Monday 27 July 2015

July 27th
With very limited time this morning we walked a few hundred metres along the seawall from Reculver and saw 10 Cormorants, 2 Goldfinches, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Linnets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Owl and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Earlier Barry Hunt had found a Yellow-legged Gull at Minnis Bay.

Sunday 26 July 2015

July 26th
We managed to walk from Reculver to Coldharbour this morning before the rain arrived. We saw 4 Goldfinches, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 27 Linnets, 2 Little Owls, 13 Cormorants, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Ringed Plovers, 8 Swifts W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Mallard, 7 Shelduck, 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Whitethroat, 2 adult Common Gulls W, 20 Sand Martins, 4 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Kestrel and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Oystercatcher

Saturday 25 July 2015

July 25th
After the overnight gale and heavy rain I arrived at Reculver where it was still very windy at 0645. Derek Smith soon appeared and we had a seawatch for two hours. Virtually all birds were flying west and we saw 22 Swifts, 2 Shoveler, 19 Common Scoter, 13 Common Terns, 7 Dunlin, 58 summer plumaged Knot, 2 Whimbrel, 12 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 2 Black Terns (170th), 19 Teal, 1 Golden Plover, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull E and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At 0930 Brendan Ryan had a Curlew Sandpiper (171st) fly past the Towers.
This evening Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 3 Whimbrel, 6 Dunlin, 7 Redshank, 15 Greylag Geese, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Gannet.

Friday 24 July 2015

July 24th
With light rain falling we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning and saw 24 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns, 6 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Little Owls, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mallard, 7 Cormorants, 16 Little Egrets, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 adult Common Gulls, 11 Redshank, 22 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Shelduck, 4 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 30 Sand Martins, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Chiffchaff.

Thursday 23 July 2015

July 23rd
This morning we ringed at Shuart where we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 39 Lapwings, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 12 Whitethroats, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Kestrel, 1 Turtle Dove, 10 Sedge Warblers, 25 Reed Warblers, 8 Siskins, 13 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Common Buzzard.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

Micky Baldock had 27 Whimbrel flying W at Reculver this morning.
This evening Matt walked out to the sea at Coldharbour and bird he saw included 6 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Common Buzzards.



Wednesday 22 July 2015

July 22nd
We spent the morning ringing out on the Marsh at a different site and managed to ring 38 birds. We also saw 5 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Siskins W, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Cormorants, 4 Sedge Warblers, 18 Reed Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kestrel. We also found 2 Black-tailed Skimmers.

Adult Sedge Warbler

This evening Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and juvenile, 2 summer plumaged Dunlin, 2 Common Terns and 1 Turtle Dove,



Tuesday 21 July 2015

July 21st
This morning we had a ringing session at Shuart where we saw 43 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover, 20 Blackcaps, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 9 Siskins W, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 25 Swallows, 4 Swifts, 2 Jays and 1 Turtle Dove. On the insect front we identified 1 Southern Hawker, 1 Hairy Dragonfly and 3 Marbled White butterflies.

Monday 20 July 2015

July 20th
We spent an overcast morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1 Little Egret, 4 Turtle Doves, 25 Blackcaps, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 2 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 18 Siskin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Mallard, 120 Sand Martins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Cormorants, 1 Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 18 Swifts, 1 Kestrel, 1 first summer Mediterranean Gull W, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Kingfisher.

Sunday 19 July 2015

July 19th
We waited for the rain to move through before we arrived at Reculver at 0830. The sun gradually came out and we walked up to Coldharbour on a beautiful morning. Birds we saw included 2 Pied Wagtails, 10 Oystercatchers, 5 Cormorants, 9 Little Egrets, 24 Linnets, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker and 4 Goldfinches.

Moulting Sandwich Tern

Saturday 18 July 2015

July 18th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked at Shuart before dropping in at Reculver on the way home. We saw 5 Blackcaps, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 8 Siskins W, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Mute Swans, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Coot, 5 Mallard and 4 Little Grebes.
Marc Heath was at Reculver as well this morning and found 5 Willow Emerald Damselflies and 1 Brown Hawker.

Comma 

Chicory

Peacock





 

Friday 17 July 2015

July 17th
It was quite breezy and mild this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 2 Whitethroats, 23 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Swifts W, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 7 Shelduck, 8 Cormorants, 4 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Lapwings, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Mute Swans, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 4 Little Grebes and 7 Siskins W.

Thursday 16 July 2015

July 16th
On our regular morning walk along the seawall from Reculver we saw 3 Pied Wagtails, 15 Oystercatchers, 1 Black Redstart on the rocks below the Towers, 5 Little Egrets, 10 Sandwich Terns flying E, 30 Sand Martins, 17 Linnets, 9 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Ringed Plovers, 7 Cormorants, 2 Common Terns, 7 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 10 Gannets flying E, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Scoter and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Gannets

Wednesday 15 July 2015

July 15th
It was dreary and drizzly this morning as we walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and saw 2 Goldfinches, 55 Linnets, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Partridge, 3 Mute Swans, 7 Little Egrets, 5 Cormorants, 11 Ringed Plovers, 13 Oystercatchers, 8 Mallard, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Redshank, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Shelduck, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Grey Heron and 47 Swifts W.
On a warm and sunny afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Common Terns, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 adults, 1 first summer and 1 juvenile, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Turtle Dove.
On the way back Matt found a Norfolk Hawker flying over the Wantsum west of Chamber's Wall. This is a new species for the area.

Adult Mediterranean Gull

Tuesday 14 July 2015

July 14th
At an overcast Reculver this morning we walked up to Coldharbour and then inland. Birds we saw included 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier,16 Mallard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinches, 7 Little Egrets, 17 Linnets, 9 Oystercatchers, 12 Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Cormorants, 1 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 1 Hobby, 2 Redshank, 8 Shelduck, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Sandwich  Terns, 1 Black Redstart by the Oyster Farm, 18 Siskins W, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Turtle Dove.
At the sluice at Reculver there were 4 young Mink and inland 1 Willow Emerald Damselfly.


The reason that there are no young wildfowl and Moorhens on the Marsh

Monday 13 July 2015

July 13th
We didn't spend long at a very drizzly Reculver this morning but walked along the seawall after lunch. We saw 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Cormorants, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 2 Linnets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 11 Turnstone, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sandwich Tern,1 Common Scoter, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 11 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes and 1 Turtle Dove.
Barry Hunt had an hour and a half at Minnis Bay before the rain set in. He saw 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 adults, 5 first summer and 1 juvenile, also a single Black-tailed Godwit W along with 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank and 3 Whimbrel also all flying W. The rain eventually stopped play!


Mediterranean Gulls - Barry Hunt

Sunday 12 July 2015

July 12th
It was cloudy with a moderate SW wind this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall. We saw 6 Whitethroats, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Swifts W, 6 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 7 Ringed Plover, including 2 pullus, 65 Sand Martins feeding over Coldharbour, 8 Cormorants, 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Linnets, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Jays, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Blackcap and 16 Siskins W.
Matt walked the Shuart/Netherhale/Plumpudding loop and recorded 1 Red Kite flying W at Netherhale, 35 Coot, 5 Little Grebes, 10 Pied Wagtails, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 6 Siskins W, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Corn Buntings, 9 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret and 1 Hummingbird Hawk Moth.

Hog's Fennel at Coldharbour

Saturday 11 July 2015

July 11th
On a breezy and sunny morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 4 Pied Wagtails, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Terns, 3 Little Owls, 16 Cormorants, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 4 Little Egrets, 13 Linnets, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Swifts W, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 8 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 25 Sand Martins, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and 8 Long-tailed Tits.
Derek Smith had a brief walk this morning from Shuart to Plumpudding and saw 2 Whimbrel flying W, 65 Starlings W, 40 Swifts W and 7 Siskins W. He also saw his first Marbled White of the year.

Friday 10 July 2015

July 10th
This morning we again walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall. We saw 8 Whitethroats, 5 Cormorants, 7 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Kestrel, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 8 Shelduck, 4 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 12 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 8 Siskins W, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot and 4 Little Grebes.
Today Terry Wilson walked along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and recorded 6 Linnets, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Marsh Harrier. There were lots of butterflies, the best being 2 Marbled Whites. At Grenham Bay there were 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Curlew and a summer plumaged Dunlin.

Thursday 9 July 2015

July 9th
This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and around Coldharbour and counted 8 Whitethroats, 5 Swifts, 8 Cormorants, 10 Linnets, 8 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 30 Siskins W in two flocks, 1 Blackcap, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Kingfisher.

Shelduck family

Wednesday 8 July 2015

July 8th
There was a distinct change in the weather from the last few days as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. It was overcast with a cool W wind blowing. We saw 1 Blackcap, 10 Cormorants, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Turtle Dove, 7 Little Egrets, 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 18 Turnstone, 8 Swifts W, 5 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 5 Goldfinches, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Coot, 4 Little Grebes and 20 Sand Martins.

Duke of Argyll's Tea-plant

Tuesday 7 July 2015

July 7th
Back at Reculver this morning we walked along the seawall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Blackcap, 4 Pied Wagtails, 5 Little Egrets, 6 Linnets, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Cormorants, 10 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 13 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldfinches and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Turnstone

Summer plumaged Dunlin

On a warm but blustery afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 4 Whitethroats, 4 Swifts, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Shelduck, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Sandwich Terns and 1 Common Tern.

I have just received the ringing information of a Belgian ringed, wintering Chiffchaff we caught on February 11th in West Brook Valley. It had been ringed on October 12th 2014 at Nerem, Tongeren, Limburg, Belgium, 311 km ESE. This suggest that this bird may have originated even further east.

Monday 6 July 2015

July 6th
We had an "insectiverous away day" today visiting Thursley Common in Surrey and dropping in at Dene Park Wood on the way home. At Thursley we saw lots of Keeled Skimmers as well as Small and Large Red Damselflies, Four Spotted Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers and an Emperor Moth caterpillar of which Matt managed to take some good photos.
At Dene Park we managed to find 2 Purple Emperors, 5 White Admirals, 2 Purple Hairstreaks and 2 Beautiful Demoiselles.

Keeled Skimmer 

Keeled Skimmer 

Small Red Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser

Black-tailed Skimmer

Emperor Moth caterpillar

Sunday 5 July 2015

July 5th
With approaching, ominous, black clouds to the south of us and distant thunder rumbling we managed a very brief walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour returning to the car just as the torrential rain began. We saw very little, just 2 Blackcaps, 11 Whitethroats, 11 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Mallard and 8 Shelduck.

Saturday 4 July 2015

July 4th
We had to curtail our morning ringing session at Reculver early because of threatening thundery rain. There wasn't a great deal around but we did manage to see 4 Turtle Doves, 8 Blackcaps, 4 Jays, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebes, 20 Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Whitethroats, 12 Swifts, 1 Crossbill NW (169th) and 6 Linnets.

Friday 3 July 2015

July 3rd
On another sunny morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour, with the tide out, before walking inland. We recorded 2 Blackcaps, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Cormorants, 10 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Egrets, 8 Linnets, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Curlew, 4 Swifts, 7 Shelduck, 2 Turnstone, 1 Jays, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Mute Swan, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot, 4 Little Grebes and 1 Chiffchaff. We also found 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths on the Roman walls at Reculver.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Thursday 2 July 2015

July 2nd
It wasn't quite as hot as yesterday but it was still pretty steamy this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Blackcap, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Goldfinch, 8 Linnets, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Owl, 4 Cormorants, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Gull, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Turnstone, 10 Shelduck, 2 Redshank, 1 Hobby, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Lapwing and 2 Black-tailed Godwits flying W and seen by David Barnes. When we arrived back at Reculver we visited the Sand Martin colony where we counted 203 holes in use.


Sand Martins

The Icterine Warbler appears to have move out from Bishopstone.

Wednesday 1 July 2015

July 1st
We were out early this morning but the weather was still very warm as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We recorded 9 Whitethroats, 6 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cormorant 4 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 2 adults and 6 ducklings, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Mute Swans, 11 Redshank, 13 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 14 Tufted Duck and 1 Jay.

Turnstone

On our way home we visited Bishopstone Lane car park and heard the Icterine Warbler and saw it briefly .