March 16th

It was a sunny morning but the cold north-easterly wind was still blowing as we walked at Reculver and then at Shuart this morning. At Reculver we recorded 10 Goldfinches, 16 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 25 Gadwall, 1 Redshank, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Teal, 4 Little Grebes, 13 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Moorhens, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 12 adult Common Gulls on the sea. 

At Shuart we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Firecrest, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mallard and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and covered most of the eastern half of the recording area between 0800 and 1130. His highlights included 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 2 Shelduck, 27 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Lapwings, 46 Oystercatchers, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrests.