March 29th

It was sunny again today but it felt a bit fresher with at chilly NW wind blowing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back and counted 14 Skylarks singing, 3 Kestrels, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Linnets, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Mallard, 17 Mute Swans, 1 Swallow W, 12 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Oystercatchers, 13 Dark-bellied Geese, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Fieldfares W and 4 Goldfinches. We also had a Raven fly over at Brook as we drove home.

Redshank

 Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Shelduck, 7 Lapwings, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Coot, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Swallow W, 2 Teal, 1 Little Egret and 3 Sand Martins.

 March 28th

There was a fresh west wind blowing this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and then had a half hour look at the sea. We saw 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 105 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Mallard, 14 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebes, 16 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Ringed Plover (138th), 2 Sand Martins, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Fulmar W, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W and 110 Herring Gulls W in 30 minutes.

Matt was also out this morning and completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Common Buzzards, 9 alba Wagtails W, 2 Stonechats, 6 Shelduck, 130 Linnets, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Snipe, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Lapwings, 2 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Shoveler, 46 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 1 Swallow W (139th) and 1 Black Redstart.

Wheatears - Matt Hindle

 

Willow Warbler - Matt Hindle

 March 27th 

It was yet another beautiful morning as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him to walk back to Reculver. Birds seen included 3 Grey Herons, 20 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 100 Linnets, 30 Mute Swans, 1 Firecrest, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Snipe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 8 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redpoll W (136th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrels, 1 Bearded Tit, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Curlew, 1 male Wheatear (137th), 2 Sand Martins and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Firecrest - Matt Hindle

 March 26th

On another lovely sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 1 Greylag Goose. 2 Little Egrets, 1 Shelduck, 1 female Marsh Harrier,  2 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 57 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 3 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mallard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Skylarks, 29 Mute Swans, 14 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 74 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Sandwich Terns flying E (135th).

Sanderling

Dave Smith was out at 0530 this morning and covered the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding areas. His highlights were 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 17 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 5 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 4 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Great Crested Grebes. 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 6 Redwings and 6 Corn Buntings.

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and counted 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Mallard, 18 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 4 Greylag Geese, 10 Teal, 12 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Shelduck and 2 Little Grebes.

 March 25th

It was a glorious early spring morning as Anne and I walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow before having another short walk at Bishopstone on the way home. We saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Linnets, 175 Black-headed Gulls mainly flying W, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Fieldfare W, 12 Goldfinches W, 9 Meadow Pipits, 1 Corn Bunting, 22 Turnstone, 2 Skylarks, 152 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 27 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Bearded Tits, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Sand Martins and 1 adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull W.

Meadow Pipit on the seawall

 Matt covered the whole area this morning and walked from Netherhale along the coast to Bishopstone and back inland. He counted 58 Redwings, 5 Green Woodpeckers, 24 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 9 Canada Geese, 14 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 3 Kestrels, 1 Fieldfare, 15 Curlew, 20 Sanderling, 2 Stonechats, 3 Snipe, 50 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 49 Turnstone, 4 Marsh Harriers, 8 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Gannets, 6 Shelduck, 2 Firecrests at Coldharbour, 31 Magpies on the seawall, 1 Shoveler, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Common Scoter, 8 Sand Martins, 54 Corn Buntings, 1 female Bullfinch (133rd), 1 singing Blackcap, 15 Gadwall, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Grebes, 12 Coot, 1 singing Willow Warbler (134th), 40 Chaffinches, 12 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. He also saw two Brimstone butterflies.

 March 24th

On a drab morning with a fresh and chilly north wind blowing Matt completed his regular walk to Plumpudding and we met him at Coldharbour. We saw 20 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 181 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 adult male Black Redstart, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 5 Redwings, 29 Turnstone, 6 Grey Plovers, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Snipe, 15 Curlew, 60 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 female Blackcap, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Fieldfare, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 25 Mute Swans, 2 Gannets E and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Adult male Black Redstart at Reculver - Matt Hindle

 

Turnstone feeding on whelk egg cases

 March 23rd

On a morning that began damp and misty we walked along the seawall to the Green Wall where we met Matt who had walked to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. We saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 79 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 4 Rock Pipits, 1 Little Owl, 6 Corn Buntings, 4 Stonechats, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Sedge Warbler  that sang briefly and was the earliest record for the Marsh, five days earlier than one in 1989 (132nd). Other birds seen included 24 Sanderling, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Snipe, 9 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 9 Curlew, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Lapwings, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Black Redstart at Reculver.

Black Redstart - Matt Hindle

 

 March 22nd

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and back inland whilst we were out later and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Matt's final totals were 8 Goldcrests, 1 Black Redstart, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Owl, 2 Stonechats, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rails, 4 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 18 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2  Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 7 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 1 Spoonbill flying E at Plumpudding at 0710 (131st), 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Dunlin, 7 Redwing, 14 Lapwings, 21 Song Thrushes, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Corn Buntings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Gadwall, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Rock Pipits and 14 Turnstone.

Adult Spoonbill - Matt Hindle

 

Snipe - Matt Hindle

Chiffchaff - Matt Hindle

 March 21st

With limited time this morning I walked at Reculver where I saw 15 Goldfinches, 300 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaffs, 12 Mallard, 12 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Mute Swans, 14 Coot, 4 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 41 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and an immature Black Redstart in the carpark (127th). 

Immature Black Redstart

Matt walked along the seawall from Reculver to Plumpudding and returned along the embankment. He saw 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Curlew, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 51 Woodpigeons N, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Wagtails E, 60 Linnets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, 2 Redwings, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Lapwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 immature male Black Redstart, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Tree Pipit  flying E along the embankment which is the earliest spring record at Reculver (128th), 1 Bearded Tit (129th) and 1 Sand Martin (130th).

March 20th

On another fantastic spring morning, Matt was out at daybreak and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him. He counted 27 Chiffchaffs, 25 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Shelduck, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Corn Buntings, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 males and 1 female (124th), 12 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl (125th), 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Teal, 11 Coot, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 14 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ruff flying E (126th), 2 Stonechats, 1 Curlew and 1 Firecrest at the car park.

Sunrise at Reculver - Matt Hindle

 

 March 19th

On a beautiful, early spring morning we walked from Reculver to the Wantsum ouflow with the tide going out. Birds we saw included 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Linnets, 1 Little Owl (122nd), 15 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Corn Buntings, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (123rd), 1 Curlew, 12 Dunlin, 1 Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets and 1 Chiffchaff.

This afternoon we walked inland at a sunny Reculver and saw 85 Chaffinches, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Tufted Duck, 19 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Teal, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 18 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 female Brambling and 3 Yellowhammers.

Little Owl

 March 18th

It was bright and breezy this morning as we walked at Reculver and recorded 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Mallard, 4 Greylag Geese, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, 16 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Little Egret.

 March 17th

On another chilly and breezy morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumudding before walking back along the  embankment to Chamber's Wall where we met him and then walked back along the seawall to Reculver. His morning's totals were 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Egret, 375 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ravens, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Lapwings, 7 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying E, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Stonechats, 1 Curlew and 1 Snipe.

 March 16th

It was a sunny morning but the cold north-easterly wind was still blowing as we walked at Reculver and then at Shuart this morning. At Reculver we recorded 10 Goldfinches, 16 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 25 Gadwall, 1 Redshank, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Teal, 4 Little Grebes, 13 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Moorhens, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 12 adult Common Gulls on the sea. 

At Shuart we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Firecrest, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mallard and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Goldfinch feeding on alder

 Derek Smith was also out this morning and covered most of the eastern half of the recording area between 0800 and 1130. His highlights included 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 2 Shelduck, 27 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Lapwings, 46 Oystercatchers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrests.

This afternoon at Netherhale we counted 320 Stock Doves feeding on a newly planted field of cereal.

March 15th

With a fresh and cold, north-easterly wind blowing we spent a short time at Reculver before walking inland. We saw 18 Red-throated Divers, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 large auk, 4 Gannets, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 30 Chaffinches,1 Jay, 20 Goldfinches, 11 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 29 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 male White Wagtail, 15 Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 6 Moorhens.

We then drove down to Netherhale where we saw 20 Tufted Ducks, 1 Barnacle Goose, 10 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Merlin, 4 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Male Ring-necked Parakeet