August 31st
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and recorded 8 Chiffchaffs, 39 Linnets, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Coot, 35 Swallows W, 1 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 3 Pied Wagtails, 44 Ringed Plovers, 13 Little Egrets, 9 Cormorants, 1 Spotted Redshank flying W calling repeatedly, 34 Golden Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlews, 1 Curlew Sandpiper (170th) briefly in Coldharbour, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Grey Heron.

Common Sandpiper

August 30th
We didn't get out until after lunch today and on a warm and breezy afternoon walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where we sat on the beach for 45 minutes. It was quiet and all we managed to see was 1 Whitethroat, 13 Linnets, 5 Coot, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 12 Turnstone, 2 immature Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Cormorants, 55 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 1 Luttle Egret E and 1 Common Buzzard.

Juvenile Turnstone

At Grenham Bay this morning Terry Wilson recorded 30 Turnstone, 2 Redshank and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Moulting adult Turnstone - Terry Wilson

August 29th
There had been an overnight change in the weather as a front moved through bringing overcast conditions to begin with and a significant drop in temperature and humidity. The sun eventually came out as we were half way through our walk from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm. We saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 31 Swallows W, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Kestrel, 8 Mallard, 2 Coot, 1 Reed Warbler, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Shelduck, 24 Ringed Plovers, 1 immature Mediterranean Gull, 61 Linnets, 11 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Peregrine, 2 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling 2 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

August 28th
This morning was cloudy and not quite so warm as previous days and there was the threat of a shower or two later as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. It appeared that quite a few migrants had moved out overnight but we did see 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 20 Linnets, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats, 1 Mallard, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Coot, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Teal, 1 Redshank, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Corn Bunting, 46 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sanderling, 5 Turnstone, 2 juvenile Dunlin, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Marc Heath was out between 0600 and 1000 and walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back. He saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Little Owl, 6 Oystercatchers, 50 Ringed Plovers, 12 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 26 Turnstone, 6 Sandwich Terns, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Coot, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whinchats, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Stonechats, 15 Swallows W, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Lapwing. He also saw 2 Clouded Yellows and 30+ Migrant Hawkers.

Clouded Yellow - Marc Heath

Weasel - Marc Heath

August 27th
We spent our last ringing session of the week at Reculver where we saw 6 Cetti's Warblers, 42 Linnets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Willow Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrests, 10 Blackcaps, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 2 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Arctic Skuas flying high S (169th), 1 Greenshank, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Coal Tit.

Birds ringed 49: Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 4, Treecreeper 1, Cetti's Warbler 5, Blue Tit 2, Reed Warbler 12, Blackcap 8, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat 3, Robin 2, Great Tit 1, Goldfinch 1, Garden Warbler 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 3, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Treecreeper

Terry Wilson visited Grenham Bay this morning and recorded 40 Ringed Plovers, 50 Turnstone, 12 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling, 25 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns and 12 Gannets including 6 juveniles.
Julian and Alex Perry visited Chamber's Wall and found 2 Pied Flycatchers and 1 Whinchat.

Pied Flycatcher - Alex Perry

Whinchat - Alex Perry

August 26th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway where we recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 13 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Turnstones flying S inland, 2 Common Buzzards, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Willow Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 35 Reed Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whinchats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Whimbrel W, 8 Sedge Warblers and 1 Garden Warbler.

Birds ringed 61: Willow Warbler 4, Long-tailed Tit 10, Whitethroat 7, Great Tit 2, Reed Warbler 21, Linnet 1, Garden Warbler 1, Blue Tit 5, Sedge Warbler 6, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1.

Adult Whitethroat

August 25th
We spent another warm morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 3 Mute Swans, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Garden Warblers, 14 Willow Warblers, 35 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 25 Blackcaps, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 18 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail W and 1 Common Buzzard.
In addition we also identified 1 Southern Migrant Hawker and 1 Brown Hawker. We also had a Brimstone butterfly fly past.

Birds ringed 76: Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 17, Cetti's Warbler 3, Sedge Warbler 4, Robin 4, Reed Warbler 31, Garden Warbler 2, Great Tit 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Woodpigeon 1. 

Pied Flycatcher

Whilst we were doing this Derek Smith was walking from Shuart to the Stables and then along the railway embankment. He recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 4 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Greenshank, 7 Pied Flycatchers, 30 Swallows, 2 Jays W, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 22 Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 36 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers and 8 Chiffchaffs.
Chris Tedder visited Chamber's Wall after work and found 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 1 Whinchat.

Spotted Flycatcher

August 24th
We spent a warm morning ringing at our site on the Marsh south of the railway. During five hours we were there we saw 4 Willow Warblers, 25 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 30 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 26 Linnets, 1 Tree Pipit W, 1 Jay, 1 Peregrine, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying S, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 17 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Birds ringed 59: Willow Warbler 3, Wren 1, Sedge Warbler 6, Reed Warbler 17, Whitethroat 18, Linnet 3, Reed Bunting 5, Blue Tit 1, Goldfinch 1, Great Tit 1, Blackbird 2, Green Woodpecker 1.

Willow Warbler

Nick Hando was in Thanet this weekend with his family and visited Grenham Bay where he counted 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Sanderling, 50 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plovers, 16 Curlew in off the sea, 4 Sandwich Terns and 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull.
This evening Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Pied Flycatchers, 1 Whinchat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Sandwich Terns.

August 23rd
We arrived at a very warm and sunny Chamber's Wall this morning and walked up to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow. Birds we saw included 15 Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Shoveler, 10 Reed Warblers, 26 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenshank, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 4 Corn Buntings, 2 Coot, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Robins and 1 Garden Warbler. From Coldharbour we counted 4 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 14 Common Terns, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover calling, 1 Whinchat, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Lapwing.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

This morning Anthea Skiffington and Bob Dewire walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Whinchat and 1 Fulmar.

August 22nd
On another beautiful day we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back along the Green Wall. Highlight of the morning was finding a group of 34 Little Terns roosting on the beach at Coldharbour in with 68 Common Terns and 12 Sandwich Terns. They frequently flew out to sea to fish, calling non stop and bringing back memories of when they used to breed at Coldharbour in the 1960s and 70s.
Other birds we saw included 16 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Willow Warblers, 11 Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat, 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Coot, 1 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plovers, 7 Turnstone, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 32 Linnets, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Swallows W, 1 Common Buzzard, 1,000+ Black-headed Gulls on the fields and beach, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Golden Plover.

Part of the flock of Little Terns

Marc Heath was out later in the day and walked along the railway embankment towards Plumpudding and his highlights were 2 Whinchats and 1 Pied Flycatcher.

August 21st
On a glorious late summer morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow. Birds we saw included 85 House Sparrows, 18 Whitethroats, 49 Linnets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Whinchats, 2 Green Sandpipers, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Coot, 1 Redshank, 4 Sedge Warblers, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpipers, 14 Ringed Plovers, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Turnstone, 2 Pied Wagtails and 5 Goldfinches.

Corn Bunting

Whinchat

A late fledging Reed Warbler at Chamber's Wall - Glynn Crocker

August 20th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow and recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Coot, 64 Linnets, 8 Common Sandpipers, 11 Sandwich Terns, including one with a colour ring, 42 Common Terns, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Meadow Pipits, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 21 Ringed Plovers, 9 Sanderling and 2 Turnstone.

Common Terns on the beach at Coldharbour

Between 0545 and 0900 Marc Heath walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back and recorded 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 29 Sandwich Terns, 3 Wheatears, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Owls, 1 Hobby, 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Whinchats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 13 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Stonechats, 1 Fulmar E, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Swallows, 17 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 2 Shoveler, 8 Reed Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Skylarks, 24 Mallard, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns and 1 Mediterranean Gull.
He also found 6 Clouded Yellow between Bishopstone and the Towers.

August 19th
This morning we parked Matt's car at Shuart and then drove my car to Reculver and walked along the seawall and inland back to Shuart car park. We counted 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Redshank, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Little Egrets, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 39 Sandwich Terns, 17 Linnets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Turnstone, 3 Common Terns, 5 Swifts W, 5 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits flying W at Coldharbour, 4 Mallard, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Swallows, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 150 House Sparrows at Plumpudding Stables, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Common Buzzard.
On the incoming tide at Grenham Bay Terry Wilson counted 50 Turnstone, 4 Curlews, 2 Ringed Plovers, 12 Sandwich Terns and 4 Whimbrel.

Sandwich Terns - Terry Wilson

August 18th
After early morning rain the sun came out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 12 Goldfinches, 1 Pied Wagtail, 13 Cormorants, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Little Egrets, 12 Redshank, 2 summer plumaged Golden Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Linnets, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, 11 Mallard, 3 Oystercatchers, 3 Shelduck, 14 Meadow Pipits, 1 Whinchat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull W, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Male Linnet

Marc Heath was also out at Reculver this morning and between 0600 and 0900 walked from Reculver to the embankment. He recorded 39 Sandwich Terns, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Willow Warblers, 30 Common Terns, 6 Turnstone, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Swifts, 9 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 25 Mallard, 2 Wheatears, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 15 Whitethroats, 17 Ringed Plovers, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 1 Dunlin, 3 Shelduck, 4 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Coot, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Shoveler, 1 Whinchat and 1 Whimbrel.
Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0700 and during the next five hours walked along the railway embankment to Chamber's Wall and back. He saw 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 22 Swifts S, 30 Swallows, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Redstarts, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 28 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 18 Reed Warblers, 12 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs.

August 17th
With the exception of 43 Swifts flying through west it was extremely quiet this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm. All we manage to see was 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Reed Warblers, 14 Linnets, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Coot, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Grey Herons and 6 Little Egrets.