October 16th

On a surprisingly mild morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. The first bird we saw was a lively Black Redstart on the rocks and wall at the car park. Other birds we recorded included 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Gannet W, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Meadow Pipits, 7 Stonechats, 54 Mallard, 1 Teal, 2 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 38 Carrion Crows, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Wheatears, 1 Dunlin, 30 Linnets, 15 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover and 11 Grey Herons in off the sea at Minnis Bay. Other birds seen were 9 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 5 Curlew, 26 Magpies, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Water Rail, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 large auk E, 1 Kestrel, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Short-eared Owl at the Oyster Farm and 1 Rock Pipit.

Record shot of Black Redstart

Matt was out from 0730 to 1345 and walked from Chamber's Wall to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and then along the seawall and along the cliffs to Bishopstone before returning via the Green Wall. He saw a very good range of species including 23 Redwings, 19 Chiffchaffs, 39 Song Thrushes, 47 Skylarks, 4 Common Buzzards, 22 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrests, 275 Chaffinches W, 4 Blackbirds, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 54 Magpies, 9 Lapwings, 18 Greylag Geese, 132 Mallard, 2 Teal, 56 Gadwall, 58 Coot, 4 Rock Pipits, 2 Brambling W, 6 Siskin W, 4 Little Egrets, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 85 Ringed Plovers, 10 Stonechats, 60 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 60 Sanderling, 9 Bearded Tits, 9 Swallows W, 32 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl in off the sea, 6 Corn Buntings, 12 Little Grebes, 1 Golden Plover, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Reed Buntings, 1 Water Rail, 8 Grey Herons, 1 large auk E, 2 Jays, 470 Starlings W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 Firecrest, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler, 33 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whinchat, 2 Kestrels and 40 Goldfinches.

Dave Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and has sightings included 1 Great Crested Grebe, 46 Ringed Plovers, 7 Lapwings, 6 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 153 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Kestrels, 1 Merlin, 1 Hobby, 1 Peregrine, 5 Jays, 12 Magpies, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Firecrests, 13 Song Thrushes, 24 Redwings, 17 Blackbirds, 3 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 13 Chaffinches W and 1 Brambling.