January 3rd

There were some heavy showers being blown in on the NE wind this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 530 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Redshank, 1 immature Kittiwake (101st), 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Turnstone, 39 Corn Buntings feeding on the beach, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Stonechats, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 3 Snow Buntings, 1 Little Grebe and 22 Linnets.

Matt began birding at Brooksend this morning where he saw 21 Tufted Ducks, 10 Teal, 8 Coot, 20 Mallard, 4 Grey Herons and 8 Barnacle Goose flying SW (102nd). He then visited Minnis Bay and recorded 90 Red-throated Divers, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Peregrine, 1 Fulmar (103rd), 60 Dunlin, 40 Grey Plovers and 1 Gannet. Later on Reculver Marshes he counted 150 Chaffinches, 20 Redwings, 80 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers, 9 Tree Sparrows (104th) and 30 Reed Buntings.

Marc Heath was out early and recorded 1 Barn Owl, 2 Woodcocks, 3 Snipe, 3 Skylarks and 10 Red-legged Partridges. He the walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the embankment and recorded 42 Redwings, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 3 Snow Buntings, 3 Little Grebes, 10 Reed Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Lapwings, 2 Short-eared Owls, 35 Mute Swans, 8 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Gadwll, 16 Ringed Plovers, 40 Corn Buntings and 4 Stonechats.