January 29th
On another chilly morning with the tide out we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 70 House Sparrows, 870 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Meadow Pipits, 5 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 15 Oystercatchers, 7 Grey Plovers, 2 Stonechats, 85 Corn Buntings, 4 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 7 Turnstone, 17 Reed Buntings, 5 Chaffinches, 23 Ringed Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 6 Cormorants.

January 28th
Although the sun was shining this morning there was an eyewateringly cold west wind blowing as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. There was not a great deal to be seen but we did count 920 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Curlew, 35 Ringed Plovers, 17 Oystercatchers, 9 Cormorants, 3 Shelduck, 11 Turnstone, 7 Mallard, 12 Grey Plovers and 3 Stonechats.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

January 26th
On a much brighter start to the morning than the weather forecast had suggested we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 30 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cetti's Warblers,42 Mute Swans, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 76 Corn Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 2 Stonechats, 13 Mallard, 14 Mallard, 8 Redshank, 380 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 male Shoveler, 2 Coot, 1 Little Egret and 8 Skylarks.

January 24th
It was still cloudy this morning but brighter than yesterday as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We recorded 135 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Oystercatchers, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Redshank, 96 Corn Buntings, 23 Mallard, 8 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Yellowhammers, 5 Tree Sparrows, 44 Ringed Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Fulmar flying E, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Peregrines, 1 adult and 1 immature, 1 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 30 Reed Buntings and 1 Kestrel.

January 23rd
For a change of scenery this morning we walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and back via Brooksend and Netherhale. We counted 1 Woodcock, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 singing Mistle Thrushes, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Common Buzzards, 2 Jays, 150 Cormorants flying out to sea, 1 Kestrel, 13 Mallard, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Redshank, 35 Corn Buntings, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 85 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 26 Oystercatchers, 8 Sanderling, 9 Teal, 40 Grey Plovers and 2 Curlews. On our way back from Minnis Bay we saw 1 adult Peregrine, 12 Mute Swans, 4 Golden Plover, 12 Greylag Geese, 30 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 130 Lapwings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 98 Goldfinches in 2 flocks, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Red-legged Partridges and 1 female Merlin.

January 22nd
Visibility was poor this morning with wet mist hanging over the seawall as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour.

A misty Coldharbour

Birds we managed to see included 4 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Turnstone, 67 Ringed Plovers, 60 Corn Buntings, 33 Reed Buntings, 492 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Cormorants, 28 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Shelduck, 45 House Sparrows, 1 Yellowhammer, 7 Sanderling, 8 Dunlin and 1 immature Shag fishing off the Towers where it caught two small flat fish before coming in to roost on one of the rocks.

Immature Shag showing off its diagnostic pale feet and legs

This morning Julian Perry had a Fulmar (113th) flying along the cliffs between Bishopstone and Reculver.

January 21st
On a glorious, frosty, winter's morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 5 Shelduck, 42 Ringed Plovers, 8 Sanderling, 12 Redshank, 23 Lapwings, 5 Mute Swans, 57 Corn Buntings, 6 Turnstone, 1 adult male Peregrine hunting along the tideline, 2 Stonechats, 1,013 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Meadow Pipits, 4 Yellowhammers, 60 House Sparrows and 30 Reed Buntings.

Male House Sparrow at the King Ethelbert