September 30th
We spent a sunny morning ringing at Reculver south of the railway where we recorded 1 Barn Owl, 2 Redwings, 5 Siskins W, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Kestrels, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 40 Meadow Pipits, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Swallow, 1 female Common Redstart, 30 Reed Buntings, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Lapwing.

Birds ringed 35: Chiffchaff 5, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blackcap 4, Great Tit 2, Reed Bunting 9, Meadow Pipit 9, Common Redstart 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 2.

Female Common Redstart

This morning between 0730 and 1230 Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He counted 4 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 6 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 8 alba Wagtails W, 33 Skylarks W, 3 House Martins and 2 Swallows W, 10 Blackcaps, 56 Chiffchaffs, 44 Siskins W, 13 Goldfinches W, 8 Chaffinches W, 29 Meadow Pipits W and 4 Reed Buntings W.

Yarrow - Derek Smith

Chris Tedder visited Reculver and walked to Coldharbour and back. She saw 2 Rock Pipits, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Sandwich Terns, 147 Linnets, 1 Kingfisher, 51 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plovers, 74 Mallard and 1 summer plumaged Red-throated Diver.

Summer plumaged Red-throated Diver - Chris Tedder

Rock Pipit - Chris Tedder

September 29th
This morning the weather had reverted to sunny and calm as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons. We counted 2 Stonechats, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Common Buzzard, 14 Chaffinches, 3 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron, 16 Corn Buntings, 27 Goldfinches, 1 female Brambling, 3 Teal, 1 Snow Bunting, 46 Carrion Crows, 8 Oystercatchers, 75 Linnets, 3 Snipe, 1 Whinchat, 12 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull seen by Julian and Alex Perry and 1 Golden Plover.

First winter Mediterranean Gull - Alex Perry

Snow Bunting - Alex Perry

Derek Smith and Patrick Giles were also out birding today between 0715 and 1230 and walked from Shuart along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. They recorded 2 Little Egrets E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 18 Lapwings S, 21 Skylarks W, 6 Pied Wagtails W, 9 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 26 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest, 1 Siskin W, 3 Stonechats and 1 Snow Bunting.
At Grenham Bay Terry Wilson saw 12 Little Egrets, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 4 Curlew and 1 Peregrine sitting on the rocks.
During the afternoon Chris Tedder paid a visit to Shuart and walked through to Reculver. Amongst other birds she saw were 5 Common Buzzards, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Stonechats, 6 Sandwich Terns, 110 Linnets, 64 Turnstone, 178 Oystercatchers, 50 Ringed Plovers, 3 Curlew, 57 Golden Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Teal, 8 Mallard, 6 Corn Buntings and 8 Meadow Pipits.

September 28th
With a fresh N wind blowing I arrived at the Towers at 0715 and stayed an hour as there was little moving. In that time I counted 3 Great Skuas W, 6 Gannets, 3 Arctic Skuas W and 14 Common Scoter.
This afternoon with a fresh northerly wind still blowing we walked from Chambers' Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Kestrels, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Little Egret, 13 Turnstone, 1 juvenile Arctic Skua flying over the beach in pursuit of a Black-headed Gull, 18 Sanderling and 2 Turnstone.

Sanderling

Chris Tedder had a walk from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back this afternoon and saw 1 Manx Shearwater E, 1 Leach's Petrel E, 8 Eider W, 5 Stonechats, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 8 Meadow Pipits, 110 Linnets, 28 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 5 Little Egrets and 1 Short-eared Owl.

Leach's Petrel - Chris Tedder

I have just received information about two ringed birds that we caught recently. 

A first year Blackcap we caught on 24th September at Reculver had been ringed at Betley Mere, Betley, Staffordshire on 2nd September 2018 and had flown 305 km SE.

The other bird was a first year male Reed Bunting we caught on 25th September on Reculver Marshes that had been ringed at Cleve Marshes, Seasalter on 25th July 2018 flying 20 km E.

September 27th
It was another wonderful morning as we arrived at Chamber's Wall for our walk to Coldharbour and then on to the Oyster Farm It became immediately apparent that there had been another arrival of Chiffchaffs overnight with most being seen in the Hog's Fennel and bushes by the seawall. On our return an hour later most birds had moved on. We counted 72 but my guess is that there were twice as many as that.
Other birds we saw were 2 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Stonechats, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Swallow, 32 Mallard, 1 Coot, 6 Oystercatchers, 84 Linnets, 1 Snow Bunting, 37 Meadow Pipits, 21 Corn Buntings, 35 Reed Buntings, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 3 Ringed Plovers, 8 Skylarks, 1 Whinchat and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Snow Bunting

Corn Buntings

Derek Smith was out at Shuart and the embankment between 0730 and 1100 and recorded 3 Siskins W, 4 Pied Wagtails W, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 12 Meadow Pipits W, 16 Skylarks N, 80 House Martins W, 60 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers and 4 Cetti's Warblers.
Amongst other birds Chris Tedder saw on a short walk along the seawall this afternoon were 1 Grey Plover, 10 Stonechats, 8 Corn Buntings, 1 Short-eared Owl and 5 Sandwich Terns. She also saw a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Grey Plover

September 26th
On another lovely autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm at Reculver. We saw 31 Chiffchaffs, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Snipe, 1 male Brambling, 10 Sandwich Terns, 56 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 66 Mallard, 11 Corn Buntings, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 3 Teal, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in bushes by the seawall, 6 Swallows W, 3 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 6 Linnets, 1 Wheatear, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Shoveler, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 36 House Martins W, 1 Blackcap and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
We also met Terry Wilson who saw 1 Hobby feeding on dragonflies and 1 male Stonechat.Thia morning
Derek Smith walked fom Shuart along the railway embankment between 0730 and 1030. He counted 25 Lapwings S, 65 Starlings W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 32 Blackcaps, 75 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Brambling W, 5 Siskins W and 7 Corn Buntings.
Chris Tedder had a walk from Chamber's Wall to Reculver during the afternoon and saw 18 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 4 Kestrels, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Great Skua chasing Herring Gulls, 14 Sandwich Terns E and a large movement of hirundines initially House Martins then Swallows and including 5 Sand Martins. She also recorded 7 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 8 Mute Swans, 6 Dunlin, 10 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear and 1 Brent Goose.

Brent Goose - Chris Tedder

This evening Dave Smith had a large westerly movement of Swallows and House Martins at the Towers. This continued at Bishopstone as well until it began to get dark.

September 25th
On a beautiful if a little chilly autumn morning we had a ringing session south of the railway. Birds we saw during the morning included 2 Jays, 3 Common Buzzards, 30 Chiffchaffs, 1 Hobby, 20 Blackcaps, 112 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Siskins, 2 Swallows S, 40 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 49: Wren 1, Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 21, Blackcap 12, Great Tit 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Blue Tit 2, Reed Bunting 5, Dunnock 1.

Meadow Pipit

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and sat on the beach for a while. We saw 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 1 Little Egret, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Redshank, 1 Snow Bunting, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Skua, 45 Linnets, 2 Gannets and 8 Wigeon.

First winter Snow Bunting

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0730 and 1300 walked from Shuart along the railway embankment and then back to Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Great Skua E close in over the beach, 1 Snipe W, 2 Common Sandpipers, 80 Stock Doves, 2 Jays, 7 Song Thrushes, 3 Swallows W, 230 Starlings W, 18 Skylarks W, 32 Meadow Pipits W, 4 Pied Wagtails W, 25 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers, 63 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Siskins W, 1 Brambling W, 10 Stonechats and 6 Corn Buntings.

Juvenile Great Skua - Derek Smith

September 24th
After yesterday's excitement we spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Snipe, 3 Grey Herons, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 45 Blackcaps, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Jays, 6 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Moorhens, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Little Egrets, 13 Mute Swans, 2 Kestrels, 14 Meadow Pipits and 5 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 53: Goldcrest 1, Long-tailed Tit 5, Chiffchaff 7, Wren 1, Blackcap 36, Robin 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 1.

First year female Goldcrest

This afternoon we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 1 Guillemot W, 1 Great Skua, 1 Peregrine, 33 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Egrets, 24 Sandwich Terns, 2 Rock Pipits, the first of the autumn, 3 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 1 Turnstone, 1 female Pochard in Coldharbour, 1 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 12 Linnets and 2 Grey Herons.

Female Pochard

Derek Smith was also birding between 0730 and 1300 and walked from Shuart along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and on to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Kestrels, 8 Sandwich Terns, 35 Meadow Pipits, 42 Blackcaps, 88 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Siskins, 4 Stonechats and 7 Corn Buntings.
In addition to these sightings during the late afternoon he found a Leach's Petrel flying W close inshore at Plumpudding. 

Leach's Petrel - Derek Smith

Southern Hawker - Derek Smith

Today at Grenham Bay Terry Wilson recorded 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Little Egrets, a colour-ringed Dunlin and 14 Sandwich Terns on the rocks.

September 23rd
On a stormy day with heavy rain until 1500 Matt spent from 0645 to 1545 at the Towers accompanied by various other birders. Most birds were recorded flying W with a number flying back E later in the day. Their impressive day's totals included 64 Arctic Skuas (175th), 98 Sandwich Terns, 31 Common Scoter, 30 Manx Shearwaters (176th), 67 Gannets, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Peregrine, 9 Pomarine Skuas ( 177th ), 168 Great Skuas, 7 Knot, 4 Teal, 4 Leach's Petrels (178th), 2 Pintail, 28 Sooty Shearwaters (179th), 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, 28 Grey Plovers, 1 Sabine's Gull (180th), 1 Arctic Tern (181st), 7 Common Terns, 2 Black Terns, 5 Little Gulls, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar, 1 Kittiwake, 3 Little Egrets, 2 male Eiders E and 1 Guillemot.

Leach's Petrel - Terry Laws

September 22nd
We spent an overcast morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Greenfinches, 17 Chiffchaffs, 2 Golden Plovers, 11 Lapwings W, 1 Willow Warbler, 46 Blackcaps, 1 Little Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Kestrel, 2 Moorhens, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipits, 6 House Martins, 2 Swallows, 1 Grey Heron and 5 Little Egrets. There were also about 1,000 Black-headed Gulls and 400 Herring Gulls feeding behind two tractors.

Birds ringed 49: Chiffchaff 9, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 2, Blackcap 29, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 4.

Male Blackcap

September 21st
There was a more autumnal feel to the weather this morning with a drop in temperature and a strong WSW wind blowing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow W, 7 Sand Martins W, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Linnets, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 10 Mute Swans, 3 Wigeon and 2 Mallard.

September 20th
With limited time this morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver with a strong SW wind still blowing. We saw 6 Sand Martins W, 7 Swallows W, 14 Cormorants, 1 Redshank, 14 Little Egrets, 42 Linnets, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kingfishers and 1 Chiffchaff.
This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 13 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Teal, 55 House Martins and 1 Kestrel. There were also 10 Migrant Hawkers and about 50 Common Darters flying up and down in the lee of the bushes.

September 19th
On another windy day the westerly hirundine movement continued but with the predominant species being Swallow. We counted 264 Swallows, 14 Sand Martins and 2 House Martins. Other birds we saw included 50 House Sparrows, 1 Green Woodpecker, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Mallard, 9 Goldfinches, 1 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Egret, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 51 Linnets, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Reed Warbler.

Redshank

September 18th
With a strong SW wind blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour there was a strong westerly movement of hirundines. In one hour we counted 600 House Martins, 28 Swallows and 3 Sand Martins. Other birds we saw included 1 Green Woodpecker, 17 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Stonechat, 42 Mallard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Greenshank, a tight flock of 17 Little Terns flying W, 9 Oystercatchers, 12 Linnets, 1 Kestrel and a flock of 19 Knot flying W.

September 17th
We spent an increasingly mild morning ringing at Shuart and recorded 3 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 6 Greenfinches, 22 Lapwings W, 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Jay, 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Siskins W, 15 Swallows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 House Martins and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 25: Wren 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 8, Blackcap 7, Robin 3, Blue Tit 2, Sedge Warbler 2, Blackbird 1.

September 16th
Matt arrived at Reculver at 0630 and walked to Minnis Bay and back to Chamber's Wall car park via the railway embankment. He counted 46 Chiffchaffs, 15 Sandwich Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 25 Greylag Geese, 5 Little Egrets, 9 Grey Herons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 73 Mallard, 270 House Martins, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Stonechats, 2 Whinchats, 2 Golden Plovers, 150 Linnets, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Wigeon, 89 Oystercatchers, 75 Swallows, 20 Common Terns, 4 Black Terns, 5 Kestrels, 2 Dunlin, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Hobby, 1 Turtle Dove, 11 Grey Partridges and 1 Willow Warbler.
Later on our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour we recorded 1 Grey Heron, 46 Lapwings, 16 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 8 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 33 Mallard, 2 Dunlin, 1 Swallow, 6 Wigeon, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Gadwall, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Stonechats and 25 House Martins.

Stonechat

Chris Tedder had a walk from Reculver to the Oyster Farm this afternoon. Amongst other birds she saw were 1 Kingfisher, 9 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 7 Mute Swans, 11 Swallows W, 1 House Martins W, 9 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 10 Sandwich Terns W, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Ringed Plovers, 5 Turnstone, 8 Redshank, 1 Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Short-eared Owls, 1 Little Owl, 4 Kestrels and 1 Grey Partridge.

Bar-tailed Godwit - Chris Tedder