 40 Reed Buntings, 4 Lapwings W, 16 Blue Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Birds ringed 31: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Linnet 1, Reed Bunting 18, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 3.

There were also 2 Coal Tits in our garden at Bishopstone this morning.
After lunch we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then back along the Green Wall. We saw a good range of species including 2 Kestrels, 28 Chiffchaffs, 5 Robins, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Siskin, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Firecrests, 1 juvenile Ruff, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Redshank, 3 Rock Pipits, 12 Gannets, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Stonechat, 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 "continental" Song Thrushes, 1 Swallow and 2 Goldcrests.

Juvenile Ruff

 

Tree Pipit

 

September 26th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm before visiting Reculver on the way home. We counted 16 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 15 Skylarks, 5 Goldcrests, 13 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron, 39 Mallard, 10 Sandwich Terns, 14 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Little Egrets, 48 Goldfinches, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 25 Common Scoter E, 15 Reed Buntings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Blackcaps,1 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 2 Teal and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Chiffchaff

Derek Smith spent the morning walking from Shuart along the embankment to Coldharbour and then back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. His final totals were 6 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 35 Skylarks W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Stonechats, 12 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 66 Chiffchaffs, 75 Goldcrests, 22 Corn Buntings and 2 Yellowhammers E.

Common Redstart

September 25th
Although cloudy, the rain held off this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour via the Green Wall. We saw 23 Chiffchaffs, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 48 Linnets, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Willow Warbler, 22 Goldfinches, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Tree Sparrows, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Reed Buntings, 60 House Sparrows, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 3 Gannets E, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Snipe, 8 Skylarks, 2 Common Buzzards and 1 Golden Plover.
David and June Elliott took an afternoon walk from Chambers Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard still lots of Chiffchaff and best of all a Common Redstart.
 

September 24th
On yet another glorious morning we birded Chamber's Wall, the White Poplars, Coldharbour and Reculver and saw 23 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets E, 8 Robins, 99 Linnets, 21 Skylarks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Grey Plovers, 14 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 1 male Stonechat, 23 Mute Swans, 18 Goldfinches, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Ringed Plovers, 23 Carrion Crows, 6 Blackcaps, 15 Reed Buntings, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Swallows, 5 Mallard and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Derek Smith completed his regular early morning walk from Shuart and along the railway embankment and saw 1 Greenshank E, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 1 Pied Flycatcher (189th), 450 Starlings W, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Stonechat, 5 Blackcaps, 76 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 53 Goldcrests, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Blue Tits, 1 Siskin W and 8 Corn Buntings. He also saw nine species of butterfly: Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Peacock, Small White, Large White, Common Blue, Comma and Clouded Yellow.

Clouded Yellow

Chris Sear was also out and walked from Minnis Bay to Coldharbour and recorded 14 Wigeon, 1 male Common Redstart and 1 Wheatear.

Male Common Redstart - Chris Sear

Wigeon - Chris Sear



September 23rd
It was a bit quieter than yesterday as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm before returning by way of the White Poplars. We did see 15 House Martins W, 15 Chiffchaffs, 20 Chaffinches, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Swallows W, 42 Mallard, 17 Mute Swans, 29 Reed Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Corn Buntings, 60 House Sparrows, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 8 Cormorants, 22 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Coot and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
As we arrived home we had a Coal Tit calling in the garden and Marc Heath also saw 2 in Bishopstone Glen.
This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment and saw several hundred hirundines of all three species flying W as well as seeing 9 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 38 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Stonechat.
At Grenham Bay Terry Wilson found 9 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Sandwich Terns and 9 high flying Grey Herons.

September 22nd
We spent a glorious early autumn morning ringing at Shuart where we saw a good range of species including 3 Kestrels, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 30 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Reed Warblers, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Siskins W, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Reed Buntings, 40 Goldfinches, 2 Common Buzzards, 19 Lapwings, 10 Skylarks, 1 "continental" Song Thrush and 55 Linnets.

Birds ringed 95: Long-tailed Tit 18, Chiffchaff 11, Goldcrest 3, Wren 1, Reed Warbler 2, Blue Tit 5, Reed Bunting 25, Great Tit 4, Whitethroat 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Blackcap 10, Goldfinch 3, Robin 4, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 3, Green Woodpecker 1.

Grasshopper Warbler

This morning Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0630 and walked along the railway embankment and back via Coldharbour. He counted 18 Skylarks W, 1 Peregrine, 28 Meadow Pipits W, 6 Grey Wagtails W, 9 Pied Wagtails W, 1 Whitethroat, 32 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Coal Tit which appeared to have a greyish back, 36 Chaffinches W and 1 Siskin W.

Grey Wagtails

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and sat on the beach for an hour. We saw 1 Common Redstart, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 14 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 25 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 summer plumaged Red-throated Diver, 1 Merlin, 24 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Rock Pipits W, 7 Wigeon, 2 Curlew, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Sanderling, 1 immature male Eider and 6 Corn Buntings.

September 21st
It was sunny and milder this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then the White Poplars before looking in at Reculver on the way home. We recorded 27 Chiffchaffs, 8 Chaffinches, 5 Swallows, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Kestrels, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 21 Goldfinches, 8 high flying Dunnocks, 26 Reed Buntings, 1 Sedge Warbler, 35 Mallard, 1 Golden Plover, 28 Linnets, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Redshank, 65 House Sparrows, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 34 Carrion Crows, 4 Oystercatchers, 21 Mute Swans, 14  Skylarks, 1 Siskin, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Dunnock

September 20th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh and saw 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Golden Plovers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 14 Linnets, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 2 Siskins W, 1,000 Swallows W, 1,500 House Martins W, 7 Greenfinches, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Chaffinches, 45 Reed Buntings, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Lapwings, 2 Kestrels, 2 Hobbies W, 1 Common Buzzard and 6 Skylarks W.

Birds ringed 54: Wren 2, Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 9, Reed Bunting 32, Linnet 1, Blackcap 2, Robin 1, Great Tit 3, Dunnock 3.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding this morning and counted several thousand Swallows and House Martins moving W. He also saw 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Hobby, 43 Meadow Pipits W, 47 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 106 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest, 26 Goldcrests and 28 Corn Buntings.

Firecrest - Derek Smith

Juvenile Hobby - Derek Smith

Terry Wilson also saw 15 Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Coldharbour.

September 19th
We spent a chilly morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 3 Kestrels, 3 Common Buzzards, 20 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 15 Goldcrests, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Siskin, 24 Lapwings NW, 24 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Mute Swans, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Firecrests and 19 Swallows.

Birds ringed 39: Goldcrest 11, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 9, Firecrest 2, Blackcap 10, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 1.



Firecrest

 

At 1130 Terry Laws saw a Great White Egret flying W at Reculver. This is our second record of the year following one at Netherhale in May.

This afternoon Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and found 1 Common Redstart, 20 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Knot, 3 Dunlin, 51 Sanderling, 6 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 1 Guillemot, 10 Swallows, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Curlew, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Arctic Skua, 5 Turnstone, 123 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Grey Partridges, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Stonechat,  and our first 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 summer plumaged Red-throated Divers  of the autumn.

September 18th
The morning began very well at Chamber's Wall as we immediately found a good bird in the shape of a Dusky Warbler (188th). As I walked into the field from the car park a phylloscopus warbler flew into the bushes and began calling a repeated harsh "tip - tip - tip." It then appeared on a bare branch for a few seconds still calling and giving an excellent, if brief view, before going deeper into the bush. It called a bit more and then appeared to carry on down the line of bushes not to be seen again. This is the earliest Reculver record of this species and a week earlier than one on 25th September 2001 also at Chamber's Wall and is also the tenth record for Reculver and my seventh.
Other birds seen on our walk to Coldharbour and the Green Wall included 25 Chiffchaffs, 11 Goldfinches, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Marsh Harrier, 66 Swallows W, 22 Reed Buntings, 69 Linnets, 60 House Sparrows, 17 Corn Buntings, 42 Oystercatchers, 9 Dunlin, 10 Little Egrets, 1 Knot, 1 Little Stint, 2 Redshank, 36 Mallard, 2 Kestrels, 1 Wigeon, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 16 House Martins W, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Little Stint

September 17th
It was overcast and slightly drizzly this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before looking at Reculver bushes on the way home. We counted 12 Chaffinches, 28 Chiffchaffs, 9 Mute Swans, 4 Goldcrests, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Stonechats, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 6 Corn Buntings, 30 Reed Buntings, 120 Linnets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (187th) briefly in the bushes by the Hog's Fennel at Coldharbour. We also met Tony Swandale who had seen similar birds to us but in addition had found 2 Ruff.

Stonechat

September 16th
On a sunny and cool morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the White Poplars. We counted 41 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Blackcaps, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 14 Blue Tits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Chaffinches, 11 Mute Swans, 20 Mallard, 1 Golden Plover, 175 Linnets, 3 Kestrels, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Dunlin, 9 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Swallows, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 first winter Knot, 3 Redshank, 9 Goldfinches, 1 Kingfisher, 11 Pink-footed Geese W, 1 Wigeon and 5 Grey Partridges.
Coincidentally Landguard Bird Observatory, Suffolk had their first Pink-footed Geese fly over this morning. These were also a flock of 11, so it seems likely that they were the same as the Reculver birds with Landguard being only 39 miles to the north.

First year Knot

Five of the eleven Pink-footed Geese

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0630 and 1230 and walked from Shuart, along the railway embankment and returned via Plumpudding. He saw 34 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Kingfisher, 35 Swallows W, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 70 Chiffchaffs, 35 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 25 Goldcrests.