Sunday 31 May 2015

May 31st
On a foul morning with a strong SW wind blowing in rain and then drizzle we visited Reculver and saw 2 Kestrels, 5 Whitethroats, 60 Rooks including many very bedraggled juveniles, 12 Swallows W, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 40 Sand Martins, 32 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Gannets E and 2 Shelduck.

Saturday 30 May 2015

May 30th
We spent a pleasant morning walking from Chamber's Wall and then along the seawall before going inland. We saw 14 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Linnets, 33 Mute Swans, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 1 Sanderling, 5 Swifts W, 1 House Martin W, 2 Swallows W, 1 Little Tern W, 1 Common Tern, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Tufted Ducks and 4 Little Grebes.

Spotted Flycatcher

Friday 29 May 2015

May 29th
There was a little bit more of interest to be seen this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. We recorded 2 Cormorants, 5 Whitethroats, 7 House Martins W, 111 Swifts W, 9 Swallows W, 1 Little Owl, 6 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Shelduck, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Mallard, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Raven being chased by the local Rooks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 26 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes and 30 Sand Martins.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Thursday 28 May 2015

May 28th
There was nothing new to be seen as we did our usual walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall. We saw 2 Common Terns, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Linnets, 6 Mallard, 31 Swifts W, 1 Swallow W, 6 House Martins W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Gadwall, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mute Swans, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo and 1 Common Buzzard.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

May 27th
With the sun shining brightly we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. It remains relatively quiet but in a couple of hours we recorded 5 Whitethroats, 7 Cormorants, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 26 Swallows W, 4 House Martins W, 13 Swifts W, 5 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns, 14 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Mallard, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 1 Blackcap and 1 Turtle Dove.

Ringed Plover

Tuesday 26 May 2015

May 26th
On a sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before visiting Shuart. We saw 13 Whitethroats, 3 Swifts, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Cormorants, 2 Cuckoos, including the hepatic female, 2 Common Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Gadwall, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Tufted Ducks, 5 Mallard, 4 House Martins W, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and 1 Chiffchaff.

Monday 25 May 2015

May 25th
It was a very quiet morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland at Reculver. Although it was sunny there was a chilly NNW wind blowing. We saw 11 Whitethroats, 2 Common Terns, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Gadwall, 1 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 7 Cormorants, 9 Swallows W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Jay.

Sedge Warbler

Sunday 24 May 2015

May 24th
We spent the morning at Shuart in an unsuccessful attempt to hear the Quail that Derek Smith had heard earlier. We saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Cuckoos, including a hepatic female, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Lapwing, 5 Whitethroats, 9 Linnets, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Swifts and 1 Common Buzzard.
Derek Smith covered virtually all of the eastern half of the Marsh between 0430 and 1000 and recorded 1 Little Grebe, 1 Fulmar W, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawks, 14 Tufted Duck, 5 Gannets E, 3 Sandwich Terns, 5 Common Terns, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Cuckoos, 32 Stock Doves, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Quail singing infrequently from 0500, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 5 singing Corn Buntings.
A Red Kite flew W over our house at Bishopstone at 1330. This is the 21st Red Kite seen in the area this spring.

Saturday 23 May 2015

May 23rd
The weather had changed overnight and it was overcast with a light NE breeze this morning, but this had little effect on the birds which remained unchanged from the last few days. On our walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland we saw 13 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Linnets, 2 Cormorants, 4 Tufted Ducks, 11 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1 Shoveler, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Little Egret, 1 Fulmar W, 46 Swallows W, 1 Lapwing, 2 Grey Partridges, 17 Mute Swans and 30 Sand Martins.

Friday 22 May 2015

May 22nd
We had a rude awakening at 0252 when an earthquake shook the house!!
Arriving at Reculver at 0745 we walked up to Coldharbour and saw 7 Linnets, 19 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Goldfinch, 8 Cormorants, 7 House Martins W, 10 Swallows W, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 9 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Little Owl, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Redshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Coot and 2 Chiffchaffs.
We also looked at the Sand Martin colony at Reculver and counted 158 nest holes.


Reculver Sand Martin colony

Derek Smith was out very early and between 0430 and 1000 walked from Shuart to the sea and along to Coldharbour. He recorded 2 Eiders E, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Fulmar W, 5 Common Terns, 13 Turnstone, 6 Cuckoos, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Quail (163rd) singing briefly at 0600 in field west of Shuart, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

Thursday 21 May 2015

May 21st
On a sunny morning we completed the Chamber's Wall/Green Wall/Coldharbour circuit and recorded 17 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs,  Cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Marsh Harriers, 8 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 8 Oystercatchers, 21 Swallows W, 2 House Martins W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Swift W, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Sand Martin W, 3 Shelduck, 1 Redshank and 2 CommonTerns. We also saw 2 Painted Ladies and 1 Hairy Dragonfly.

Hairy Dragonfly

This afternoon I received an email about a Song Thrush we ringed at Reculver on 16th November 2014 that had been taken by an animal in Pershyttan, Nora, Orebro, SWEDEN on 15th May 2015. This is 1,253 km NE of Reculver and shows where some of our autumn thrushes originate from.



Wednesday 20 May 2015

May 20th
This morning we walked from Shuart to the sea and then had a quick visit to Reculver on the way home. We counted 7 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Swifts W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby, 2 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 1 Kestrel, 50 Sand Martins, 4 Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes.

Jackdaw collecting field bean flowers to feed its nestlings

Tuesday 19 May 2015

May 19th
On another blustery but sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and saw 28 Swifts W, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Whitethroats, 6 Cormorants, 1 Redshank, 3 House Martins W, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Wheatear, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Jay and 1 Painted Lady.

Monday 18 May 2015

May 18th
On a blustery morning that eventually turned rainy we walked along the seawall at Reculver before birding inland. We saw 8 Oystercatchers, 7 Cormorants, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 2 Linnets, 1 Swift W, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Common Terns, 6 Shelduck, 1 Lapwing, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 70 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins, 20 Swallows, 1 Blackcap, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Red Kite and 1 Kingfisher.

Oystercatcher

Sunday 17 May 2015

May 17th
Matt was out early this morning and walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and saw 6 Chiffchaffs, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 31 Swallows W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 1 Curlew, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Knot, 1 Short-eared Owl, 19 House Martins W, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 14 Swifts W, 1 ring-tail Montagu's Harrier (161st) in off the sea, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel and 1 Firecrest.
We picked him up and drove over to Shuart where we recorded 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Mallard, 3 Cuckoos, 11 Swifts W, 5 Whitethroats, 1 House Martin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards. As we neared the end of our walk we received news that a Black Kite had flown over Bockhill and Pegwell Bay so we drove up to the top of Shuart Lane to try our luck. Within 10 minutes the Black Kite (162nd) appeared over Netherhale and drifted about towards Minnis Bay and then back south east with a Red Kite giving distant comparative views. It was later seen back over Pegwell Bay. This is only the third record of a Black Kite in the area and the first since 2008. Not a bad morning!

Black and Red Kite

Saturday 16 May 2015

May 16th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the seawall and also inland. Birds we saw included 1 Kestrel, 2 Blackcaps, 11 Whitethroats, 7 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Cormorants, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Cuckoos, 6 House Martins W, 23 Swallows W, 8 Oystercatchers, 12 Mute Swans, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Shelduck, 1 Wheatear, 1 Fulmar W, 2 Common Terns, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pochard, 40 Sand Martins and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Salsify in flower

Friday 15 May 2015

May 15th
The blustery NNE wind gradually dropped and the sun came out as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning. We saw 3 Shelduck, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Kestrels, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Cormorants, 3 first summer Mediterranean Gulls E, 12 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Mallard, 7 Knot W, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail and 3 Goldfinches.
This evening we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 1 Kestrel, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Swifts, 14 Mute Swans, 1 Shelduck, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Pochard, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Little Grebes, 40 Sand Martins and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Little Egret


Thursday 14 May 2015

May 14th
There was a significant change in the weather overnight and this morning was chilly and cloudy with a fresh E wind blowing and the threat of heavy rain this afternoon. We completed our usual walk at Chamber's Wall and then inland at Reculver and saw 17 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cuckoos, including the hepatic female, 10 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Shelduck, 10 Cormorants, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Eider, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Wheatear, 12 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Jay, 5 Mistle Thrushes, 2 adults and 3 juveniles, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Grebes,12 Mute Swans and 50 Sand Martins.


Male Chaffinch

Wednesday 13 May 2015

May 13th
On a wonderful morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland. We recorded 28 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Mallard, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Cormorants, 1 Swift W, 8 Common Terns, 3 Shelduck, 8 Mute Swans, 8 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Cuckoos, including the hepatic female, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Coot, 5 Tufted Duck and 1 Sparrowhawk.


Turnstone

Tuesday 12 May 2015

May 12th
Back at Reculver this morning it was still very quiet and walking from Chamber's Wall along the seawall we saw 7 Whitethroats, 6 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Turtle Doves, 4 Cuckoos, including a hepatic female, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Terns, 6 Oystercatchers, 6 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Wheatears, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Sanderling and 1 Common Sandpiper.
We also found a Hairy Dragonfly beside the Wantsum.

Male Yellow Wagtail
May 11th
We were up early this morning as we had decided to spent the day in Northern France. It began well when a Merlin sped down our road at 0550.
Once in France we decided to visit three areas close to Calais, firstly Marais de Guines where our highlights were 5 Marsh Warblers, 2 Savi's Warblers, 2 Willow Tits, 1 Honey Buzzard and 1 singing male White-spotted Bluethroat. After this we drove the short distance to Oye Plage and recorded 2 Garganey, 4 Black-winged Stilts, 1 singing Icterine Warbler, 3 Kentish Plovers, 1 White Stork flying W, 9 Spoonbills and 2 Black-necked Grebes. In the afternoon we drove to various sites in Foret de Clairmais and found 2 Short-toed Treecreepers, 2 Golden Orioles and 2 Serins. All in all a very pleasant day driving leisurely around the area and recording 107 species.

While we were in France, Barry Hunt spent a couple of hours in the area in the  morning. Highlights being a cracking male Whinchat at Chamber's Wall, a fairly late White Wagtail at the Towers, 1 Hobby, 4 Cuckoos, 3 "Greenland" Wheatears, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Knot (160th) , 2 Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin.

White Wagtail - Barry Hunt

Sunday 10 May 2015

May 10th
We spent our first spring morning ringing at Reculver and saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Blackcaps, 60 Sand Martins, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Mallard, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Coot, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Siskin W (158th) , 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels and 2 Swifts W.

Reed Warbler

Derek Smith was out very early doing a "Big Day" and had 12 Black-tailed Godwits (157th) in Coldharbour. This is a surprisingly rare species at Reculver. In his total of 89 species he also saw a Spotted Flycatcher (159th), 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Hobby, 4 Wheatears, 1 Whimbrel W, 5 summer plumaged Dunlin and 35 Sanderling.
Later during the morning Micky Baldock had a Red Kite flying W at the Towers.

Saturday 9 May 2015

May 9th
It was another quiet morning as we walked at Reculver and Shuart this morning seeing 3 Mallard, 50 Sand Martins, 9 Whitethroats, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Swifts W, 14 Corn Buntings, 4 Ring-necked Parakets, 1 Lapwing, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Mistle Thrushes. Julian Perry also saw 4 Common Sandpipers and 2 Common Terns.

Carrion Crow

Friday 8 May 2015

May 8th
It was a glorious bright and calm morning as we walked along the seawall at Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland but there was little moving. We saw 4 Pied Wagtails, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 30 Swallows W, 10 Linnets, 6 Cormorants, 12 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Swift W, 5 Whitethroats, 28 Mute Swans, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Wheatears, 2 Shelduck, 2 Kestrels, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Tufted Duck and 6 Coot.

Singing male Pied Wagtail

Thursday 7 May 2015

May 7th
At last the wind had died down as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland. We saw 1 Turtle Dove, 11 Reed Warblers, 35 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 19 Mute Swans, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 17 Swallows W, 15 Sedge Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 15 Mallard, 2 Cuckoos, 10 Cormorants, 2 Common Terns, 1 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Linnets, 4 Wheatears, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 5 Goldfinches W, 4 Swifts W, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot and 20 Sand Martins.

Female Wheatear

Wednesday 6 May 2015

May 6th
On a horrible morning with a gale force southerly wind blowing in frequent heavy and blustery showers we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then dropped in at Reculver on the way home. There was nothing new to be seen just 8 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Reed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 19 Mute Swans, 12 Linnets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Mallard, 6 Cormorants, 2 Wheatear, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Blackcap, 1 Green Woodpecker, 60 Sand Martins, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Cuckoo.
Later at Minnis Bay Terry Wilson saw  3 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling and 1 Turnstone.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

May 5th
With a strong SW wind blowing in drizzle we visited Chamber's Wall and Reculver and recorded 12 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 House Martin W, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Gadwall, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Grey Partridges, 60 Sand Martins, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Grebes, 18 Mute Swans, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 2 Wheatears, 6 Mallard, 6 Swifts W and 3 Common Terns W.

Monday 4 May 2015

May 4th
This morning we met at Shuart and walked around the area seeing 4 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Swifts, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Reed Warblers and 1 Jay.
Next we drove over to one of our Reculver ringing sites where I received a call from Derek Smith who was still at Shuart to say that an Osprey (155th) had flown west up high and out at sea. I drove to Reculver car park and was just in time to see it flying in towards the cliffs at Bishopstone where it was seen by Mark Chidwick to have a satellite tracker and a blue ring.

Osprey - Barry Hunt

Other birds seen in the Reculver area included 3 Whitethroats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Swifts, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 17 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Tufted Ducks, 6 Coot, 25 Sand Martins, 1 Mallard and a singing Nightingale.
Derek Smith also found our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year at Shuart.

Sunday 3 May 2015

May 3rd
On a thoroughly miserable morning Matt arrived at Reculver before us and his highlights were 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
We then all drove over to Chamber's Wall where we walked up to the Wantsum outflow and counted 7 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Greenshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 8 Oystercatchers, 4 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Sedge Warblers, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Garden Warbler.
On the way home we dropped in at Shuart and Reculver. At Shuart we saw 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Green Woodpecker and at Reculver we counted 71 nest holes in use at the Sand Martin colony and also saw 3 Swifts flying W in the murk, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern and 6 Shelduck.

Saturday 2 May 2015

May 2nd
On an overcast morning with a chilly ENE breeze blowing we completed the Chamber's Wall/Coldharbour/Green Wall circuit before looking in at Reculver on the way home. We counted 16 Reed Warblers, 18 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 19 Mallard, 11 Linnets, 2 Gadwall, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Cuckoos, 18 Mute Swans, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Cormorants, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 30 Sand Martins and 2 Corn Buntings.

Friday 1 May 2015

May 1st
As there was a fresh and cool NE blowing Matt started with a seawatch at the Towers but only saw 5 Common Scoter, 3 males and 2 females, 7 distant large auks E, 7 Sandwich Terns, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
We met him at 0745 and drove over to Chamber's Wall before walking back to Reculver. We recorded 1 Merlin, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Sedge Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Gadwall, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 8 Mallard, 1 Wheatear, 8 Turnstone, 1 Greenshank, 4 Little Egrets, 7 Linnets , 2 Shelduck and 3 Redshank.