March 27th

After yesterday's washout, today dawned cold, bright and breezy. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Goldfinches, 8 Mallard, 24 Linnets W, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Skylarks, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 1 male Wheatear, 1 Marsh Harrier, 25 Carrion Crows,, 7 Meadow Pipits and a tight flock of 38 Black-headed Gulls flying E.

Little Egret

Starlings

Derek Smith was out between 1300 and 1530 and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back by way of Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 8+ Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Raven E, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 12 Tufted Duck, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 singing Chiffchaffs and 1 Corn Bunting. He also saw Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies as well as Dark-edged and Dotted Bee-flies.

March 26th

On a very wet morning we had a quick look at Reculver where we only saw 2 Yellowhammers, 15 Chaffinches and 1 Common Buzzard. At the Roman Galley field the Bewick's Swan appears to have gone although there were still 24 Mute Swans there.

Derek Smith was out in persistent rain between 1030 and 1300 and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and back via Plumpudding. He counted 3 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 11 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Goldcrests.

March 25th

With a south west gale blowing this morning we birded at sheltered sites at Reculver and Shuart. At Reculver we counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mallard, 9 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot and in the field near the Roman Galley, 22 Mute Swan and 1 first winter Bewick's Swan.

At Shuart we saw 2 Jays, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Teal, 1 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

March 24th

On yet another very blustery morning that ended with torrential rain we walked at Reculver and Shuart, At Reculver we saw 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 4 Mallard, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 21 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Teal and 1 female Pintail.

At Shuart we recorded 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 75 Jackdaws, 60 Rooks, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Teal, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Male and female Tufted Duck

 Dave Smith was out at Reculver at 0625 and recorded 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Lapwings, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 5 Bearded Tits, 1 Swallow W (131st), 4 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 1 Rock Pipit and 6 Corn Buntings.

March 23rd

On an increasingly blustery morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 135 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 alba Wagtail W, 4 Stonechats, 1 Redshank, 4 Meadow Pipits, 31 Golden Plovers W, 9 Mallard, 22 Linnets, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Rock Pipits W, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Wheatears, 1 male and 2 females, 4 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Little Egret, 2 Coots, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 23 Mute Swans and 1 first winter Bewick's Swan.

Female Wheatear - Matt Hindle

March 22nd

It was a miserable, drizzly and windy morning as we spent and hour at Minnis Bay where we saw 31 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Curlew, 17 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gull and 1 Pied Wagtail.

On the way home we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 19 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 12 Goldfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 14 Chaffinches, 4 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 female Pintail, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

March 21st

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 3 Great Crested Grebes, 237 Meadow Pipits W, 15 Chiffchaffs, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Shelduck W, 25 Common Scoter, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 Stonechats, 264 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Greylag Geese, 45 Golden Plover W, 2 Wigeon, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Wheatears and 1 male Yellow Wagtail flying W, the earliest Reculver record by seven days (130th). Other birds he saw included 12 alba Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 46 Chaffinches W, 3 Gadwall, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Turnstone, 10 Barnacle Geese E, 8 Dunlin and 1 Snow Bunting.

 Anne and I birded inland at Reculver and then at Shuart and saw 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Meadow Pipits W, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Mallard, 25 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Grebe, 30 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Kestrels, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Snow Bunting - Matt Hindle