April 14th
On another fantastic spring morning we again walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then inland and recorded 7 Chiffchaffs, 31 Linnets W, 8 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Shoveler, 10 Redshank, 11 Goldfinches W, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Mallard, 48 Turnstone, 1 Swallow W, 4 Sanderling, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Fulmar E, 2 Golden Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Sand Martins W, 2 Kestrel, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot and 1 Pochard.

Part of the flock of Turnstone at Coldharbour

I received two calls at about 0930, the second from Derek Smith, to say that he had just had a Hoopoe (139th) fly E straight over his head at Shuart flying nonstop onto and past Netherhale. The first call, a few minutes before had been from Julian Perry who had just spoken to Brian Chapman at the White Poplars who said he had just had a Hoopoe fly E past him towards Shuart. Obviously the same bird. This is the 13th record for Reculver Marshes and the first since May 2008.
Other birds seen by Derek at Shuart and Plumpudding included 6 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 2 Swallows W, 15 Sedge Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 22 Chiffchaffs and 1 Willow Warbler.