December 31st

The year ended cold and sunny and this morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart, along the embankment and back by way of Coldharbour, Brooksend and Netherhale. In four hours he recorded 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 12 Little Egrets, 500+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Common Buzzards, 5 Kestrels, 1 Peregrine, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 35 Redshank, 93 Golden Plovers, 70 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 14 Curlew, 26 Stock Doves, 55 Blackbirds, 40 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, 14 Song Thrushes, 5 Stonechats, 12 Robins, 65 Chaffinches, 8 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Goldcrests.

 December 30th

Matt seawatched at Reculver from 0750 to 0910 and recorded 244 Red-throated Divers E, 8 Great Crested Grebes E, 2 Mallard, 256 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E, 1 Great Northern Diver W, 1 Peregrine, 27 Oystercatchers and 1 large auk E. 

 December 29th

This afternoon Matt walked at Netherhale, Brooksend and Shuart and counted 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 2 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Jay, 13 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 4 hybrid Canada x Greylag Geese, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, 10 Tundra Bean Geese, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Grey Herons.

 December 27th

Matt had a good morning walking around Shuart, Netherhale and Brooksend He saw 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 120 Stock Doves, 5 Grey Herons, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 11 Tundra Bean Geese, 1 Russian White-fronted Goose, 58 Greylag Geese, 6 Canada x Greylag hybrids and 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Greylag Goose, Russian White-fronted Goose and Tundra Bean Geese - Matt Hindle

 

Tundra Bean Goose and Greylag Goose - Matt Hindle

 

Greylag Goose and Tundra Bean Goose - Matt Hindle

Tundra Bean Geese and Greylag Goose - Matt Hindle

 December 26th

Matt spent a very quiet hour and twenty minutes at Reculver this morning where he counted 1 Kittiwake flying E, 12 Red-throated Divers flying E, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 229 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying E and 5 Teal flying W. 

Dark-bellied Brent Geese - Matt Hindle

 December 24th

On a cold and sunny morning with a strong easterly wind blowing Matt arrived at Reculver at 0730 and seawatched until 1000. He counted 791 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying E, 2 Shelduck W, 2 Great Northern Divers W, 33 Red-throated Divers E, 1 first winter Caspian Gull E then inland, 1 large auk E, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser E, 3 Kittiwakes E, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Gannets E, 6 Barnacle Geese E, 24 Lapwings W, 4 Eiders E, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Tundra Bean Geese E with Brent Geese very close inshore (207th) and 2 Common Scoter E. 

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

 December 19th

On a much nicer morning Matt walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and back. He counted 536 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Black Redstart, 25 Ringed Plovers, 45 Corn Buntings, 8 Stonechats,32 Red-throated Divers, 2 Little Egrets, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver on the sea off the Oyster Farm, 6 Gannets, 5 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Water Rail, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Sanderling, 20 Turnstone and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Black-headed Gull - Matt Hindle

 I have been out of commission for a while because Anne has been unwell but I managed 20 minutes at Reculver this morning and at 1100 saw a male Goldeneye drifting W offshore with 5 Shelduck. 

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He recorded 4 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 14 Grey Plovers, 44 Redshank, 23 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Stonechat, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests and 2 Corn Buntings.

 December 13th

On a sunny and calm morning winter's morning Matt walked at Reculver and counted 3 Grey Wagtails, 5 Little Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 98 Coot, 2 Redshank, 1 Water Rail, 4 Stonechats, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Gadwall, 65 Mallard, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Red-throated Divers E, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 210 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

 December 10th

On a bright and breezy morning I walked at Reculver and recorded 70 Chaffinches, 35 Stock Doves, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 86 Coot, 40 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebes, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Lapwing, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Teal, 8 Long-tailed Tits anf 114 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

 December 8th

This morning with the tide out we walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 13 Meadow Pipits, 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Black Redstart, 12 Mute Swans, 122 Carrion Crows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 11 Redshank, 3 Robins, 42 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 2 Curlew, 10 Mallard, 6 Wigeon, 32 Oystercatchers and 7 Cormorants.

Black Redstart

 December 7th

On another wet and drizzly morning we walked along the seawall at Reculver and counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 459 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 23 Meadow Pipits, 3 Redshank, 1 male Stonechat, 83 Carrion Crows, 8 Cormorants, 16 Mallard, 5 Goldfinches and 6 Ringed Plovers. 

 December 5th

There was a heavy frost this morning as we walked at Reculver and counted 97 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Blackbird, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 81 Coot, 2 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Little Grebes, 138 Mallard, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, 140 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Red-throated Diver. 

 December 4th

It was cold, overcast and drizzly this morning as we spent 40 minutes at Reculver and counted 420 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 19 Gannets, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser flying E, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Great Northern Diver flying E, 5 Cormorants, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Egret and 3 Red-throated Divers flying E.

 December 3rd

Our morning walk at a cold and showery Reculver produced 26 Chaffinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaff, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Blackbirds, 85 Mallard, 20 Gadwall, 95 Coot, 1 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Little Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

 December 2nd

After yesterday's washout this morning was sunny and calm as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We counted 3 Pied Wagtails, 440 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 35 Meadow Pipits, 820 Cormorants, 1 Black Redstart at the Towers, 2 Little Egrets, 150 Carrion Crows, 10 Lapwings, 14 Mallard, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 16 Wigeon, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Redshank, 6 Golden Plovers, 3 Stonechats, 4 Goldfinches, 24 Corn Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.