October 19th
On a glorious autumn morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 2 Grey Partridges, 55 Meadow Pipits, 2 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff, 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Greylag Goose, 58 Ringed Plovers, 3 Sandwich Terns, 42 Oystercatchers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Redshank, 9 Skylarks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Corn Buntings, 16 Linnets, 8 Robins, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 16 Cormorants, 2 Bearded Tits, 6 Turnstone, 120 Golden Plovers, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Snipe, 34 Goldfinches and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
We met Matt on the seawall after he had walked in from Chamber's Wall. After this he returned along the Green Wall and his final totals were 2 Grey Herons, 6 Greylag Geese, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Redwings, 17 Brambling, 1 Firecrest, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 8 Redpoll, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Little Egrets, 151 Lapwings, 1 Water Rail, 2 Shelduck, 11 Stonechats, 85 Meadow Pipits, 3 Goldcrests, 13 Sandwich Terns, 3 Curlew, 7 Ravens, 2 Dartford Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Merlin, 3 Rock Pipits, 1 Swallow, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Teal, 40 Corn Buntings, 120 Golden Plovers, 6 Siskins, 1 Greenfinch, 16 Blackbirds, 18 Song Thrushes, 200 Starlings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Blackcap and 40 Robins.
Dave Smith was also out on the Marsh this morning and saw 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Mute Swans, 5 Wigeon, 57 Mallard, 6 Teal, 7 Grey Plovers, 18 Golden Plovers, 19 Ringed Plovers, 75 Lapwings, 4 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Terns, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Kestrels, 7 Ravens in a group, 22 Skylarks, 1 Swallow, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 445 Starlings, 26 Song Thrushes, 5 Redwings, 20 Blackbirds, 10 Stonechats, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Rock Pipit, 33 Chaffinches, 1 Brambling, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 6 Redpoll and 25 Corn Buntings. He also saw a Clouded Yellow butterfly.
Derek Smith birded from Shuart to Brooksend and the embankment from 0730 to 1400. He saw 2 Common Buzzards, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Pintail S, 3 Ravens, 50+ Blackbirds, 50+ Song Thrushes, 159 Starlings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Stonechats, 3 Brambling W, 1 Greenfinch W, 18 Siskins W, 4 Redpoll W, 43 Chaffinches W, 9 Chiffchaffs, 7 Goldcrests and 1 Corn Bunting.
The best bird of the morning, however, was a Great Grey Shrike (193rd) found by Andy Bowers in the old caravan park at Reculver. Unfortunately it didn't stay around for long.
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| Great Grey Shrike - Matt Hindle |