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.

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.