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.

Goldfinch feeding on alder

 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.

This afternoon at Netherhale we counted 320 Stock Doves feeding on a newly planted field of cereal.