May 31st

On an absolutely foul morning with a near gale force northerly wind blowing in showers we had a wander inland at Reculver and saw 23 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 7 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Hobby, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Whitethroat.

Dave Smith had a seawatch at Reculver for nearly three hours from 0645. He counted 1 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Common Scoter, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Dunlin, 1 Black-headed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 12 Common Terns, 13 Sandwich Terns, 3 Fulmars, 64 Gannets and 1 Little Egret.

May 30th

It was cloudy this morning with a fresh  NW wind blowing so we walked around at Reculver and recorded 6 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Swallows, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Cetti's Warblers,  3 Linnets, 2 pairs of Grey Partridges, 4 Blackcap, 5 Sand Martins, 5 Swifts, 6 Tufted Duck, 26 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Gadwall, 4 Coot and 1 Jay.

 May 29th

It was still breezy but sunnier this morning as we walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 9 Mute Swans, 12 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Sand Martins, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Swift.

Greylag Goose family

 A Turtle Dove was seen feeding near the Roman Galley.

May 28th

With a blustery southerly wind blowing and rain threatening we walked inland at Reculver. We saw 6 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 29 Mallard, 4 Greylag Geese, 7 Mute Swans, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Coot, 1 male Pochard (165th) and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

Male Pochard

May 27th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and counted 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Swallows W, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Sand Martins, 1 Little Egret, 2 House Martins W, 11 Linnets, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 27 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Avocets and 3 Swifts W. In addition the Pyramidal Orchids near Coldharbour were beginning to flower.

Dave Smith was out at Reculver at 0445 and spent five hours birding most of the Marsh. His early start rewarded him with an adult Rose-coloured Starling flying W at 0540 (164th). This is the first one to be seen in Kent this year and only the third record for Reculver Marshes following single birds in 2008 and 2018. Other birds he recorded included 5 Mute Swans, 5 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Cuckoos, 153 Swifts W, 25 Oytsercatchers, 3 Avocets, 1 summer plumaged Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plovers, 6 Lapwings, 3 Sanderling, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Hobbies, 1 Raven, 6 Sand Martins W, 36 Swallows W, 21 House Martins W, 2 Lesser Whitehroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Stonechats.

Derek Smith was also birding this morning and walked from Shuart and along the embankment and back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Lapwings, 7 Avocets, 3 Cuckoos, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 18 House Martins W, 12 Sand Martins W, 6 Swifts W, 1 Bearded Tit, 3 Stonechats, including 2 juveniles, and 3 Lesser Whitethroats. He also found a good number of Bee Orchids and Southern Marsh Orchid.

Southern Marsh Orchid at Plumpudding - Derek Smith

Bee Orchid near Shuart - Derek Smith

May 26th

We made two visits to Reculver today, one this morning and one this afternoon. We counted 9 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 17 Sand Martins, 2 Greenfinches, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Tufted Ducks, 24 Mallard, 2 adult Greylag Geese with 2 young, 1 Gadwall, 2 adult Mute Swans with 5 young, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes. We also saw half a dozen newly emerged Black-tailed Skimmers.

Mute Swan family

May 25th

It was a beautiful May morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 4 Coot, 12 Whitethroats, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Linnets, 2 Cuckoos, 17 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 6 Oystercatchers, 6 Goldfinches 2 Avocets, 5 Mallard, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Lapwing.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Salsify, Goatsbeard and hybrid

May 24th

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 3 Cuckoos, 3 Mallard, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Whitethroats, 20 Reed Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Blackcap, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Swallows, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Greenfinches and 1 Marsh Harrrier.

Birds ringed 24: Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 3, Reed Warbler 15, Cetti's Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Blackbird 1

Derek Smith was also out between 0500 and 0900 and saw 5 Grey Herons, 7 Shelducks E, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Avocets, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Swifts W, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Stonechats and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.

Hairy Dragonfly - Derek Smith

May 23rd

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 6 Cetti's Warblers, 42 Swifts flying W, 35 Swallows flying W, 27 House Martins flying W, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 18 Linnets, 18 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Owl, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Avocets, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 4 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Sedge Warbler

Nesting Oystercatcher

 May 22nd

On a cloudy morning with a moderate west wind blowing Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back whilst we arrived later and met him at Coldharbour. The westerly wind and cloudy conditions prompted an early morning movement of Swifts and hirundines flying west and we counted 232 Swifts, 91 House Martins, 73 Swallows and 1 Sand Martin. Other birds we saw included 8 Chiffchaffs, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Sanderling, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 1 Common Tern, 4 Cuckoos, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Tufted Duck, 20 Mallard, 4 Avocets, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Bearded Tit, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Fulmar and 2 Grey Herons.

May 21st

We walked out onto the Marsh this morning just before heavy rain arrived from the south east. Birds we saw included 2 Grey Partridges,  4 Whitethroats, 8 Goldfinches, 8 Sand Martins, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Ravens, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 36 Mallard, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Coot, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Sparrowhawk. We then spent twenty minutes at Reculver just as the rain arrived and counted 5 Swallows flying W, 3 adult Kittiwakes flying W and 1 Fulmar flying along the coast.

 May 20th

There was a brisk and cool, north-easterly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning. We saw 8 Goldfinches, 4 Skylarks, 2 Lapwings, 8 Linnets, 21 Mallard, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Swallows, 4 Avocets, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Hobby, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Blackcap, 4 Chaffinches, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 7 Coot. We also looked in at Reculver on the way home and counted 9 Swallows W, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull W and 12 Gannets E.

Coot family

May 19th

We had an uneventful morning's ringing at Reculver although we did manage to ring our first juvenile Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Robin of the year. Birds we saw during our stay included 5 Blackcaps, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Sand Martins, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Common Tern, 1 Shelduck, 1 Jay, 6 Red Kites moving W, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Ravens.

Birds ringed 7: Chiffchaff 4, Blackcap 1, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1.

Dave Smith was out at 0445 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He counted 1 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Cuckoos, 3 Swifts, 3 Avocets, 6 Oystercatchers, 16 Ringed Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Turnstone, 3 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Tern, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl, 6 Swallows, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (163rd) and 1 Stonechat.

Derek Smith was out for a shorter walk than normal from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding and back. He recorded 6 Greylag Geese with young, 1 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cuckoos, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cetti's Warblers and 6 singing Corn Buntings.

Male Long-horned Bee at Bishopstone this afternoon

May 18th

It was cloudy and cool this morning as we walked at Netherhale and Reculver. At Netherhale we counted 1 Whitethroat, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Mallard, 6 Linnets, 3 Swallows, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Red-legged Partridge and 1 Cuckoo and at Reculver we saw 8 Sand Martins, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Owl, 1 Lapwing, 5 Swallows W and 1 Little Egret.

Little Owl

Derek Smith was out at Shuart at 0535 and walked to Brooksend and Minnis Bay and on to Coldharbour before returning along the railway embankment. He counted 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese and 1 hybrid, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Plover W, 3 Avocets, 18 Turnstone, 32 Sanderling, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Lesser Whitethroats and 7 Corn Buntings.

This afternoon Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and Plumpudding and saw 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Partridges, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Lapwings, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Avocets, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Cuckoos, 7 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Blackcap, 1 Redshank and 2 Common Terns.

May 17th

After yesterday's washout this morning dawned sunny, still and increasingly warm as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 10 Whitethroats, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Linnets, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Mallard, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Cuckoos, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Turnstone, 2 Avocets, 1 Redshank, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Sandwich Terns E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 female Wheatear, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Stonechats.

Male Whitethroat surrounded by flies