Number of species seen each month in 2004

July 2004 sightings

31st July - A morning walk around the Reculver area included 4 Cuckoos, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Wheatears, 48 Golden Plovers (mainly in summer plumage), 1 Grey Plover W, 80 Lapwings present plus 10 W, 5 Common Sandpipers, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Sandwich Terns, 250 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Gannets E, 1 Hobby, 2 Marsh Harriers and 3 Green Woodpeckers, whilst Mike Baldock saw a group of 3 Arctic Skuas fly E off the Towers. An afternoon walk at Shuart included 1 Hobby, 40 Turtle Doves, 3 Jays and 2 Spotted Flycatchers from a local breeding pair. Quite a few Commas about, but the butterfly sighting of the year has to be a Monarch seen and photographed by one of the local farmers a few days ago.

30th July - An early morning loop from Chamber's Wall to Reculver and back. A Curlew Sandpiper flew west offshore, otherwise 1 immature Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Golden Plovers, 152 Lapwings, 4 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrel W, 7 Common Sandpipers, 13 Gannets W, 4 Common Terns S, 3 Turnstone flew high inland, 2 Willow Warblers, 25 Tufted Ducks, 2 Kingfishers, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

29th July - I popped out for a couple of hours in the early morning. 130 Common Scoter E, 32 Common Terns E, 1 Gannet E, 4 Sandwich Terns E, 12 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Barn Owls, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Snipe, 1 Wheatear, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A brief seawatch off Minnis Bay in the late afternoon involved 65 Common Scoter offshore, 6 Sandwich Terns E and 1 Gannet E, but no sign of Black Terns, which were apparently present in some numbers off Whitstable. An evening visit to Reculver produced another Garganey, 2 Teal, 20 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 20 Tufted Ducks, 2 Green Sandpipers, 10 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 35 Lapwings, 1 Dunlin and 3 Little Egrets.

28th July - 12 Dunlin, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons E offshore and 1 Golden Plover W, but I was feeling right poorly, so retired hurt.

27th July - Fairly quiet again in the early morning, although I wasn't out for too long. Sightings included 75 Common Terns, 4 Little Terns, 25 Sandwich Terns, 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank W, 6 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Whimbrel W, 5 Golden Plovers, 9 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin, 15 Common Scoter E, 6 Gannets E, 3 Shoveler, 10 Canada Geese, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 4 Little Egrets. An evening cycle ride along the sea wall suggested waders were arriving, with 21 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper in off the sea, 1 Curlew W, 3 Whimbrel, 16 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling, 160 Turnstones, 120 Lapwings and 35 Redshanks. A Wheatear, a juvenile Stonechat and about 200 Yellow Wagtails were also seen.

26th July - An early morning visit to the Reculver wasn't particularly eventful, but included 22 Gannets E, 2 Common Scoter W, 4 Green Sandpipers, 7 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Shoveler, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 60 Lapwing, 4 Golden Plovers, 1 Cuckoo, 25 Sandwich Terns, 10 Common Terns, 4 Little Egrets, 30 Redshank and a handful of Swallows, Swifts and Sand Martins moving west. The best sighting of the morning was a dolphin species, possibly Bottle-nosed, which breached half a dozen times off the Towers. The first I've seen in the area.

25th July - Although there was, in actual fact, not a great deal going on, I did a long walk round the area in the morning and managed to see 90 species. Highlights included 1 Little Ringed Plover at the Oyster Farm, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Great Crested Grebe offshore, 19 Common Scoter, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Hobbies, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Golden Plover, 120 Lapwings, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew W, 1 juvenile Stonechat, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling, 6 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern, 90 Swifts W, 20 Swallows W, 25 Sand Martins W, 1 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 4 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 1 Jay, 150 Turnstones, 45 Ringed Plovers, 35 Redshank, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Yellowhammer, 3 Corn Buntings, 60 Greenfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 12 Turtle Doves.

24th July - Rather quiet this morning, the only new birds seen being an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Golden Plovers and 25 Common Terns including a flock of 20 moving west. Other bits and pieces included 8 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 85 Lapwings, 25 Sandwich Terns, 500 Sand Martins, 50 Swallows, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 6 Dunlin and 8 Sanderling. Mike Baldock saw a Wheatear at the Towers, the first of the autumn, as was a Willow Warbler seen at Bishopstone.

23rd July - A moderate WNW wind and cloud in the early morning prompted thoughts of a seawatch, but I decided to do the waders instead. A male Ruff flying west off the Towers was Number 177 for the year. The lack of fresh water habitat in the area means that this type of species is usually a fly through. Other counts included 152 Turnstones, 13 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Curlew W, 1 Greenshank W, 48 Redshanks, 6 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling, 35 Ringed Plovers, 20 Oystercatchers, 40 Lapwings, 54 Common Scoter E, 9 Gannets W, 4 Little Terns E, 17 Common Terns W, 200 Swifts W, 24 Sand Martins W, 6 Little Egrets and 1 Hobby. Barry Matlock was looking at the sea at Swalecliffe and up to 8.00 a.m. had seen 150 Common Terns, 1 Black Tern and 1 Arctic Skua.

22nd July - Odds 'n sods this morning included 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 28 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Little Terns, 32 Sandwich Terns E, 18 Common Terns W, 4 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 1 Pochard E, 2 Gannets, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Dunlin, 1 Snipe W, 40 Mallard, 3 Gadwall and the 8th Shoveler brood of the year. One of the juveniles in this brood is shown below. 27 Common Scoter were sitting off Minnis Bay in the afternoon.

21st July - Seemed very quiet, although I was only out for a short time in the early morning. 8 Whimbrel W, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 40 Lapwing, 5 Common Sandpipers, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern, 7 Common Scoter E, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Buzzard were in the Reculver area. A few Swifts were moving west. An evening walk at Reculver added 3 Golden Plovers, 113 Lapwings, the 7th Shoveler brood of the year, 1 Pochard, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

20th July - A dark-phase adult Arctic Skua flew E off Reculver in the morning. Other birds there included 1 Bar-tailed Godwit W, 18 Whimbrel W, 5 Curlew W, 3 Greenshank W, 9 Gannets E, 240 Common Scoter E, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 10 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 8 Common Terns, 89 Lapwings, 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Shoveler, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Pochard, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Shelducks, 1 Common Buzzard, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls and 400 Sand Martins and 100 Swallows feeding over the fields and the sea. Post-breeding flocks of Yellow Wagtails, mainly juveniles, were feeding along the sea-wall, with 200+ birds present. A lunchtime look at the wader roost included 145 Turnstones, 52 Ringed Plovers, 18 Sanderling, 22 Oystercatchers, 1 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpipers. 2 Little Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns and 8 Common Terns were offshore, whilst 3 Whimbrel and 1 Curlew flew W and 9 Gannets flew E.

19th July - Another early morning look at the Reculver end, with a few different birds. The Garganey was still present, whilst other sightings included a juvenile Marsh Harrier, 1 Stonechat, 4 Curlews W, 2 Greenshank W, 1 Teal W, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Common Sandpipers, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sanderling, 1 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 2 Jays, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Little Egrets, 20 Swallows W, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Shelduck, 2 Common Terns and 5 Sandwich Terns. Sanderling had increased to 18 at the wader roost, but otherwise much the same, with 6 Dunlin, 18 Oystercatchers, 72 Turnstones, 25 Ringed Plovers and 3 Whimbrel.

18th July - An early morning look around the Reculver end was rather more productive today. A female/imm Garganey was the 4th of the year. Other sightings included 4 Green Sandpipers, a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, 6 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 juvenile Cuckoos, 1 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 2 Snipe, 60 Lapwings, 200 Sand Martins, 1,000 Starlings, 75 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Pied Wagtails, 1 Pochard, 5 Shelducks, 1 Dunlin, 4 Gannets E and a few Common and Sandwich Terns offshore. An afternoon check on the wader roost included 6 Little Terns, 2 Dunlins, 2 Sanderling, 9 Redshank, 18 Oystercatchers and 40 Ringed Plovers.

17th July - Rather quiet again, with nothing of any consequence. 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Dunlin, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 8 Lapwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Oystercatchers W and a few Common and Sandwich Terns. Thunderstorms from late morning onwards. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was feeding on Buddleia in my back garden in Westgate.

16th July - A brief early morning visit to Reculver didn't produce a great deal. 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin W, 1 Gannet, 1 Jay, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 1 Pochard, 76 Lapwing, 20 Swifts W, 12 Swallows W, 8 Sand Martins W and 1 juvenile Cuckoo. A quick check of the wader roost at lunchtime produced 1 Little Ringed Plover, 35 Ringed Plovers, 3 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 72 Turnstones and 18 Oystercatchers. 16 Gannets flew E, 10 Common Terns were present and a small but steady westerly movement of Swifts and Sand Martins also included the occasional Swallow and House Martin. 100 Linnets were feeding around Coldharbour.

15th July - An early morning look around the Reculver end wasn't hugely productive, but included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 20 Whimbrel, including a flock of 19 flying south inland and 6 Common Sandpipers. Other bits and bobs included 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 2 Dunlin, 9 Common Terns, 4 Grey Herons, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellowhammers and 5 Kestrels. A late morning check of the high-tide roost at Minnis Bay added 28 Ringed Plover and 4 Sanderling, and a further 45 Whimbrel flew west. A large immature female Peregrine Falcon flew west, the first for several weeks, and 6 Sandwich Terns were feeding offshore.

14th July - Despite a moderate SW wind and spots of rain, a productive few hours in the morning. A Spoonbill flew SW offshore at Reculver (my 176th species for the year), the third Garganey of the year, a drake on Wade Marsh, and 2 adult Purple Sandpipers on the wader roost at Minnis Bay. Other bits and bobs included 1 Barn Owl, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Whimbrel, 5 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 1 Cuckoo, 1 juvenile Stonechat, 1 Little Tern, 4 Sandwich Terns, 6 Common Terns, 4 Gannets, 35 Lapwings, 4 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 3 Gadwall, 3 Corn Buntings, 3 Common Gulls, 2 Greater Black-backed Gulls, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 66 Sand Martins W, 90 Swifts W and 70 Turnstones. Breeding records included the 2nd and 3rd Gadwall broods, the 6th Shoveler brood and the 10th Tufted Duck brood of the year. An evening walk at the Minnis Bay end added the first Snipe of the autumn, plus 1 Common Buzzard, 15 Greylag Geese, 3 Grey Partridges, 175 Black-headed Gulls and 57 Lapwings. 85 species seen.

13th July - A morning visit included 3 Green Sandpipers, 8 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 66 Turnstones, 2 Whimbrel W, 7 Lapwing W, 5 Swallows W, 4 Sand Martin W, 1 Little Egret, 5 Grey Herons, 32 Mute Swans, 80 Coot, 1 Canada Goose, 16 Chiffchaffs including several family parties, 3 broods of Ruddy Ducks, the 8th and 9th Tufted Duck broods of the summer, 1 Shelduck, 4 Kestrels, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 3 singing Corn Buntings, 1 Common Gull and 2 Sandwich Terns. A family party of Bullfinches represent the first breeding in the area for many years. An evening visit added 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Pochard and 2 Common Terns. 75 species seen.

12th July - A very brief look at the sea off Minnis Bay in the morning produced 13 Gannets, 6 Sandwich Terns and a Common Scoter flying E, whilst an evening visit to Reculver included 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 19 Lapwings and 100 Swifts hawking over the marsh. A Barn Owl was hunting along the Thanet Way at Wagtail Farm - this is the first year I've seen this species regularly in the area, perhaps 1-2 pairs breeding.

11th July - An early morning walk at the Minnis end and an afternoon bike ride to Reculver included 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hobbies, 1 Sparrowhawk, a family party of Kestrels, 90 Swifts W, 300 Sand Martins feeding over the fields at Reculver, 3 Whimbrel W, 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Pochard, 12 Mute Swans, 4 Common Terns, 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Cormorants, 65 Coot and an adult and juvenile Green Woodpecker together.

10th July - A sunny early morning, with brief visits to Shuart and Coldharbour. Birds included an injured Barn Owl at Shuart, 1 Hobby and 1 Sparrowhawk, the first Dunlin of the autumn, 1 Curlew W, 4 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcaps and 30 Turtle Doves.

9th July - A fresh NW wind encouraged an early morning sea-watch off Reculver, but there wasn't much going on, with 4 Teal W, 4 Common Scoter E, 5 Gannets E, 76 Lesser Blacked Gulls W (including the bird below) and 6 Greater Black-backed Gulls W. About 400 Swifts were moving into the wind, whilst the Garganey was still present as were 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpipers.

8th July - A morning walk from Minnis Bay to Reculver and back in pleasant summer sunshine, quite a contrast to yesterday, and quite productive too. My first Wood Sandpiper and Pintail of the year, numbers 174 and 175 respectively, plus a Garganey, always a scarce bird in this area. An influx of 12 Common Sandpipers, plus 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Lapwings, 12 Redshanks, 18 Oystercatchers, 20 Ringed Plovers, 35 Turnstone and 3 Whimbrel W. A group of 4 Little Terns flew E, 24 Sandwich Terns and 6 Common Terns were present and 3 Gannets flew E. A Teal flew W offshore, whilst 2 Hobbies, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Sparrowhawk were hunting over the marsh. Gulls included 180 Black-headed, 8 Common and 2 Greater Black-backed. Other bits and pieces included the 6th and 7th broods of Tufted Duck, 2 more broods of Mallard, a brood of Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Cormorants, 2 Corn Buntings, 20 Coot, 150 Sand Martins being harassed by the Hobbies, 4 Grey Herons and lots of young Whitethroats and Linnets. A flock of 160 Common Scoter were sitting off Minnis Bay in the afternoon.

7th July - An hour's seawatch from Minnis Bay from 07:30 was rather quiet, with easterly movements of 12 Common Scoter, 81 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns and 15 Gannets. A flock of 30 Common Scoter was sheltering offshore at noon, before atrocious weather arrived in the afternoon, with NE gales and heavy rain.

6th July - ... it was the quietest of times... 2 Common Buzzards were soaring over the fields behind Minnis Bay.

5th July - An early morning walk around the Minnis Bay end included 1 Barn Owl, 21 Gannets E, 16 Common Scoter E, 2 Common Terns, 25 Sandwich Terns, 1 Kittiwake E, 2 Curlews W, 80 Swifts W, 1 Sand Martin W, 18 Oystercatchers, 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Grey Herons and 1 Gadwall. Post breeding flocks included 1,800 Starlings, 150 House Sparrows, 100 Linnets and 80 Yellow Wagtails.

4th July - Not much birding this weekend. A brief look at the Reculver end produced the 4th and 5th Tufted Duck broods of the year. There were 2 Gannets, 16 Common Terns (including 5 juveniles) and 22 Sandwich Terns off Coldharbour, whilst 4 Curlews flew W offshore.

2nd July - Some welcome overnight rain was followed by a blustery west wind. A short walk at the Reculver end produced 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, the 3rd Tufted Duck brood of the year, a family party of Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Pochard, 22 Coot and 1 Chiffchaff.

1st July - Having missed the 3 others in the area this year, it was good to finally get a Quail (my 173rd species for the year), with a calling bird at Netherhale early in the morning. Other bits and pieces included the first Kingfisher since New Year's Day, a Common Buzzard, the fifth Shoveler brood of the year, 12 Lapwings, 3 Gadwall, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 3 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.