April 3rd
Although there was still an easterly breeze blowing it was less chilly this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. It remains relatively quiet but did count 1 Rock Pipit, 35 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Swallow W, 2 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechats, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Turnstone, 22 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel and 1 Sedge Warbler singing.
April 2nd
With little change in the weather from yesterday we walked at Reculver and then visited Shuart. At Reculver we saw 1 Little Egret, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Sand Martins, 25 Chaffinches, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrushes, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Blackcap, 24 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 12 Gadwall, 12 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swans and 8 Meadow Pipits.
At Shuart we counted 2 Red-legged Partridges, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 singing Greenfinch, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 2 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Common Buzzard.
This afternoon we spent half an hour at a very breezy Minnis Bay and recorded 5 Gannets flying E, 4 Sandwich Terns flying E, 200 Sanderling going to roost, 12 Curlew and 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying W.
April 1st
April began as March ended with bright and sunny conditions but with a chilly NE wind blowing. At Reculver we saw 6 Cetti's Warblers, 23 Linnets, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 12 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 Blackcap, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard and 1 Grey Heron.
 |
| A noisy Greylag Goose |
March 31st
The month ended sunny with a chilly NE wind blowing as Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding. We walked as far as Coldharbour and between us recorded 1 Curlew, 2 Marsh Hariers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Stonechat, 3 Shelduck, 2 Rock Pipits, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 175 Linnets, 31 Turnstone, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Bearded Tits, 4 Snipe, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Lapwings, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Swallow, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Greylag Geese and 16 Magpies.
This evening I received details of the control of a first year Chiffchafff we ringed at Shuart on 24th September 2024. It was controlled on 23rd March 2025 near Warminster, Wiltshire which is 238 km W of Shuart.
March 30th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked at Reculver and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Blackbirds, 27 Goldfinches, 8 Chiffchaffs, 10 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redshank, 7 Teal, 18 Mallard, 16 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 16 Coot, 4 Little Grebes, 12 Linnets, 2 Blackcaps singing, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Sand Martins and 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
 |
| Stock Dove |
March 29th
It was sunny again today but it felt a bit fresher with at chilly NW wind blowing. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back and counted 14 Skylarks singing, 3 Kestrels, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Linnets, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Mallard, 17 Mute Swans, 1 Swallow W, 12 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Oystercatchers, 13 Dark-bellied Geese, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Fieldfares W and 4 Goldfinches. We also had a Raven fly over at Brook as we drove home.
 |
| Redshank |
Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Shelduck, 7 Lapwings, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Coot, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Swallow W, 2 Teal, 1 Little Egret and 3 Sand Martins.
At 1120 Dave Smith had 3 Red Kites flying W over his garden at Hillborough.
March 28th
There was a fresh west wind blowing this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and then had a half hour look at the sea. We saw 5 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 105 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Mallard, 14 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebes, 16 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Ringed Plover (138th), 2 Sand Martins, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Fulmar W, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W and 110 Herring Gulls W in 30 minutes.
Matt was also out this morning and completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Common Buzzards, 9 alba Wagtails W, 2 Stonechats, 6 Shelduck, 130 Linnets, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Snipe, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Lapwings, 2 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Shoveler, 46 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 1 Swallow W (139th) and 1 Black Redstart.
 |
| Wheatears - Matt Hindle |
 |
| Willow Warbler - Matt Hindle |
March 27th
It was yet another beautiful morning as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him to walk back to Reculver. Birds seen included 3 Grey Herons, 20 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 100 Linnets, 30 Mute Swans, 1 Firecrest, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Snipe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 8 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redpoll W (136th), 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrels, 1 Bearded Tit, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Curlew, 1 male Wheatear (137th), 2 Sand Martins and 1 Sedge Warbler.
 |
| Firecrest - Matt Hindle |
March 26th
On another lovely sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 1 Greylag Goose. 2 Little Egrets, 1 Shelduck, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 57 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 3 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mallard, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Skylarks, 29 Mute Swans, 14 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 74 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Sandwich Terns flying E (135th).
 |
| Sanderling |
Dave Smith was out at 0530 this morning and covered the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding areas. His highlights were 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 17 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 5 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 4 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Grebes, 7 Great Crested Grebes. 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 6 Redwings and 6 Corn Buntings.
This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and counted 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Mallard, 18 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 4 Greylag Geese, 10 Teal, 12 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Shelduck and 2 Little Grebes.
March 25th
It was a glorious early spring morning as Anne and I walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow before having another short walk at Bishopstone on the way home. We saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Linnets, 175 Black-headed Gulls mainly flying W, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Fieldfare W, 12 Goldfinches W, 9 Meadow Pipits, 1 Corn Bunting, 22 Turnstone, 2 Skylarks, 152 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 27 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 2 Stonechats, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Bearded Tits, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Sand Martins and 1 adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull W.
 |
| Meadow Pipit on the seawall |
March 24th
On a drab morning with a fresh and chilly north wind blowing Matt completed his regular walk to Plumpudding and we met him at Coldharbour. We saw 20 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 181 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 adult male Black Redstart, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 5 Redwings, 29 Turnstone, 6 Grey Plovers, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Snipe, 15 Curlew, 60 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 female Blackcap, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Fieldfare, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 25 Mute Swans, 2 Gannets E and 1 Sedge Warbler.
 |
| Adult male Black Redstart at Reculver - Matt Hindle |
 |
| Turnstone feeding on whelk egg cases |
March 23rd
On a morning that began damp and misty we walked along the seawall to the Green Wall where we met Matt who had walked to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. We saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 79 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 4 Rock Pipits, 1 Little Owl, 6 Corn Buntings, 4 Stonechats, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Sedge Warbler that sang briefly and was the earliest record for the Marsh, five days earlier than one in 1989 (132nd). Other birds seen included 24 Sanderling, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Snipe, 9 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 9 Curlew, 1 Common Buzzard, 10 Lapwings, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Black Redstart at Reculver.
 |
| Black Redstart - Matt Hindle |
March 22nd
Matt was out early and walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and back inland whilst we were out later and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Matt's final totals were 8 Goldcrests, 1 Black Redstart, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Owl, 2 Stonechats, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rails, 4 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 18 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck, 7 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 1 Spoonbill flying E at Plumpudding at 0710 (131st), 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Dunlin, 7 Redwing, 14 Lapwings, 21 Song Thrushes, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Grey Partridges, 5 Corn Buntings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Gadwall, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Rock Pipits and 14 Turnstone.
 |
| Adult Spoonbill - Matt Hindle |
 |
| Snipe - Matt Hindle |
 |
| Chiffchaff - Matt Hindle |
March 21st
With limited time this morning I walked at Reculver where I saw 15 Goldfinches, 300 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Chiffchaffs, 12 Mallard, 12 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Mute Swans, 14 Coot, 4 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Kestrels, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 41 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and an immature Black Redstart in the carpark (127th).
 |
| Immature Black Redstart |
Matt walked along the seawall from Reculver to Plumpudding and returned along the embankment. He saw 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Curlew, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 51 Woodpigeons N, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Wagtails E, 60 Linnets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, 2 Redwings, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Lapwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 immature male Black Redstart, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Tree Pipit flying E along the embankment which is the earliest spring record at Reculver (128th), 1 Bearded Tit (129th) and 1 Sand Martin (130th).
March 20th
On another fantastic spring morning, Matt was out at daybreak and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him. He counted 27 Chiffchaffs, 25 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Owl, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Shelduck, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Corn Buntings, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 males and 1 female (124th), 12 Redshank, 1 Short-eared Owl (125th), 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Teal, 11 Coot, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 14 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ruff flying E (126th), 2 Stonechats, 1 Curlew and 1 Firecrest at the car park.
 |
| Sunrise at Reculver - Matt Hindle |
