Reculver Sightings - July

174 species have been recorded in the area so far this year

If you visit Reculver please email your observations to

christopherhindle@hotmail.com

July 31st

This morning Matt and I arrived at Shuart early and spent four hours ringing. We ringed 50 birds and saw 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 30 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 16 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers and 3 Chiffchaffs.

This evening Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and found 5 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 30 Swifts, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Whitethroats and 3 Willow Warblers.

July 30th

This morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Cold Harbour and saw 3 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Eider, 3 Little Egrets, 16 Cormorants, 11 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 9 Turnstone, 7 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 10 Common Terns, 44 Sandwich Terns, 8 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Whitethroats.

During the afternoon Ben Ring saw two adult Ringed Plovers with 2 newly fledged young. Where they another family, or had the eggs below hatched during the day or are they young from from the same nest that have hatched earlier making up the usual clutch of four? He also saw a Clouded Yellow on the railway embankment.

July 29th

Derek Smith had a walk around Shuart in the late morning. There was not much bird life apart from 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Hobby and 4 Marsh Harriers over at Brooksend. However he managed to see 11 species of butterfly around the farm and hedges as well as many Migrant Hawkers.

July 28th

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour but only saw 3 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 14 Turnstone, 4 Whimbrel, 13 Common Terns and 5 Sandwich Terns.

July 27th

Matt made an evening visit to Chamber's Wall and Cold Harbour and saw 3 Shelduck, 1 Eider, 1 Little Egret, 2 Golden Plovers, 12 Turnstone, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, 19 Common Terns, 26 Sandwich Tern, 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroats and 10 Yellow Wagtails.

July 26th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour meeting Derek Smith as he was returning. Between us we saw 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Eider, 1 Fulmar, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobbies, 10 Oystercatchers, 90 Lapwings, 8 Ringed Plover, 9 Golden Plover, 1 Turnstone, 8 Whimbrel, 18 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Sanderling, 68 Sandwich Terns flying E, 2 Swifts flying W, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear and 21 Linnets.

July 25th

I was up early ringing near Reculver during which time I saw 8 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 27 Coot, 5 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 32 Swifts flying W, 1 Jay, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Willow Warbler.

Marc Heath arrived at Reculver where he walked down to Cold Harbour and was joined by Barry Hunt. They continued inland along the Green Wall back to the Towers. Birds noted were 11 Common Terns, 1 Eider, 50 Swifts, 5 Ringed Plovers, 8 Turnstone, 1 Little Ringed Plover briefly on the beach before flying into the Oyster Farm lagoons and lost to view, 21 Yellow Wagtails, 28 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 30 Lapwings, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 5 Whitethroat and 2 Sanderling. There were also 2 Shelduck, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Dunlin, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Egrets, 30 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler, 35 Linnets and a few Reed and Sedge Warblers.

This evening we decided to stroll from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and found a smart adult Roseate Tern roosting on the beach with 9 Common Terns and a few Black-headed Gulls. Other birds we saw included 4 Shelduck, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin and 10 Yellow Wagtails. Whilst Marc and Barry were looking for the Roseate Tern they had 3 Black-tailed Godwits fly past.

July 24th

When we arrived at Reculver there was a strange looking juvenile gull walking about on the grass behind the Towers. The contrasting head pattern was the most obvious feature. I have shown my photos a number of birders and there is a 50/50 feeling for either Yellow-legged Gull or Lesser Black-backed Gull. If you think you know the answer to its identification please let me know.

We nearly avoided the heavy showers as we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back! The tide was out and there wasn't much to see just, 6 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 73 Lapwings, 5 Ringed Plovers, 7 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 3 Common Terns, 4 Sandwich Terns, 24 Swifts flying W, 40 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, 14 Pied Wagtails, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits and 31 Linnets. We also found a single Sea Holly plant amongst the Yellow Horned Poppies.

I received information this morning about a Norwegian ringed Robin we trapped and a Blackbird we ringed that went to Sweden. Full information can be found on the Ringing pages.

July 23rd

We spent this morning ringing near Reculver and found our site was "crawling" with juvenile Whitethroats. In two and a half hours we managed to ring 27. At this time of year Whitethroats particularly like fields of field beans as the plants are covered in aphids. In a week or two these fields will also be attracting large numbers of Sedge Warblers and who knows what else!

Other birds seen included 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 13 Swifts flying W, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 37 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs and 4 Goldfinches.

My first Willow Warbler of the autumn appeared briefly in my garden at lunchtime.

This afternoon we had an uneventful walk from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour seeing 1 Little Egret, 13 Ringed Plovers, 14 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin, 3 Common Terns, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 70 Swifts, 40 Swallows and 100 Sand Martins.

July 22nd

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall around the Green Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers, 71 Lapwings, 9 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Whimbrel, 21 Dunlin in summer plumage, 3 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 4 Turtle Doves, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Whitethroats.

There were over 40 Painted Ladies on the Buddleia bushes in my back garden yesterday and today.

David Elliott saw 2 Clouded Yellows between Reculver and Cold Harbour today.

July 21st

We walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour this morning and saw 4 Shelduck, 1 Eider, 32 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 10 Oystercatchers, 45 Lapwings, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Turnstone, 25 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 7 Dunlin, 6 Common Terns, 12 Sandwich Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Pied Wagtails, 28 Meadow Pipits and 26 Linnets. In addition, this afternoon, between Chamber's Wall and Cold Harbour there was 1 Hobby, 12 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 2 Turtle Doves and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

July 20th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and back round the Green Wall and saw 5 Shelduck, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby unsuccessfully chasing juvenile Swallows, 7 Oystercatchers, 23 Lapwings, 11 Redshank, 6 summer plumaged Dunlin, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 9 Common Terns, 34 Sandwich Terns, 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Whitethroats.

July 19th

Most of the locals were out this morning covering the western end of the Marsh and between 0515 and 0915 we saw 2 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Eider, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby, 17 Oystercatchers, 68 Lapwings, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Dunlin, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 adult and 1 second summer, 19 Common Terns, 17 Sandwich Terns, 531 Swifts flying W, mainly before 0800, 30 Pied Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

July 18th

I awoke this morning to a fresh NW wind blowing and so decided to do a seawatch at Reculver in the hope of seeing Manx or Balearic Shearwaters. I spent a disappointing hour at the Towers and only saw the following flying W. 34 Common Scoter, 3 Gannets, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 5 Common Terns and 11 Sandwich Terns.

Whilst I was doing this Barry Hunt and Marc Heath walked up to Cold Harbour and saw 1 Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Common Sandpipers, 50 Redshank, 9 Dunlin flying W, 1 Sanderling, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 25 Common Terns and 15 Sandwich Terns.

July 17th

After the heavy overnight rain and thunder we thought that there would be a chance of finding some disorientated or grounded waders on our walk from Reculver to Cold Harbour this morning. In the event we saw 11 species made up of 11 Oystercatchers, 12 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers flying S, 1 Golden Plover, 17 Turnstone, 114 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 10 Common Sandpipers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits flying W, 4 Whimbrel flying W and 7 Dunlin flying W. Other birds we saw included 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 29 Common Terns, 42 Sandwich Terns, 5 Swifts flying W, 20 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat, 23 Linnets and 1 Corn Bunting.

July 16th

Matt and I spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we ringed 50 birds; mainly juvenile Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Blackcaps. They seem to have had an excellent breeding season. Other birds seen included 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Whitethroats and 15 Blackcaps. There were also good numbers of common butterflies including a Marbled White.

July 15th

There was a fresh SW wind with drizzle in the air as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour this morning. We saw 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Turnstone, 17 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Terns, 87 Sandwich Terns feeding with gulls and 1 Gannet on a fish shoal half a mile off shore, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Corn Bunting.

July 14th

There is still very little sign of migration at Reculver and so our walk this morning from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back did not produce very much. We saw 1 Shelduck, 1 Eider, 6 Little Egrets, 15 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings flying W, 11 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 19 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 5 Common Terns, 7 Sandwich Terns, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Pied Wagtails, 18 Meadow Pipits, 28 Linnets and 1 Corn Bunting.

July 13th

I spent a very quiet morning ringing near Reculver and only saw 1 Curlew, 30 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps and 4 Goldfinches.

A Grey Wagtail flew W along the coast at Bishopstone this morning.

As we drove up the concrete road to Chamber's Wall, this afternoon, there were at least 150 Swallows and Sand Martins feeding over the rape fields on either side of the road. Our walk to Cold Harbour produced very little more, just 2 Common Terns, 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Whitethroat.

July 12th

As we arrived at Reculver to walk to Cold Harbour we met Barry Hunt and almost the first bird we saw was a Black Redstart amongst the caravans at the beginning of the seawall. Other birds we saw included 1 Eider, 2 Little Egrets, 11 Oystercatchers, 6 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 13 Redshank, 1 adult Common Gull, 2 Common Terns, 7 Sandwich Terns, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Corn Bunting.

July 11th

On a drizzly morning we walked from Cold Harbour round the Green Wall to Cold Harbour and saw very little. What we did see included 3 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 3 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 9 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Whitethroats.

We also found an Emperor Moth caterpillar walking across the track near Cold Harbour.

Marc Heath met Barry Hunt at the Towers this morning and took a walk along the  seawall  to Coldharbour before returning inland via the Green Wall. In murky conditions with occasional rain they noted, 15 Sandwich Terns, 5 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 10 Oystercatchers, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Hobby hunting over the Oyster Farm, 3 Ringed Plovers,1 Eider,2 Dunlin, 9 Turnstone, Little Egrets, 1 Shelduck,  1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull flying W, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Whimbrel flying E, 60 Swifts  flying W, 6 Common Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Partridge, 20 Meadow Pipits, 15 Linnets and a couple of singing Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats. Gatekeepers and Meadow Brown were quite numerous with fresh Painted Lady and 1 Essex Skipper.

An evening walk inland from Reculver produced 1 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 20 Tufted Duck, 7 Little Grebes, 26 Coot, 2 Hobbies and 1 Corn Bunting.

July 10th

We spent another morning ringing at Reculver and saw 19 Tufted Ducks, 6 Sparrowhawks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 21 Coot, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 2 Turtle Doves, 145 Swifts flying W, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Blackcap.

David Elliott visited Reculver during the day and saw 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 27 Whimbrel flying W in 2 flocks, 3 Redshanks, 1 Yellow Wagtail as well as 2 Marbled Whites.

July 9th

Matt and I spent the morning ringing at Reculver during which time we saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Turtle Dove, 80 Sand Martins, 1 Nightingale, 24 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 2 Goldfinches.

This afternoon a walk from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour at high tide produced very little, just 1 Curlew, 4 Common Terns, 4 Sandwich Terns, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

July 8th

Considering the miserable weather this morning Derek Smith had a reasonable selection of birds and thoroughly enjoyed his walk from the Towers to Cold Harbour and back between 0600 and 0845.  Highlight was a Black-tailed Godwit, but the spectacle of a movement of swifts was amazing as well. He saw 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 12 Shelduck, 2 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Dunlin, 14 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Gannets flying W, 8 Little Egrets, 635 Swifts flying W by 0830 with some in flocks of over 60 birds.

On a cool and showery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall round the Green Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 4 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 10 Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 7 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 4 Turtle Doves, 34 Swifts flying W, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 7 Whitethroats.

July 7th

This morning we met Philip Goacher on the seawall as we walked up to Cold Harbour and between us we saw 2 Shelduck, 1 Eider, 3 Little Grebes, 7 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Curlew, 4 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Pied Wagtails, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Corn Bunting singing.

July 6th

There was a different feel to the weather this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall round the railway embankment to Cold Harbour. It was far less humid and there was a fresh SW breeze. Birds we saw included 2 Shelduck, 1 Fulmar, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 5 Common Terns, 2 Turtle Doves, 16 Swifts flying W, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 13 Whitethroats.

This afternoon Anne and I ringed a Sparrowhawk brood on the Marsh that consisted of 2 male and 2 female pulli. There is a significant size difference between males and females so much so that they take different sized rings. They can be sexed on the length of their tarsi even as young as eight days old.

July 5th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back meeting Barry Hunt on the way. We saw 1 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Eider, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 1 Greenshank flying W, 1 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Curlew, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 adult and 1 second summer, 4 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Whitethroat.

Barry Hunt also heard a Grasshopper Warbler "reeling" briefly on the cliffs below the Miramar Rest Home.

July 4th

I spent the morning ringing near Reculver and continued to ring lots of juvenile warblers. Compared to last year the weather has been much better and survival rates for small birds must be very good. Birds I saw during the course of the morning included 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebes, 3 Sparrowhawks, 13 Coot, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank flying W, 1 Curlew, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 20 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Derek Smith started out from Chambers Wall just after 0500 and walked up to Cold Harbour and then on to Reculver where he met Marc Heath. They walked back along the seafront reaching Chambers Wall at 0900. Bewtween them they saw 7 Little Egrets, 1 Hobby flying E, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Eider, 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Oystercatchers, 7 Turnstones, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshank flying W, 2 Cuckoos, including 1 hepatic female, 3 Turtle Doves, 21 Meadow Pipits, 2 Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns. They also saw 1 Small Tortoiseshell,  a few Red Admirals, 2 or 3 Essex Skippers, a Gatekeeper and several Meadow Browns and Commas.

July 3rd

We arrived at Reculver later than normal this morning and walked along the seawall to Cold Harbour and back. We saw 20 Common Scoters flying E, 1 Eider, 1 Gannet flying E, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 18 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Common Tern, 9 Sandwich Terns, 41 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Pied Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

July 2nd

On a beautiful, hot, sunny morning we walked from Reculver round the Oyster Farm lagoons to Cold Harbour. Birds we saw included 2 Shelduck, 1 Eider, 1 Little Grebe, 14 Little Egrets, 10 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 2 Common Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns flying E, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Corn Bunting singing.

July 1st

This morning we walked from Reculver round the Oyster Farm lagoons and on to Cold Harbour, meeting Barry Hunt on the way. Between us we saw 4 Shelducks, 2 Teal, 1 Eider, 2 Gannets flying E, 1 Fulmar, 8 Little Egrets, 15 Oystercatchers, 1 Avocet, 3 Lapwings flying W, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Terns mainly flying E, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Corn Bunting.

This evening a walk from Shuart to Netherhale produced 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 4 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Corn Buntings.