September 30th
This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Owl, 7 Redshank, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Stonechats, 21 Cormorants, 37 Linnets, 46 Carrion Crows, 1 Teal, 1 Rock Pipit, 10 Goldfinches, 3 Oystercatchers, 17 Corn Buntings, 1 Red-throated Diver E, 1 Mallard, 5 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Pied Wagtails, 21 Ringed Plovers, 11 Turnstone, 15 Meadow Pipits and 5 Robins.

Stonechat

Derek Smith was out between 0630 and 1530 and covered virtually all the Marsh between Shuart, Chamber's Wall, Coldharbour and Brooksend. He had a good day and recorded 6 Grey Herons, 8 Little Egrets, 4 Ravens flying W along the coast, 9 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Kestrels, 18 Sandwich Terns on the beach at Plumpudding, 4 Curlew, 30 Sanderling and 29 Skylarks flying S. He also recorded 50 Swallows flying S, 1 Grey Wagtail S, 1 Wheatear, 48 Redwings, the first of the autumn, 2 Crossbills W (176th), 12 Greenfinches W, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Blackcaps and an impressive total of 130 Chiffchaffs as well as 43 Goldcrests.
He also saw good selection of butterflies including Red Admiral, Peacock, Small and Large White, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Painted Lady.

Small Copper - Derek Smith

September 29th
With a SW gale and rain this morning we decided to have a look at the sea from Minnis Bay. In the event it was an uneventful seawatch although we did see 258 House Martins flying SW in three tight groups, 1 Gannet, 2 Common Terns, 10 Cormorants, 2 Sandwich Terns E and 400 Herring and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls flying inland from the sandbanks offshore.
Marc Heath also spent an hour at Minnis Bay from 1130 and counted 13 Sandwich Terns, 5 Gannets and 23 House Martins and 121 Swallows flying W.

September 28th
It was sunny with a fresh south wind blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the White Poplars and on to Coldharbour and the Wantsum outflow. Highlight was an immature Spoonbill flying W (175th) over the shingle ridge at Coldharbour. Other birds we saw included 9 Chiffchaffs, 22 Swallows W, 3 Corn Buntings, 61 Linnets, 1 Goldcrest, 19 Meadow Pipits, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Stonechat, 43 Ringed Plovers, 1 male Wigeon, 2 Kingfishers, 13 House Martins W, 1 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 5 Coot, 6 Skylarks, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.

Immature Spoonbill

Corn Bunting

At Shuart, Matt saw 2 Hobbies and also a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

September 27th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver and along the seawall to the Green Wall. The highlight was an impressive movement of hirundines for about an hour from 0800 when we counted 3,500 House Martins, 1,500 Swallows and 8 Sand Martins. Birds were still dribbling through at 0930 and numbers may pick up again later.
Other birds we saw included 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Stonechats, 5 Robins, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Turnstone, 48 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 46 Goldfinches, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Buzzard, 32 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Gannets E, 20 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Chiffchaffs and 1 Green Woodpecker.
We also found 8 Red Admirals feeding on ivy flowers in the sunshine by Reculver bushes.

Red Admiral

The Grey Phalarope was seen throughout the day at Grenham Bay.

Grey Phalarope - Terry Wilson

September 26th
With showers threatening this morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 55 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Grey Herons, 8 Sandwich Terns E, 2 Sand Martins W, 2 Redshanks, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 26 Meadow Pipits, 9 Turnstone, 95 Linnets, 1 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Gannets E, 20 Corn Buntings, 61 Ringed Plovers, 12 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 4 Stonechats, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Grebes and 40 Goldfinches.
Terry Wilson was out at Grenham Bay early this morning and recorded 30 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 12 Ringed Plovers, 9 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Pied Wagtails and 1 Redshank. The Grey Phalarope returned later in the morning.

September 25th
This morning Matt visited Minnis Bay where found the first winter Grey Phalarope still there.
He then drove to Reculver and walked up to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He recorded 4 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 196 Swallows W, 8 alba Wagtails W, 30 Meadow Pipits, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Sandwich Terns, 11 Little Egrets, 4 Wheatears, 9 Stonechats, 65 Goldfinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Gannet, 5 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 80 Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 House Martins W, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Teal E, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Red- throated Divers E, 1 Common Tern, 1 Greenshank and 9 Chiffchaffs.

First winter Grey Phalarope

September 24th
Today was virtually a washout with heavy rain and a fresh south westerly wind blowing until mid afternoon. However the gloom was lifted when I had an email from Terry Wilson to say that he had refound the first winter Grey Phalarope that was seen at Minnis Bay on the 21st at Grenham Bay but that it had flown towards Reculver. We arrived in the area in pouring rain and walked along the promenade at three places and eventually found it feeding in pools not far from the seawall.

First winter Grey Phalarope

September 23rd
I received a text from Marc Heath last evening to say he had seen a pale wheatear on the seawall during his afternoon run but he thought it was likely to be a pale Northern Wheatear. This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and managed to find the bird on the beach by the end of the Green Wall and I took a series of photos and after deliberation consider that it is a leucistic Northern Wheatear.

Leucistic Northern Wheatear

Other birds seen this morning included 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Sandwich Terns, 14 Cormorants, 1 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 10 Stonechats, 148 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Whinchat, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Wheatears, 1 Greenshank, 26 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kingfisher, 20 Reed Buntings, 37 Ringed Plovers, 11 Turnstone, 6 Skylarks, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Coot, 29 Swallows W and 1 Corn Bunting.

Whinchat

September 22nd
Back at Reculver this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then on to the White Poplars. We saw 9 Chiffchaffs, 67 Linnets, 4 Robins, 9 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 52 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Stonechats, 10 Reed Buntings, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Coots, 5 Mallard, 2 Grey Herons plus a group of 7 flying high west and 1 Kestrel.

5 of the 7 Grey Herons flying west

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0700 and 1200 walked from Shuart to the embankment and on to Coldharbour. He recorded 1 Little Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Snipe S, 8 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Brambling, 30 Chaffinches W, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 4 Pied Wagtails W, 40 Blackbirds, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 46 Chiffchaffs, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Firecrests, 14 Goldcrests, 6 Stonechats and 1 Corn Bunting.

We've been catching quite a few Blackcaps in the last few weeks and a first year male we caught at Reculver on Sept 12th had originally been ringed at Woolston Eyes, Warrington on 27th August 2019. It had flown 337 km Se to reach Reculver.

September 21st
Today Anne and I returned from a few days away in the Austrian Alps.

Nutcracker

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment between 0700 and 1000 and saw 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcaps, 34 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 18 Goldcrests.
Steve Tomlinson reported seeing a Grey Phalarope (174th) feeding on the sea at Minnis Bay.

September 20th
Matt walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and then back to Reculver via the railway embankment. Birds seen were 1 Red throated Diver E, 8 Kestrels, 43 Oystercatchers, 5 Snipe W, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Wheatear, 70 Goldfinches, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Dunlin, 2 Stonechats, 2 Little Egrets, 240 Linnets, 15 Corn Buntings, 154 Mallard, 9 Teal, 15 Brent Geese W, 1 Reed Warbler, 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Gadwall, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Coot, 4 Moorhens and 1 Blackcap. 

September 19th
Matt spent the morning ringing at Reculver where he observed 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Blackcaps, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Whitethroat, and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 27: Chiffchaff 8, Willow Warbler 1, Goldcrest 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 5, Reed Warbler 1, Robin 1, Great Tit 2, Whitethroat 1, Blue Tit 2, Dunnock 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2.

During the afternoon Matt walked from Reculver to Chambers Wall via the railway embankment and then back along the seawall and his highlight was a Purple Heron (173rd) that flew from Chambers Wall area high south until lost to view over Marshside. This was the 15th record for Reculver since the first one seen in 1968.
Other birds included 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 45 Ringed Plovers, 16 Stonechat, 6 alba Wagtails, 4 Swallows, 10 Chiffchaffs, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Sanderling, 5 Corn Buntings, 4 Wheatears, 3 Whinchats, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying west, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Snipe.

September 18th
Matt had a ringing session at Shuart this morning and birds seen included 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 10 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Ring necked Parakeet and 6 Swallows.

Birds ringed 24: Goldcrest 2, Long-tailed Tit 2, Chiffchaff 5, Wren 1, Blackcap 7, Great Tit 3, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2, Magpie 1.

September 17th
Matt spent the morning ringing at Reculver and birds seen included 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Grey Wagtails, 34 Chiffchaffs, 35 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Jays.

Birds ringed 62: Chiffchaff 21, Goldcrest 9, Willow Warbler 1, Wren 2, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 24, Great Tit 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

He then spent a couple of hours birding around the Towers and the clifftop and saw
5 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Gannets, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 6 Common Terns, 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzards and 16 Grey Partridges.

September 16th
I had limited time this morning so I spent 45 minutes walking around Reculver bushes and the Towers. I saw 15 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wheatear, 1 House Martin and 4 Robins on the rocks at the car park.