Reculver Sightings - May

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

If you visit Reculver please email your observations to

christopherhindle@hotmail.com

May 31st

Derek Smith had a walk this morning around Chambers Wall, Cold Harbour and then Shuart from 0630 to 1000. He recorded 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 26 Sedge Warblers, 24 Reed Warblers, 9 Jackdaws flying south, 1 Ring necked Parakeet, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Jay, 5 Turtle Doves, 4 Shelduck, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Turnstones, 2 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern and 5 Cuckoos.

May 28th

On his walk from Chamber's wall to Cold Harbour Matt saw 3 Gannets, 1 Shelduck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Common Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 22 Swifts, 1 Wheatear, 1 Nightingale, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 27th

Derek Smith walked from Chambers Wall to Cold Harbour between 0600 and 0900 on a mild and damp morning. He saw 4 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Sedge Warblers, 13 Reed Warblers, 16 Whitethroats, 2 Long tailed Tits, 26 Common Terns and 9 Sandwich Terns on the beach just west of Cold Harbour, 2 Dunlin, 1 Avocet flying west, 14 Oystercatchers, 18 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel flying west, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels and 26 Swifts.

May 26th

Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 4 Gannets, 1 Fulmar, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Terns, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 23rd

Matt walked to Cold Harbour from Chamber's Wall and saw 5 Little Egrets, 18 Shelduck, including 8 young, 2 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Blue-headed Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Corn Buntings.

May 22nd

Between 0530 and 0830 Derek Smith walked from Chambers Wall to Cold Harbour and the Oyster Farm. He saw 6 Common Terns, 4 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 22 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cettis Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and loads of Sedge and Reed Warblers and Whitethroats.

Also during the morning Tim Hodge saw a female Montagu's Harrier quartering the fields near Cold Harbour. This bird had previously been seen flying east at Swalecliffe and Beltinge. He also saw 3 Grey Plovers, 1 Greenshank and 1 Wheatear.

In the evening John Mills saw and photographed a female Red-footed Falcon sitting on a dead branch at Shuart. This is only the third documented record of this species for the area.

May 21st

Tim Hodge saw a Spotted Flycatcher at Shuart.

May 19th

Derek Smith birded from Chambers Wall to Cold Harbour between 1400 and 1630 and had 1 Nightingale briefly singing at Chamber's Wall, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Reed Warblers, 14 Sedge Warblers, 14 Whitethroats, 28 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Terns, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Turtle Doves.

May 17th

Derek Smith walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour between 0700 and 1000 on a cool, drizzly morning with a NE breeze. He saw 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 17 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 hepatic female Cuckoo, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers, 2 Avocets in Cold Harbour, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Common Terns flying east and 8 Sandwich Terns also flying east.

I will be in Arizona and Utah for the next two weeks birding and will therefore enter any outstanding records for May on my return on 31st.

May 16th

Matt walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and saw 1 Wigeon, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 5 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 6 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Cuckoo and 4 Yellow Wagtails.

May 15th

As we were locking the gate at Chamber's Wall this morning I noticed a harrier over the nearby fields. On closer inspection it was a ring-tailed Montagu's Harrier. When I got home and looked at the photos I had taken the bird appeared to have a grey cast to its mantle and is therefore probably a first summer male.

Other birds seen on our walk to Cold Harbour included 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 11 Turnstone, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 5 Dunlin, 1 Common Tern, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Whitetroats.

May 14th

We met Derek Smith at the Chamber's Wall car park this morning. He had already walked to Cold Harbour and we followed in his footsteps. Between us we saw 5 Gannets flying west, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 5 Sandwich Terns flying east, 4 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 singing Nightingale, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 10 Whitethroats.

May 13th

There was a cool blustery north east wind as we walked around the Oyster Farm lagoons this morning. We saw 1 adult Gannet flying east, 12 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 11 Shelduck, 15 Mallard, 1 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 1 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoos, including a bright rufous female and 4 Yellow Wagtails.

Later at Shuart we saw 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Blackcaps and 4 Whitethroats.

May 12th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and back. Just as we reached the car park on our way back an Osprey flew east over the railway embankment towards Shuart. I only managed to take a long range and not very good photo.

Other birds we saw included 1 Gannet flying east, 2 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 13 Common Scoter, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Oystercatchers, 8 Grey Plover, 3 Turnstone, 1 Knot in summer plumage, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 7 Whitethroats.

May 11th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back around the Green Wall. We saw 4 Gannets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Greylag Goose, 13 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 24 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plover, 14 Grey Plover, 7 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Black-tailed Godwits flying east, 1 Knot, 1 Dunlin, 6 Common Terns, 9 Sandwich Terns, 3 Cuckoos, 18 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 11 Whitethroats.

May 10th

I spent this morning ringing at Reculver where I saw 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Kestrel, 74 Woodpigeons, 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Cuckoos, including a rufous female, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.

Also this morning Derek Smith had a quiet couple of hours, from 0800 to 1000, walking around Chambers Wall and Cold Harbour. He saw 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Knot, 4 Grey Plovers and 4 Ringed Plovers.

At about 1330 my local Herring Gulls' alarm calls put me on to the 134 species I've seen from my garden when a Red Kite flew over low in a westerly direction.

At 1450 Chris Tedder had another 2 Red Kites fly west near Reculver Church and later, at 1650, she saw a Honey Buzzard flying west down West Brook Valley.

This evening we walked inland at Reculver but failed to see any more raptors except for a smart male Marsh Harrier. Other birds we saw included 1 Little Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 2 Lapwings, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 9th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and back around the Green Wall and saw 1 Little Egret, 1 Greylag Goose, 7 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Cuckoos, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 8th

Matt's Big Day

Matt spent the day trying to better or equal the Kent Big Day total for birds seen on foot. Whilst part of his birding was done away from our recording area I think it is worth documenting what he saw here. He writes:

I started at 0425 at a mist-shrouded Grove Ferry. The first bird of the day was a Blackbird closely followed by three or four singing Nightingales by the car park. The next two hours was spent at the viewing ramp where I added another 50 species. The mist cleared at about 0630 so I decided to walk to Stodmarsh and back. Highlights of the Stour Valley were 2 Ruff, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Bittern, 1 Short-eared Owl sitting in the cow field, 1 Whinchat near the Marsh Hide and a Tree Pipit. When I left Grove at 1000 I had reached 83 species.

As I walk to Shuart I was pleasantly surprised to see a Red Kite circling over Chislet Church and then heading north towards Reculver. The walk to Chamber’s Wall took one an a half hours and I eventually reached the sea wall at Minnis Bay at 1240, where I quickly added a good variety of waders to my list including Whimbrel, Knot, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Sanderling. I then spent an hour sea watching at Cold Harbour but was only able to add Gannet, Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern to the list. I then walked to the railway embankment where I reached 100 species when I saw 3 Corn Buntings feeding in a field. I spent until 1725 on Reculver  Marsh where the highlight were very close views of an Osprey hovering over Brook Reservoir.

I then proceeded to walk the three miles to East Blean Wood, only adding Ring-necked Parakeet at Maypole, my 106th species.

The Woods were hot and very quiet and I was beginning to flag and only managed to add two more species, Coal Tit and Treecreeper. I did amazingly see the same, or another, Osprey fly over the Woods. My final walk was to West Blean Woods where it took over an hour to see a roding Woodcock and a Tawny Owl. I finished on 110 species having walked 21.5 miles and having spent 17 hours birding.

Birds I had hoped to see but missed included Wheatear, Grey Partridge and Little Owl. I had an enjoyable day, but I will not be repeating it in the very near future!

There were a few more waders about this afternoon as Anne and I walked from Chamber's Wall to the sea to meet Matt with some sustenance. In all we saw 40 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 9 Grey Plover, 10 Turnstone, 5 Greenshank, 5 Redshank, 13 Common Sandpipers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Knot, 2 Dunlin and 84 Sanderling. Other birds seen included 14 Gannets, 2 Shelduck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 1 male Blue-headed Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.

At about 1645 Matt had an Osprey hover briefly above Brook Reservoir before flying south towards the Stour Valley.

May 7th

This morning we covered the eastern end of the Marsh starting at Chamber's Wall and walking to the stables at Plumpudding Island and returning by way of Cold Harbour. There were few signs that any new birds had arrived overnight and we saw 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 39 Oystercatchers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 25 Whitetroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Blackcap.

This afternoon a Peregrine flew west over my house at Bishopstone and this evening a walk inland from Reculver produced 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, 2 Lapwings, 2 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 6th

On a beautifully sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back by way of the railway embankment and Green Wall. We saw 1 Little Egret, 4 Greylag Geese, 19 Shelduck, 17 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 16 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 rufous female Cuckoo, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

May 5th

An early morning ringing session at Reculver produced the following observations. 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebes, 16 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, a pair of nesting Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 6 Coot, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoos, 30 Sand Martins, 1 Jay, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 20 Reed Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler.

One of the Reed Warblers I retrapped I had originally ringed at Reculver as a juvenile in July 1999.

As I arrived home at 1030 and got out of my car a Little Egret flew west down the road.

Whilst I was ringing Anne birded the Bishopstone area and saw 1 Whimbrel flying west, 2 Sandwich Terns, 90 Sand Martins at the colony, 1 singing Nightingale in the Coastguard bushes, 1 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 singing Corn Bunting.

We should have realised that it was a bad move to walk to Cold Harbour from Chamber's Wall on a Bank Holiday afternoon. There were more cyclists than birds! We gave up quite quickly but did manage to see 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 16 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Blackcap.

May 4th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour and back around the Green Wall. We saw 1 Little Egret, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Bar-headed Goose, 3 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Marsh Harriers, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 14 Turnstone, 1 Snipe, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Redshank, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Turtle Doves, 2 Cuckoos, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 1 Nightingale, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Corn Buntings. On our way home we heard a Yellowhammer singing near the Roman Galley.

This afternoon a walk from Shuart to Netherhale produced 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Lapwings, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.

May 3rd

A Hoopoe was seen flying west along the railway embankment at 0615. Other birds in the area included 1 Peregrine, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Nightingale.

Anne and I walked from Reculver to Cold Harbour and back via the Green Wall from 0800 and saw 2 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Gannets flying west, 4 Greylag Geese, 6 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Grey Partridges, 12 Ringed Plovers, 9 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 1 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Swifts, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 2 male Wheatears looking very much like Greenland birds, 1 Nightingale, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Corn Bunting.

May 2nd

Matt and I spent the morning ringing at Shuart. The highlight was trapping a Reed Warbler that had a French ring on its left leg. Other birds we saw during the morning included 1 Grey Heron, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Lapwings, 9 Turtle Doves, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Swifts, 2 Tree Pipits, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcaps and 1 Corn Bunting.

Also this morning at Bishopstone there were 13 Turnstones, 70 Sand Martins at the colony, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Mickey Baldock birded from Reculver to the Green Wall and saw 5 Little Terns, 30 Yellow Wagtails, 2 White Wagtails and 6 Wheatears.

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Cold Harbour via the Greeen Wall and saw 1 Grey Heron, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Terns, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Wheatears, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

May 1st

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall along the railway embankment to Cold Harbour and saw a good variety of species including 1 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 18 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Knot, 3 Dunlin, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 House Martin flying west, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 1 male Whinchat, 1 Nightingale, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 11 Corn Buntings.

I received a call from Mickey Baldock at 1245 to say that he had just seen a Common Crane circling high above Reculver, mobbed by Herring Gulls, and drifting north west out to sea and out of sight.

This evening Matt found a Short-eared Owl quartering the fields near to Chamber's Wall.