February 6th

On a showery afternoon we birded at Brooksend and Minnis Bay. Birds we saw included 77 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose with 4 hybrids, 3 Barnacle Geese, 13 Herons, 1 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, 1 Corn Bunting, 15 Redwings, 20 Blackbirds, 50 Cormorants, 3 Red-throated Divers and 28 Great Crested Grebe.

Today we received information concerning a juvenile Sedge Warbler we ringed at Shuart on July 11th. It was controlled 18 days later on July 29th at Trunvel, Treogat, Finistere, FRANCE and had flown 560 km SW.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

 February 5th

All I managed today was a quick drive down to Reculver in the pouring rain where I saw 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Sparrowhawk.

 February 4th

I was out early this morning at Reculver and recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 68 Coot, 12 Tufted Duck, 46 Mallard, 12 Gadwall, 14 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wigeon and 1 Common Buzzard.

During the afternoon Justin Sneddon took two photographs of a second winter Kumlien's Gull flying E at Minnis Bay (118th). This a race of Iceland Gull and the 10th record for the area. 

 

Juvenile Kumlien's Gull - Justin Sneddon

 February 3rd

On a foul morning with rain and a cold easterly breeze blowing I spent 45 minutes at Reculver and counted 233 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Northern Diver E and 4 Scaup, seen earlier at Swalecliffe, flew E at 0915.

 February 1st

On a calm and overcast morning the first bird I saw was a Black-throated Diver sitting on the sea off the Towers (117th). Other birds seen during the next hour included 168 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 17 Common Scoter flying E, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers and 1 Curlew. Later Matt found the 3 Snow Buntings along the seawall and 1 immature male Black Redstart at Reculver.

 January 31st

It was bright and chilly this morning as I walked along the seawall at Reculver and saw 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Skylarks, 3 Redshank, 44 Corn Buntings, 24 Linnets, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Red-throated Divers E, 38 Ringed Plovers, 10 Mallard, 105 Carrion Crows, 56 Great Crested Grebes and 520 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Ringed Plovers

 Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He counted 1 immature male Black Redstart, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 89 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Red-throated Divers E, 990 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Corn Buntings, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 43 Ringed Plovers, 180 Sanderling, 80 Grey Plovers, 75 Turnstone, 47 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 16 Curlew, 60 Dunlin and 3 White-fronted Geese flying W.

Sunrise - Matt Hindle

 January 30th

Matt had a look at rainy Reculver this morning and saw 1 Black Redstart, 61 Great Crested Grebes, 137 Red-throated Divers flying E, 333 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Guillemot flying E. 3 large auks flying E, 1 Teal and 21 Gannet.

 January 29th

On a cold and overcast morning I visited Minnis Bay and walked up to Plumpudding lagoon. Birds I saw included 40 Common Scoter flying E, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 95 Oystercatchers, 1,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 76 Redshank, 30 Turnstone, 15 Linnets, 150 Sanderling, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mallard, 28 Grey Plovers, 42 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plovers, 4 Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Corn Bunting singing.

Rock Pipit

 January 28th

On a sunny afternoon I had a walk at Reculver where I recorded 35 Stock Doves, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Chaffinches, 3 Redwings, 16 Teal, 68 Coot, 20 Gadwall, 26 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 1 singing Mistle Thrush. 

 January 27th

This morning I spent forty five minutes in the pouring rain and strong southerly wind of Storm Chandra seawatching at Reculver. Virtually all birds were flying E and included 102 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Guillemot (115th), 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 65 Herring Gulls, 11 Red-throated Divers, 1 Curlew, 5 Ringed Plovers W and 3 Kittiwakes.

Matt had a seawatch at Minnis Bay between 1030 and 1200 and saw 1 Rock Pipit, 143 Red-throated Divers E, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Gannets E, 1 Common Scoter E, 5 Kittiwakes E, 1 Fulmar W (116th), 68 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

 January 26th

On another overcast afternoon I had a short stroll at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Red-legged Partridges, 82 Coot, 18 Gadwall, 46 Mallard, 14 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Jay. 

 January 25th

It was overcast and there was a chilly south easterly breeze blowing this morning as I walked along the seawall from Reculver. I counted 2 Cetti's Warblers, 656 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 1,100 Cormorants flying out to sea from the Stour Valley, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull, 4 Redshank, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 22 Corn Buntings, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Ringed Plovers, 14 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 4 Oystercatchers ansd 1 Curlew.

 January 24th

On a sunny morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 27 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver W, 1,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kittiwake, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Little Grebes, 36 Greylag Geese, 24 Lapwings, 3 Snipe, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 1 Yellowhammer, 80 Corn Buntings and 1 Rock Pipit.

 January 23rd

Matt had a seawatch at Minnis Bay this afternoon where he saw 12 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets, 1 Razorbill (114th), 40 Grey Plovers, 45 Turnstone, 20 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 5 Great Crested Grebes. 

Later he walked at Reculver and counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 32 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 44 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 80 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Lapwing and 1 Common Buzzard.

 January 22nd

I had a relatively quiet walk at Reculver this afternoon where I saw a male Peregrine, 1 Common Buzzard, 22 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 12 Teal, 34 Mallard, 31 Gadwall, 86 Coot and 7 Tufted Duck.