November 9th

On a beautiful sunny morning with the tide out we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 2 Brambling W, 228 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pied Wagtails, 7 Lapwings W, 1 male Black Redstart, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Redpoll W, 13 Skylarks, 3 Grey Herons, 110 Carrion Crows, 2 Stonechats, 31 Oystercatchers, 10 Reed Buntings, 9 Redshank, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Little Grebes, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Corn Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 male Ruff, 48 Mallard and 12 Ringed Plovers.

Male Ruff

Matt was out at first light and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Great Northern Diver on the sea off the Towers, 5 Brambling, 1 male Black Redstart, 3 Chiffchaffs, 295 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Pochard E, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Wigeon, 1 Siskin, 1 Curlew, 5 Grey Herons, 7 Redshank, 34 Corn Buntings, 7 Stonechats, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Lapwings W, 2 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Rock Pipits, 5 Little Grebes, 75 Meadow Pipits, 5 Redpoll, 15 Golden Plovers, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Redwings, 20 Blackbirds, 1 Yellowhammer, 120 Linnets, 140 Chaffinches, 1 Water Rail and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Dave Smith was also out and found a Dartford Warbler near Chamber's Wall as well as 2 Yellowhammers and 1 Brambling W. 

 November 8th

It was sunny this morning as we had a ringing session on the Marsh south of the railway. We saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 75 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Brambling, 25 Song Thrushes, 1 Golden Plover, 15 Skylarks W, 1 Goldcrest, 15 Blackbirds, 2 Peregrines, 1 Snow Bunting flying N, 22 Chaffinches, 3 Siskins, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Little Egret.

Birds ringed 35: Goldcrest 4, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Chaffinch 3, Robin 3, Reed Bunting 7, Blue Tit 1, Stonechat 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Song Thrush 6, Blackbird 6.

First year male Stonechat

 November 7th

We spent an overcast morning ringing at one of our Shuart sites where we saw 6 Cetti's Warblers, 27 Lapwings, 28 Mallard, 20 Redwing, 180 Chaffinches, 2 Fieldfares, 18 Skylarks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30 Blackbirds, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Raven, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Stonechats, 2 Brambling, 2 Barnacle Geese, 6 Greylag Geese, 19 Siskins, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Snipe, 10 Song Thrushes, 1 Firecrest, 2 Redpoll, 10 Reed Buntings, 26 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Corn Bunting and 600 Starlings W.

Birds ringed 42: Goldcrest 2, Firecrest 1, Reed Bunting 6, Blue Tit 4, Cetti's Warbler 3, Chaffinch 5, Blackcap 2, Robin 3, Stonechat 1, Redpoll 1, Dunnock 1, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 9. 

This morning Dave Smith recorded 2 Black Redstarts and a late Wheatear on the rocks at Reculver. 

Wheatear - Dave Smith

 November 6th

This morning we had our first ringing session for a while at Reculver. We saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 24 Lapwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 14 Skylarks W, 6 Redpoll, 1 Red-throated Diver E, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 12 Goldcrests, 35 Siskins, 5 Little Grebes, 131 Coot, 77 Gadwall, 14 Wigeon, 15 Tufted Duck, 25 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Water Rails, 50 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 first winter Dartford Warbler, 2 Fieldfares, 800 Starlings W, 1 Kestrel, 10 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Sparrowhawks.

Birds ringed 34: Goldcrest 7, Chiffchaff 6, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 7, Cetti's Warbler 1,  Blue Tit 4, Robin 1, Redpoll 1, Great Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

First winter Redpoll

 November 5th

On a pleasant but breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 42 Meadow Pipits, 4 Goldfinches, 14 Skylarks, 21 Ringed Plovers, 14 Mute Swans, 31 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 135 Carrion Crows, 9 Common Gulls W, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck,  4 Sanderling, 4 Little Grebes, 300 Starlings, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Kingfisher.

Matt was out before us and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He saw 38 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Wigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechats, 10 Corn Buntings, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes, 58 Ringed Plovers, 12 Curlew, 140 Oystercatchers, 24 Turnstone, 39 Sanderling, 25 Grey Plovers, 4 Bramblings W, 40 Redshank, 1 immature Shag sitting on rocks at Minnis Bay, 2 Redpoll, 1 Sandwich Tern, 59 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 1 Siskin, 3 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 18 Golden Plovers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 45 Chaffinches, 700 Starlings, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Peregrine, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 male Marsh Harrier.

Immature Shag - Matt Hindle

 Marc Heath had 12 Crossbills fly W at Hillborough. 

 November 4th

 This morning Anne and I walked inland at Reculver and saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 7 Redwings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 85 Gadwall, 52 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 130 Coot, 66 Teal, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Meadow Pipits, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Siskins, 85 Stock Doves, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Whilst we were doing this Matt was birding at Shuart where he recorded 10 Goldcrests, 1 Crossbill, 7 Corn Buntings, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 6 Siskins, 23 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Stonechats, 2 Fieldfares, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Redpoll, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese and 1 Common Buzzard. 

We then met at Reculver car park where we saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Skylarks W, 33 Chaffinches W, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 male Scaup flying E (202nd).

 November 3rd

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and then back along the railway embankment. He recorded 5 Rock Pipits, 2 Kingfishers, 5 Gannets, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Peregrine, 8 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Shelduck, 30 Sanderling, 20 Turnstone, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Duck flying W (201st), 22 Grey Plovers, 19 Curlew, 1 Stonechat, 1 Brambling, 7 Goldcrests, 36 Redpoll W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 15 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings, 9 Wigeon, 110 Chaffinches W, 50 Corn Buntings, 1 Sandwich Tern, 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 juvenile Arctic Tern. 

Ruff - Matt Hindle

 

Anne and I walked around the Towers and counted 8 Gannets, 41 Chaffinches W, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 25 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 90 Carrion Crows, 1 Kestrel, 12 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 48 Stock Doves, 1 Swallow flying W, 19 Meadow Pipits, 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Little Egrets and 1 juvenile Arctic Tern E.

November 2nd

We met Matt at a rainy Minnis Bay where we had a seawatch from 0700 to 0930. Birds we counted included 7 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Red-throated Divers, 17 Gannets, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 large auks, 26 Grey Plovers, 5 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Siskins W, 1 Rock Pipit, 140 Chaffinches W, 12 Linnets W, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Arctic Terns fishing offshore, 1 Golden Plover and 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Matt also saw a Harbour Porpoise before we arrived.

 November 1st

On a chilly and showery morning we walked around at Reculver and counted 132 Cormorants, 9 Gannets, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser E, 1 Curlew, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Meadow Pipits, 13 Goldfinches, 6 Chaffinches, 5 Skylarks W, 2 Pied Wagtails and 17 Ringed Plover W.

 October 31st

This morning we walked around at Reculver and saw 75 Chaffinches W, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Goldcrests, 135 Coot, 95 Mallard, 65 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 45 Teal, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redshank, 2 Wigeon, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Pintail

October 30th

On a glorious late autumn morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon and back. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 11 Oystercatchers, 86 Sanderling, 10 Meadow Pipits, 11 Skylarks, 16 Cormorants, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Mallard, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Curlew, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Redshank and 1 Snow Bunting.

Snow Bunting

Goldfinch

Brendan Ryan was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and his highlights were 9 Mute Swans, 1 Canada Goose, 32 Mallard, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 9 Red-legged Partridges, 280 Stock Doves, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 8 Sanderling, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jay, 26 Carrion Crows, 2 Ravens, 20 Skylarks, 2 Chiffchaffs, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Blackcap, 19 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 1 Mistle Thrush, 14 Song Thrushes, 27 Redwings, 26 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 12 Robins, 5 Stonechats, 24 Chaffinches, 1 Bullfinch, 12 Linnets, 1 Redpoll, 28 Goldfinches, 2 Corn Buntings and 28 Reed Buntings.

He the visited Bishopstone and recorded 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 450 Starlings, 7 Robins, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Chafinches, 3 Linnets, 1 Redpoll, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 1 Corn Bunting and 2 Reed Buntings.

 October 29th

It was cloudy with a moderate westerly breeze blowing as we walked inland at Reculver and then at the Towers this morning. We counted 134 Coot, 55 Mallard, 65 Gadwall, 80 Teal, 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Pied Wagtails, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Siskin, 1 Kestrel and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Our walk at the Towers produced 626 Chaffinches flying W in an 45 minutes, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks below the car park, 1 House Martin feeding round the Towers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Brambling flying W, 25 Meadow Pipits, 16 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 30 Common Scoter and 1 Sandwich Tern flying E.

 October 28th

As we left our house this morning on the way to Reculver, 48 Fieldfare flew W over our garden. At a windy Reculver we walked up to Coldharbour and counted 15 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Reed Buntings, 17 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 10 Corn Bunting, 24 Cormorants, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 4 Stonechats, 2 Skylarks, 210 Carrion Crows, 9 Mute Swans and 250 Starlings.

 October 27th

On another cool and windy morning we walked at Reculver and counted 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 135 Coot, 58 Mallard, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Shoveler, 10 Blackbirds, 6 Mute Swans, 88 Teal, 1 Redshank, 65 Gadwall, 4 Little Grebes, 8 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Pintail. 

 October 26th - 200th species for 2025

We birded Reculver a couple of times today but only recorded 25 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 41 Cormorants, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Rock Pipit, 9 Teal and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls W.

Ray O'Reilly visited Reculver today and his highlights included 1 Whooper Swan (200th), 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Firecrests and 1 Ruff.