August 8th
We spent this morning ringing at our regular Reculver ringing site and saw 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Turtle Doves, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Coot, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Jays, 6 Mallard, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 10 Blackcaps, 12 Chaffinches, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Hobby, 4 Whitethroats and 1 Sparrowhawk, We also counted 25 Migrant Hawkers, 1 Brown Hawker, 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 1 Banded Demoiselle and good numbers of Common Darters and Common Blue Damselflies.

Juvenile Kingfisher

Derek Smith walked round Shuart, Plumpudding and Coldharbour this morning from 0600 to 0930. The highlight of his visit was a Bittern (172nd) flying S over the embankment at 0815, then a little later back N over to the reedbed at the Swan's Neck. Other birds he saw included 4 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Oystercatchers, 12 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel E, 3 Common Sandpipers, 180 Black-headed Gulls in ploughed field at Plumpudding, 18 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 32 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warblers and 8 Yellow Wagtails.

 

Bittern