May 30th
The cool, windy weather continues. This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and only managed to see 7 Linnets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats, 13 Mallard, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Gannets, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Swallow and 5 Skylarks.
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| Ringed Plover |
May 29th
On another bright but very windy morning we visited Reculver and then Shuart. We saw 11 Common Scoter, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Shelduck E, 2 Common Buzzards, 20 Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps, 5 Tufted Ducks, 6 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Kestrel and 1 Green Woodpecker.
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| Work progressing on the Towers - Anne Hindle |
May 28th
This morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 3 Pied Wagtails, 23 Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 1 male Marsh Harrrier, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Coot, 1 Greylag Goose, 11 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Green Woodpecker. On the sea there was big flock of Herring Gulls and 12 Gannets feeding distantly on a shoal of fish whilst 1 adult Kittiwake flew E.
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| Mute Swan family |
May 27th
On a quiet morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Little Egrets, 9 Mallard, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Linnets.
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| Cormorant |
May 25th
On a sunny and breezy morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment whilst we walked to Coldharbour and returned to Reculver with him. Between us we saw 11 Chiffchaffs, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Tufted Duck, 8 Greylag Geese, 5 Common Sandpipers, 4 singing Corn Buntings, 13 Stonechats, 40 Sand Martins, 1 Blackcap, 1 Fulmar, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Swallows W, 26 Mallard, 1 Turnstone, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull E, 3 Lapwings + 2 young, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Swift, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzards, 1 Common Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern, 16 Red Kites flying W, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kestrel. We also saw 1 Four-spotted Chaser, Azure Damselflies, 5 Wall Browns, 2 Small Heaths and 1 Painted Lady.
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| A male Stonechat from one of six pairs breeding on the Marsh |
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| Getting higher! |
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| Four-spotted Chaser - Matt Hindle |
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| Wall Brown - Matt Hindle |
May 24th
We spent a sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Whitethroats, 36 Sand Martins, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Grey Partrdges, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Corn Bunting, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Ravens, 4 Stonechats, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot, 11 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 2 Swallows, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrels, 2 Cuckoos, 3 House Martins W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Red Kites flying W.
Birds ringed 13: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Blackcap 2, Great Tit 2, Whitethroat 3, Robin 1, Reed Warbler 1, Goldfinch 2.
May 23rd
With a continuing northerly wind blowing we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 4 Whitethroats, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Turtle Doves, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Mallard, 2 Coot, 2 Swifts W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and 2 Tufted Ducks.
Matt was also out earlier and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 7 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchafffs, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Pochard, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 9 Greylag Geese, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Corn Bunting and 10 Stonechats including 3 males, 1 male with 1 young and 1 male with 4 young. He also recorded 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 3 Swifts, 1 Gannet, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 House Martins, 4 Lapwings, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Long-tailed Tit and family, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whinchat (160th).
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| Whinchat - Matt Hindle |
May 22nd
Dave Smith was out early and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. His highlights included 8 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Cuckoo, 9 Swifts, 9 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Common Terns, 1 Fulamr, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Spoonbill flying W (159th), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sand Martin and 1 Stonechat.
May 21st
On another sunny but very breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour where the tide was a long way out. We didn't see a great deal, just 8 Skylarks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whitethroats, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swallows, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lapwing, 2 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Tern and 1 Kestrel.
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| Goldfinches collecting nesting material |
May 20th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and Matt walked in from Reculver. We recorded 7 Skylarks, 5 Swallows, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtails. 5 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Stonechats, 1 adult Kittiwake flying E and 9 Gannets flying W.
May 19th
We spent a quiet morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Swallows, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Mallard, 1 Swift W and 2 Grey Herons.
Birds ringed 13: Chiffchaff 3, Wren 1, Blackcap 4, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1.
This afternoon we walked at Reculver and saw 2 Shelduck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 male Pochard, 6 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo.1 Common Buzzard and 1 Red-legged Partridge.
May 18th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 5 Tufted Duck, 13 Linnets, 7 Whitethroats, 4 Swallows, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Lapwings including 2 chicks, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Greylag Goose, 3 Mallard, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
Dave Smith was also out from 0520 walking from Shuart to Plumpudding and the embankment and counting 2 Greylag Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Partridge, 4 Red-legged Partrdiges, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Swift, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 Lapwings, 1 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Barn Owls, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stonechats and 4 Yellow Wagtails.
May 17th
We spent the morning ringing on the Marsh inland from the railway and saw 1 Cuckoo, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 House Martins W, 1 Common Tern, 3 Mallard, 4 Swallows W, 1 Peregrine, 2 Oystecatchers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite W and 1 Common Buzzard.
Birds ringed 19: Chiffchaff 2, Wren 2, Whitethroat 5, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 3, Linnet 3, Dunnock 1.
There were Red Kites moving again today and at about midday 2 flew W at Bishopstone and Marc Heath had 5 flying W at Hillborough.
May 16th
It was bright and sunny this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 4 Whitethroats, 45 Swallows W, 5 Sand Martins, 1 Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Linnets, 1 Raven, 1 Stonechat, 2 House Martins W, 2 Kestrels, 2 Goldfinches, 3 Tufted Duck and 2 Shelduck.
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| Male Stonechat |
Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Bullfinch (158th), 6 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 74 Sand Martins, 4 Grey Partridges, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swifts W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 20 Swallows W, 5 Stonechats, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Common Terns, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 4 House Martins W, 3 Grey Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Red Kites and 1 Cuckoo.
Between 1130 and 1200, 1 Common Buzzard and 4 Red Kites flew W at Bishopstone and later at Reculver another Red Kite flew W.
