Monday 18 March 2024

March 18th

On another mild morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 6 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 75 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Linnets, 10 Skylarks, 11 Meadow Pipits, 19 Corn Buntings, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Rock Pipit, 44 Carrion Crows, 28 Oystercatchers, 4 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Stonechat and 3 Turnstone.

Meadow Pipit

Matt was out before us and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 18 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 32 Cetti's Warblers, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Shelduck, 10 Stonechats, 7 Ringed Plovers, 28 Turnstone, 15 Corn Buntings, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Greylag Geese, 7 Bearded Tits, 30 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Siskin W, 17 Curlew, 6 Little Egrets, 12 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Brambling W (133rd), 14 Lapwings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Gadwall, 1 Yellowhammer and 2 Marsh Harriers.

Sunday 17 March 2024

March 17th

It was a drizzly morning as we walked around the Reculver area and saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Song Thrush, 11 Cormorants, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Skylarks, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Pied Wagtail and 42 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Saturday 16 March 2024

March 16th

It was a glorious early spring morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm. We recorded 5 Mallard, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Greylag Geese, 1 Corn Buntings, 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Lapwings, 11 Skylarks, 9 Reed Buntings, 8 Chaffinches, 17 Linnets, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 pair of Bearded Tits feeding beside the Wantsum, 15 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 78 Carrion Crows, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Ringed Plover flying W and calling loudly (132nd), 120 Starlings, 1 Stonechat, 1 Raven, 10 Meadow Pipits and 2 Shelduck.

Male Stonechat

Derek Smith was out between 0730 and 1215 and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 4 Grey Herons, 1 Cattle Egret at Netherhale, 113 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Canada Geese W, 1 Greylag Goose W, 2 Shelduck,  5 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Red Kites at Upper Hale,12 Lapwings, 2 Curlew E, 1 Snipe, 1 summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull, 1 Raven, 20 Cetti's Warblers and 22 Chiffchaffs. He also saw one or Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies.

This evening we saw a Merlin hunting near the Roman Galley.

Friday 15 March 2024

March 15th

On another mild but showery morning we walked onto the Marsh and recorded 4 Skylarks, 10 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat, 24 Chaffinches, 2 Green Sandpipers, 15 Mute Swans, 4 Linnets, 14 Tufted Ducks, 6 Coot, 6 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Cormorants and 2 Greylag Geese.

Whilst we were at Reculver, Matt walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding and saw 7 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 11 Grey Herons building 4 nests, 4 Greenfinches, 1 Mistle Thrush, 15 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Redwings, 4 Jays, 16 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 14 Lapwings, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Tufted Ducks, 13 Coot, 3 Kestrels, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Fieldfare in off the sea, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Wigeon, 27 Mallard and 1 Common Buzzard.

This afternoon on his drive home Matt had a Red Kite (131st) fly south over the Thanet Way at Shuart.

Thursday 14 March 2024

March 14th

On a pleasant March morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and but didn't see a great deal. We counted 8 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Greenfinch, 12 Skylarks, 29 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Chaffinches, 6 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Golden Plovers, 4 Lapwings, 7 Reed Buntings, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Chiffchaffs, 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Oystercatchers and 3 Redwings.

On a mild afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 6 Coot, 12 Cormorants, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

March 13th

At least it wasn't raining this morning as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment and we walked in from Reculver and met him at Coldharbour. Between us we saw 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 387 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 48 Meadow Pipits W, 4 alba wagtails W, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Shelduck, 23 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Curlew, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Snipe, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Redwing, 15 Lapwings, 2 Greylag Geese, 6 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Jay, 4 Ringed Plovers, 7 Mallard and 19 Linnets.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

March 12th

This morning Derek Smith was out between 0630 and 0900 in the pouring rain and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He saw 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Spoonbill flying W at Plumpudding (130th), 1 female Marsh Harrier, 4 Lapwings, 35 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 14 Song Thrushes, 30 Blackbird, 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 26 Chiffchaffs mostly along the embankment and 1 singing Firecrest.

Spoonbill - Derek Smith


Monday 11 March 2024

March 11th

It was a raw and damp morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Curlews, 20 Linnets, 5 Shelduck, 2 Skylarks, 5 Redshank, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Oystercatchers, 3 Mallard, 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Teal, 26 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe and 4 Corn Buntings.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

A visitor to our garden this morning


Sunday 10 March 2024

March 10th

In pouring rain this morning Matt walked up to Plumpudding and Anne and I spent an hour at Reculver. Highlights were 4 Avocets flying W and 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Snipe, 3 Curlew, 5 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Little Egret.

Saturday 9 March 2024

March 9th

The south easterly wind was not as chilly or strong as yesterday as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back in bright sunshine. We recorded 12 Mallard, 5 Reed Buntings, 11 Skylarks, 13 Linnets, 17 Chaffinches, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 500 Starlings, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 singing Chiffchaff at Chamber's Wall, 2 Goldcrests, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank, 2 Shoveler, 550 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 130 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Turnstone, 49 Sanderling, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel and 1 Greenfinch.

Male Reed Bunting

Friday 8 March 2024

March 8th

On a sunny morning with a fresh easterly breeze blowing we spent an hour and a half completing and underwhelming seawatch at Reculver. We counted 140 Common Scoter sitting on the sea out by the red buoy, 13 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gannets, 23 Black-headed Gulls E, 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Common Gulls E, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls E, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 1 Guillemot E, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Grey Heron.

We then walked inland and saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Cormorants, 14 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Mallard, 2 nesting Grey Herons, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Coot and 1 Kestrel.

Thursday 7 March 2024

March 7th

This morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 8 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings, 21 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Blackbirds, 9 Chaffinches, 200 Starlings, 2 Goldfinches, 10 Redwings, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mallard, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 first winter and 1 second winter flying E together, 6 Meadow Pipits, 130 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Wednesday 6 March 2024

March 6th

There were a lot of showers about this morning but we managed to avoid them as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 8 Shelduck, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Corn Buntings, 16 Ringed Plovers, 12 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 22 Linnets, 2 Ravens flying towards Thanet, 9 Oystercatchers, 4 Reed Buntings singing, 82 Carrion Crows, 395 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Skylarks, 154 Black-headed Gulls flying E, 4 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Gannet E, 2 Mallard, 1 Water Rail, 1 Redshank and 1 Stonechat.

Oystercatcher

Matt was also out this morning and walked out on to the Marsh to Chamber's Wall meeting us at Coldharbour and then walking back with us to Reculver. He saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Gadwall, 1 Goldcrest, 21 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 11 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 30 Chaffinches, 11 Corn Buntings, 90 Fieldfares, 350 Starlings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Song Thrushes, 15 Redwings, 5 Lapwings, 3 Little Egrets, 1 large auk, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Red-throated Divers, 393 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Gannet, 1 Water Rail and 1 Stonechat.

Tuesday 5 March 2024

March 5th

It was a miserable and drizzly morning as Anne and I visited Reculver and Shuart. At Reculver we counted 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Mallard, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 12 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 16 Cormorants, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebes and 2 Long-tailed Tits and at Shuart we saw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 49 Linnets, 30 Chaffinches, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Tufted Duck, 29 Teal, 3 Mallard and 4 Goldfinches. 

Our morning was brightened up considerably when we received a call from Matt to say he had found an extremely early male Ring Ouzel  flying around and calling at the caravan bushes (129th). We arrived five minutes later and managed to see it before it flew into the Oyster Farm.

Record shot of the Ring Ouzel - Matt Hindle

 Before Matt found the Ring Ouzel he had walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back counting 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Shelduck, 21 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Curlews, 145 Common Scoter, 30 Carrion Crows, 1 Rook on the beach, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Gadwall, 2 Red-throated Divers, 165 Oystercatchers, 45 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 35 Turnstone, 12 Grey Plovers, 3 Snipe, 14 Redshank, 3 Stonechats, 4 Canada Geese, 3 Common Buzzards, 8 Little Egrets, 21 Lapwings, 1 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 4 Coot, 5 Redwings, 1 Water Rail, 2 Corn Buntings and 191 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Monday 4 March 2024

March 4th

On a glorious early spring morning we walked out on to the Marsh and recorded 1 Raven, 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards, 50 Chaffinches, 15 Mute Swans, 8 Linnets, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Coot, 8 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 5 Moorhens, 7 Cormorants, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Teal, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 4 singing Skylarks.