February 9th
We received two ringing recoveries today The first was a first year Sedge Warbler we ringed on Reculver Marshes on 21st August 2022 and was controlled at Tour aux Moutons, Donges, Loire-Atlantique, FRANCE on 17th August 2025. This bird was 1,092 days old and was 507 km SSW of Reculver.
The second bird was a first year male Great Tit we ringed at Shingleton Farm, near Tilmanstone on 21st December 2025 and was controlled at Sandwich Bay on 8th February 2026 9 km NE.
February 8th
Derek Smith was out this morning and walked from Shuart and along the embankment and back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding. Hr counted 3 Little Grebes, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Magpies, 36 Fieldfares, 45 Redwings, 60 Blackbirds, 2 Stonechats, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and 6 Corn Buntings
I had a brief walk at Reculver this afternoon where I saw 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Mute Swans, 72 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 16 Mallard, 4 Teal, 19 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon, 1 Water Rail and 2 Skylarks.
February 7th
I managed to avoid the rain this morning as I had a walk at Reculver and recorded 5 Chaffinches, 2 Skylarks, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 9 Moorhens, 76 Coot, 58 Mallard, 32 Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Wigeon, 1 Woodcock and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Dave Smith was also out this morning and walked from Reculver and counted 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Plover, 14 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Peregrine, 2 Skylarks, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Song Thrushes, 5 Redwings, 40 Fieldfares, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Stonechats, 150 Chaffinches, 200 Linnets, 3 Snow Buntings, 14 Corn Buntings and 2 Yellowhammers.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
