March 14th
On a miserable, overcast and damp morning Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back via Brooksend and Netherhale. He counted 2 Ravens, 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 14 alba Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer, 12 Blackbirds, 2 Stonechats, 6 Corn Buntings, 56 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Curlew, 46 Mute Swans, 17 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 16 Mallard, 2 Peregrines, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Greenfinches and 2 Kestrels.
Anne and I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Goldfinches, 6 Skylarks, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Chaffinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Mallard, 2 Greylag Geese, 118 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Redshank, 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 Red Kite flying SW, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Green Woodpecker.
We then drove over to Reculver to have a chat with Matt and on our way saw the Red Kite flying over the Roman Galley and at Reculver we saw 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying S, 1 Peregrine and 1 Greylag Goose.
March Heath was also out this morning and between 0600 and 0900 walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back along the railway embankment. He recorded 35 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Kestrel, 17 Meadow Pipits, 4 Shelduck, 5 Mute Swans, 9 Mallard, 7 Redshank, 5 Greylag Geese, 23 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 7 Reed Buntings, 8 Oystercatchers, 15 Linnets, 3 Skylarks, 2 Stonechats, 1 Merlin flying out to sea, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 2 Rock Pipits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Ravens flying E, 120 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers and 6 Tree Sparrows.
Between us we seem to have covered most of the area this morning.