Friday, 6 March 2026

 March 6th

On another calm morning we ringed at one of our sites at Shuart where we saw 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Redwings W, 2 Fieldfares W, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Siskins E, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Peregrine, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Lapwing and 20 Linnets.

Birds ringed 17: Wren 1, Chiffchaff 4, Dunnock 1, Robin 4, Cetti's Warbler 2, Chaffinch 1, Linnet 1, Blue Tit 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1

Thursday, 5 March 2026

 March 5th

On a beautiful early spring morning I joined Matt at Reculver for our first ringing session of the year. We saw 3 Redwings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Firecrest, 11 Siskins (125th), 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 15 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 32 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Raven, 4 Grey Herons, 9 Teal, 6 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 14: Chiffchaff 4, Reed Bunting 1, Blackcap 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 3.

Female Blackcap

Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 March 4th

On a misty, murky morning with the tide out and the Environment Agency repairing the winter damage to the beach I walked along the seawall. I saw 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Kestrel, 12 Linnets, 480 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Stonechats, 6 Redshank, 11 Cormorants, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 19 Turnstone and 2 Mallard.

Reculver beach looking towards Thanet

 
Female Stonechat

Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 March 3rd

It was sunny with a chilly easterly breeze blowing as I had an hour's walk at Reculver this afternoon. I recorded 2 Pied Wagtails, 35 Chaffinches, 50 Jackdaws, 20 Rooks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 54 Coot, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Buzzard.

Monday, 2 March 2026

 March 2nd

On a sunny morning with a chilly southerly breeze blowing I walked along the seawall from Reculver. I recorded 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Mute Swans, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Stonechats, 19 Gannets flying E, 11 Turnsstone, 11 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Reed Buntings, 68 Linnets, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 11 Cormorants, 4 Mallard and 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Just as I got home 2 Ravens flew over the house calling loudly and were followed ten minutes later by a Red Kite.

Sunday, 1 March 2026

 March 1st

I didn't seen much on a dull and overcast morning, just 320 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Little Egrets and 200 Chaffinches. 

Saturday, 28 February 2026

 February 28th

It was an unpleasant morning with a fresh and cold westerly wind blowing in drizzle as I walked at Reculver. Birds I saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 50 Rooks, 30 Jackdaws, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Chaffinches, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Song Thrushes, 24 Mallard, 6 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 52 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail and at the sea 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 50 Black-headed Gulls W, 3 Common Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Matt was also out this morning at the other end of the Marsh and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Plumpudding. He counted 5 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 83 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Jay, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Redwing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Barnacle Geese, 40 Greylag Geese, 22 Tufted Duck, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Stonechats and 1 Chiffchaff.

Friday, 27 February 2026

 February 27th

On a cloudy morning with a westerly breeze I only had quarter of an hour at Reculver where I saw 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Mediterranean Gull

Thursday, 26 February 2026

 February 26th

There was a chilly, westerly breeze blowing this morning as I walked inland at Reculver. I saw 16 Chaffinches, 1 Firecrest, 14 Blackbirds, 1 Grey Wagtail, 58 Coot, 26 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 male Shoveler, 8 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redshank, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Goldfinches and 1 Common Buzzard.

Male Shoveler

 We have just received information concerning an adult male Reed Warbler we ringed at Shuart on 11th July 25th. It was controlled on 21st August at Fornihos-Odemira, Beja, PORTUGAL which is a distance of 1,707 km SSW.

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

 February 25th

On another glorious morning I walked at Reculver and recorded 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 singing Black Redstart, 54 Coot, 2 Grey Herons, 26 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 22 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Teal, 2 Stonechats, 3 Skylarks, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

 February 24th

The weather this morning was superb with a light westerly wind, sunshine and the temperature 15 degrees centigrade. I walked at Reculver and saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Skylarks, 1 Kestrel, 56 Coot, 3 Mute Swans, 22 Mallard, 16 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 10 Blackbirds, 2 Long-tailed Tits and a Red Kite that Matt had seen 20 minutes before flying W over the Wantsum outflow.

Coot

 Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver along the seawall to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 954 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Grey Heron, 2 Stonechats, 1 Red Kite flying W (123rd), 1 Peregrine, 2 Curlew, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 3 Little Grebe, 7 Redshank, 27 Golden Plovers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Chiffchaffs, including 2 singing birds, 40 Greylag Geese, 1 Yellowhammer, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Redwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 20 Corn Buntings. He also saw 2 Peacock butterflies. Later he saw a Redpoll (124th) at Shuart.

Monday, 23 February 2026

 February 23rd

It felt like spring this afternoon as I had a brief stroll at Reculver and saw 2 Red-legged Partridges, 12 Chaffinches, 36 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Redwing, 8 Blackbirds, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Tufted Duck, 9 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 52 Coot, 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese out on the Marsh, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Red-legged Partridge

Saturday, 21 February 2026

 February 21st

On a pleasant morning I walked along the seawall from Reculver and counted 568 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Linnets, 4 Oystercatchers, 6 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Snow Bunting briefly before it was flushed by a dog walker, 17 Mute Swans, 32 Corn Buntings, 40 Carrion Crows, 3 Mallard and 6 Meadow Pipits.

Thursday, 19 February 2026

 February 18th

Matt had a seawatch at Minnis Bay this morning and counted 139 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (122nd), 10 Red-throated Divers, 45 Grey Plovers, 4 Curlew, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Shelduck. He also saw 42 Tufted Duck and 120 Teal at Brooksend.

Also this morning  a Great Northern Diver flew E at Reculver

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

 February 17th

It was cold and breezy this morning at Reculver but at least the sun was shining. My walk produced 107 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Goldfinches, 24 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Teal, 28 Gadwall, 46 Coot, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Raven, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Cetti's Warbler.