Reculver Sightings - June

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

If you visit Reculver please email your observations to

christopherhindle@hotmail.com

June 30th

At last there were some young birds about when I was ringing at Reculver this morning. I ringed juvenile Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs not to mention Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits. In all I ringed 48 birds as well as seeing 3 Little Grebes, 21 Coot, 1 Curlew, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs.

This evening we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 42 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel flying west at Cold Harbour, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Gull, 1 Common Tern, 20 Swifts and 4 Whitethroats.

June 29th

This morning we completed our last Bird Atlas Tetrad TR26J. This tetrad includes Reculver, Brook and the Oyster Farm and we saw a good variety of species ending up with a total of 57. Birds we saw were 4 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 5 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby, 2 Moorhens, 26 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover,  11 Lapwings, 3 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 52 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 95 Herring Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns, 4 Feral Pigeons, 3 Stock Dove, 31 Woodpigeons, 7 Collared Doves, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 17 Swifts flying west, 9 Skylarks, 25 Sand Martins, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails, 14 Wrens, 6 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 17 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 7 Sedge Warblers, 9 Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Blue Tits, 3 Magpies, 7 Carrion Crows, 30 Starlings, 18 House Sparrows, 5 Chaffinches, 9 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches, 7 Linnets, 8 Crossbills flying west and 2 Reed Buntings.

June 28th

We walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour again this morning and saw 2 Little Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 1 male Common Scoter, 51 Turnstone, 7 Common Terns, including one dark-billed individual,, 4 Sandwich Terns, 14 Swifts flying west, 1 Turtle Dove, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Whitethroats.

June 27th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Habour and as we were returning over the railway crossing 12 Crossbills flew by us west. As we approaced the car park we could hear more Crossbills and there were another 6 in the hawthorn bushes calling and then also flying west.

Other bitds we saw on our walk included 1 Little Grebe, 3 Gannets, 1 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 45 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 14 Common Terns, 9 Sandwich Terns, 2 Turtle Doves, 15 Swifts flying west, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 5 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

June 26th

We completed another Breeding Bird Atlas Count this morning, this time square TR26P including Chamber's Wall, Cold Harbour and the Green Wall. We saw a total of 47 species made up of 1 Mute Swan, 4 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 59 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 16 Herring Gulls, 9 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Common Terns, 1 Feral Pigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 10 Woodpigeons, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 16 Swifts, 10 Skylarks, 11 Sand Martins, 7 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 6 Meadow Pipits, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Blackbirds, 19 Sedge Wrablers, 46 Reed Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 16 Whitethroats, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Magpies, 14 Carrion Crows, 2 Chaffinches, 3 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches, 34 Linnets and 9 Reed Buntings.

We also saw a female Black-tailed Skimmer.

June 25th

This morning we spent two hours completing a Breeding Bird Atlas Count for square TR26E that includes our house, Bishopstone, Old Barns and Hillborough. We recorded the following totals: 11 Pheasants, 1 Little Egret, 2 Kestrels, 2 Hobbies, 24 Black-headed Gulls, 23 Herring Gulls, 1 Sandwich Tern, 13 Feral Pigeons, 5 Stock Doves, 27 Woodpigeons, 37 Collared Doves, 6 Swifts, 11 Skylarks, 150 Sand Martins using 151 nestholes, 9 Meadow Pipits, 6 Wrens, 6 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, 17 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 16 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tits, 4 Magpies, 14 Carrion Crows, 43 Starlings, 45 House Sparrow, 7 Chaffinches, 14 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches and 14 Linnets.

Tim Hodge birded the Marshes south of Reculver and found 6 to 8 Four-spotted Chasers showing well along the dyke east of Brook fields. He also saw a Whimbrel, 2 Curlews flying west, a Barn Owl hunting and a brood of Shovelers. He saw a Green Sandpiper in the same area yesterday.

June 24th

I spent the morning ringing at Shuart where there are still very few young birds, the only one I ringed was the juvenile Robin below. Other birds seen during the morning included 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 3 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Jays, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Whitethroats and 4 Blackcaps.

June 23rd

We spent this morning doing a Breeding Atlas count in East Blean Woods so it wasn't until this evening that we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour. There wasn't much to be seen, only 1 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 62 Turnstone, 1 Common Tern, 1 Sandwich tern, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Whitethroats and 2 Chiffchaffs.

June 22nd

Derek Smith walked from Reculver Towers to Cold Harbour and round the Oyster Farm lagoons between 0630 and 0830 in a stiff westerly breeze. He saw 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby flying west, 7 Common Terns, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Little Egrets on the Oyster Farm and 4 flying east past the Towers, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 8 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 82 Swifts flying west. We did the same walk a little later but could only add 7 Shelduck, 3 Tufted Duck and 10 Lapwings flying west to Derek's totals.

June 21st

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 10 Oystercatchers, 27 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 4 Common Terns, 40 Swifts, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. We also saw a Water Shrew, a species I have never seen at Reculver before.

June 20th

Matt and I spent the morning ringing at Reculver during which time we saw 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Coot, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail flying west, 1 Jay, 40 Sand Martins, 5 Cetti's Warbler, including 3 recently fledged young, 3 Whitethroats and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Whilst we were ringing Anne walked along the beach at Bishopstone. The highlight of her morning, but not for a Sand Martin, was when she was below the cliffs and a Kestrel began chasing a juvenile Sand Martin which it eventually caught in flight. It then landed and ate it no more than 50 feet away from her feet. Other birds she saw included 2 Little Egrets and 2 Sandwich Terns and she counted 160 Sand Martin holes in use. On her return she found 23 flowering spikes of Common Spotted Orchids.

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 62 Turnstone roosting in Cold Harbour, 7 Common Terns, 30 Swifts, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Nightingale, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats, and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

June 19th

Our walk this morning from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour produced 5 Little Egrets, 8 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 30 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 7 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Whitethroats and 2 Lesser Whitethroats.

This afternoon we walked inland from Reculver and saw 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff.

June 18th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw or heard 5 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 16 Turnstone, 9 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

June 17th

Derek Smith had a walk from Shuart to Plumpudding Stables, up to Cold Harbour and back along the railway embankment this morning between 0530 and 0730. He saw 18 Lapwings flying west, 6 Ringed Plovers, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 3 Cuckoos, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Sedge Warblers, 17 Reed Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.

We walked from the opposite direction, from Reculver Towers to Cold Harbour and back, and saw very little, just 6 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Greylag Geese, 12 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Terns, 5 Sandwich Terns and 4 Whitethroats.

June 16th

Whilst ringing at Shuart this morning I saw 2 Little Grebes, 2 Shelduck, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 5 Blackcaps.

At Bishopstone this morning there were 2 Little Egrets, good numbers of Sand Martins at the colony, 1 female Wheatear on the rocks below the cliffs, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.

June 15th

This morning a walk around the Oyster Farm lagoons produced 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 6 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 7 Oystercatchers, 15 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 9 Common Terns, 6 Sandwich Terns, 21 Swifts flying west, 2 Cuckoos, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

June 14th

Derek Smith had a long walk from Reculver Towers to Minnis Bay and back along the railway embankment between 0530 and 0900. He saw 40 Sand Martins over the Oyster Farm, 615 Swifts flying west, with over 400 west from 0530 and 0600 and the rest a steady trickle as the morning went on, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 29 Turnstones, 8 Oystercatchers, 6 Redshank, 4 Common Terns, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 1 Bar-headed Goose, 4 Greylag Geese at the Oyster Farm, 22 Sedge Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 11 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Hariers and 3 Cuckoos.

We walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and back around the Green Wall, this morning and were only able to add 2 Shoveler, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin and 1 Lesser Whitethroat to Derek's totals.

June 13th

On a much brighter and better morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back by way of the railway embankment and Green Wall. We saw 1 Fulmar, 14 Cormorants, 5 Little Egrets, 7 Greylag Geese, 5 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, 17 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 26 Swifts flying west, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler "reeling" and 1 Whitethroat.

June 12th

After the rain had cleared, this afternoon, we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 4 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 31 Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 1 Common Tern, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Whitethroats and 1 Chiffchaff.

We also managed to ring 4 Kestrels chicks from a nest box at Reculver.

June 11th

Derek Smith took an early morning walk from the Towers to Cold Harbour and back in a strong NW wind. He recorded 17 Gannets mostly flying west, 5 Common Terns flying west, 3 Sandwich Terns, 6 Shelduck, 22 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Oystercatchers, 40 Sand Martins over the Oyster Farm, 25 Swifts flying west and 6 Little Egrets.

June 10th

I spent the morning ringing at Shuart where there appears to be very few young birds at the moment, just one or two Long-tailed Tits and Dunnocks. Probably a result of the poor recent weather. Birds I did see included 2 Little Grebes, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Cuckoo, 22 Swifts, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Jackdaws flying high west calling, 4 Whitethroats and 3 Blackcaps.

Derek Smith had a walk from the Towers to Cold Harbour and back from 0630 to 0830 this morning. He saw 3 Mediterranean Gulls,  2 adults flying south west and 1 first summer flying west, 14 Common Terns flying west, 2 Sandwich Terns flying west, 22 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 8 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron.

A Hobby flew over Bishopstone this afternoon.

This evening we walked to Cold Harbour from Chamber's Wall and saw 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Shelduck, 7 Turnstone, 4 summer plumaged Dunlin, one of which was "singing," 2 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Whitethroats and 1 Chiffchaff.

June 9th

This evening we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 3 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Shelduck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 31 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff. We also saw a Little Owl at Shuart.

June 8th

This morning we walked around the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 5 Gannets flying east, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, 3 adult Greylag Geese and 6 small goslimgs, 14 Shelduck including 2 adults with 7 ducklings, 9 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 10 Oystercatchers, 14 immature Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Swifts flying west, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

June 7th

It's still raining!! We had a walk inland from Reculver, this morning, and managed to see 2 Great Crested Grebes with young, 8 Coot, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Blackcap.

At Shuart there was 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Jay, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Whitethroats and 5 Blackcaps.

Derek Smith and Tim Hodge had a walk from Reculver to Cold Harbour this morning in the rain, wind and gloom but it was all very quiet. They saw 1 Fulmar, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Gadwall, 9 Swifts W, 6 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns and 11 Turnstones.

June 6th

No Reculver birding for us today as we had a preplanned day trip to France. We wish we hadn't bothered as it rained heavily all day. At Romelaire everything was quiet or keeping out of the rain, however we did manage to hear 1 Marsh Warbler and see a bedraggled Savi's Warbler. At Etaples we had good views of a family of Short-toed Treecreepers and a Nuthatch. Eventually we were pleased to catch an earlier train home! Next time we hope for sunshine as Romelaire and the surrounding woods look very interesting.

June 5th

This morning was the first time for a while that I was able to go ringing at Shuart. There was not a lot around but I did see or hear 1 Shelduck, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Whitethroats and 8 Blackcaps.

June 4th

On another dreary, drizzly overcast morning our walk from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour produced 4 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Shelduck, 2 Kestrels, 7 Lapwings flying west, 8 Ringed Plover, 24 Turnstone, 1 summer plumaged Dunlin, 8 Common Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats and 1 Chiffchaff.

June 3rd

This morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back and saw 5 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Greylag Geese, 6 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges on the beach, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 10 Ringed Plover, 32 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel flying west, 4 Redshank, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Common Terns, 7 Sandwich Terns, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Whitethroat.

June 2nd

This morning we visited Shuart to ring our last brood of Great Tits only to find them sodden and dead in the box. The wet weather has had a dramatic effect on the fledging success of both Great Tits and Blue Tits this year. At Shuart and Brook Farms we have 22 nest boxes and this year 12 were used, three by Great and nine by Blue Tits. One brood of Great Tits died and two were successful with six in each brood and there were nine Blue Tit broods with four dead and only 25 young fledged from the other five boxes. Over the last two years the number of young fledged per box was 6.8 for Great Tits and 8.0 for Blue Tits. This year it was 6.0 for Great and 6.2 for Blue. So not only has the weather killed over 40% of young birds in the nest boxes it has had an adverse effect on the fledging succes of those that survived.

At Shuart we heard 4 Blackcaps and 1 Whitethroat and at Reculver the pair of Great Crested Grebes appeared to be carrying young on their backs and there was also a female Tufted Duck with one small duckling as well as 1 Little Grebe, 6 Coot, 2 Grey Partridges, 20 sand Martins, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.

June 1st

After going to see the American Golden Plover at Pegwell Bay, this afternoon, we had a quick walk out to the sea from Chamber's Wall. There was not much around and we only saw 3 Little Egrets, 4 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Tern, 3 Cuckoos, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.