April 27th

On a very wet morning with a cold easterly wind Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back and we met him at Reculver just as the rain cleared. We counted 9 Whimbrel, 2 Avocets, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Lapwings, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Curlew. 3 Gannets, 3 Fulmars, 32 Swallows W, 8 House Martins W, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Shelduck, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier and 9 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls E.

April 26th

On what turned out to be a very pleasant morning we had our first ringing session of the year at Reculver. Birds we saw included 12 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Sand Martins, 3 Gadwall, 2 Whitethroats, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Barn Owl, 4 Reed Warblers, 12 Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Buzzards, 5 Skylarks, 3 House Martins, 16 Mallard, 4 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Shelduck.

Birds ringed 21: Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 8, Cetti's Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 4, Great Tit 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 1.

During the morning we controlled an adult male Wren that already had a ring on it's leg. It had originally been ringed at Stoneacre, near Maidstone on the 9th October 2022 and had flown 45 km ENE to Reculver.

April 25th

This morning we walked at Chamber's Wall where we saw 5 Skylarks, 11 Linnets, 7 Sedge Warblers, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 2 Swallows, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Greylag Goose and 2 Tufted Duck.

Later at Reculver we recorded 1 Little Egret, 1 Shelduck, 1 Swallow W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Blackcap.

Whitethroat

Goldfinch

Derek Smith was also out this morning from 0630 to 1030 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 4 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Kestrels, 1 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Lapwings, 1 Snipe W, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 16 Swallows W, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 29 Cetti's Warblers, 43 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 32 Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats and 8 Chiffchaffs.

April 24th

A brief visit to Reculver this morning produced 1 Whimbrel flying W, 1 Shelduck, 2 House Martins flying W, 1 Swallow flying W, 1 Fulmar flying W, 3 Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 2 Stonechats, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Whitethroats.

Dave Smith arrived at Reculver at 0545 and walked to Chamber's Wall and Plumpudding. His highlights were 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel W, 1 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpipers, 47 Turnstone, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Swallows W, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Robin with 2 recently fledged young, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Meadow Pipits.

April 23rd

On a cold and overcast morning we birded the Reculver area where we saw 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Goldfinches, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Swallows W, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 White Wagtails, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 4 Coot, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Short-eared Owl, one of the three seen by Matt, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Sand Martins and 25 Common Scoter E.

Matt was out before us and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 9 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Stonechats, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Corn Buntings, 34 Turnstone, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Bearded Tit, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Lapwings, 17 Swallows W, 1 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 26 Sand Martins W, 3 Short-eared Owls and 25 Common Scoter E.

Short-eared Owl - Matt Hindle

April 22nd

This morning the sun was shining and the northerly wind had lost a lot of its strength as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment to Coldharbour where we met him and walked back to Reculver together. We counted 3 Blackcaps, 28 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, 3 Stonechats, 4 Corn Buntings, 9 Swallows W, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Tufted Ducks, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Bearded Tit, 9 Lapwings with 2 and 3 young, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Kestrels, 3 Shelduck, 1 female Common Redstart, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Fulmar, 3 Gannets E, 2 Swifts W out at sea (150th), 60+ Sand Martins over the cliffs at Bishopstone, 14 Turnstone and good numbers of singing Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti's Warblers. We also saw a Wall Brown in the sun below the seawall.

April 21st

The cold northerly wind continues so we spent the morning where there was a bit of shelter at Netherhale and Shuart. Birds we saw included 9 Goldfinches, 2 House Martins, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Swallows, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler and 24 Tufted Duck.

Mistle Thrush

 On the way home we dropped in at Reculver where we counted 11 adult Gannets flying E and 4 Common Gulls flying E.

April 20th

With an unpleasant, strong and blustery north west wind blowing we walked from Reculver below the seawall as far as the Green Wall. Birds we saw included 2 Blackcaps, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Swallows W, 23 Linnets, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 pairs of Stonechats, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Mediterranean Gull E with 4 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Goldfinches.

Male Stonechat

April 19th

In blustery and showery conditions we walked at Shuart and Reculver this morning. At Shuart we counted 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 25 Tufted Duck and 3 Sedge Warblers and at Reculver there were 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall, 3 Shelduck, 4 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Whitethroat.

April 18th

It was sunny and breezy this morning as we walked at Chamber's Wall. We counted 5 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mallard, 1 Coot, 8 Skylarks, 12 Linnets, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Goldfinches, 9 Sedge Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lapwings, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Shelduck. We then spent 40 minutes at Reculver and saw 7 Gannets flying E, 16 Mediterranean Gulls flying W and 2 Shelducks.

Matt was out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back via the railway embankment. He saw 14 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying W, 9 Common Gulls, 5 Shelduck, 6 Wheatears, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Stonechat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 240 Sanderling, 10 Redshank, 16 Oystercatchers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Lapwings, 2 Swallows, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Tufted Ducks, 9 Corn Buntings and 2 Gannets flying E. In West Brook Valley he recorded 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 male Common Redstart (149th).

April 17th

On another cold and windy but sunny morning we birded at Reculver and also walked inland. At Reculver we saw 1 Little Egret, 1 Rock Pipit W, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 4 Swallows W, 1 alba Wagtail W, 2 Yellow Wagtails W and 3 Gannets E. 

On our walk inland we recorded 6 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot, 3 Willow Warblers, 8 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Female Shelduck

View towards Brook and Hillborough

April 16th

The chilly gale force wind had changed to the NW this morning as we had a look at the sea at Reculver and then walked inland. At Reculver we saw 5 Mediterranean Gulls flying E, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Northern Diver flying high W and 7 Common Gulls and on our walk we counted 2 Blackcaps, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Tufted Duck, 7 Cormorants, 4 Greylag Geese, 19 Mallard, 4 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Reed Warblers singing, 2 Gadwall, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Whitethroat.

April 15th

The weather had changed overnight and there was a chilly and strong SW wind blowing as we walked around the Reculver area this morning. We saw 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Skylarks, 3 Red Kites moving W, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 25 Tufted Duck, 22 Mallard, 6 Coot, 4 Greylag Geese, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Reed Warblers, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallows and 1 Green Woodpecker.

April 14th

On a cooler morning we again walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 3 Blackcaps, 2 Little Egrets, 28 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Redshank, 14 Sedge Warblers, 7 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Willow Warbler singing by the seawall, 6 Oystercatchers, 28 Turnstone, 3 Shelduck, 2 Lapwings, 1 Swallow W, 68 Goldfinches W, 4 Skylarks, 1 male White Wagtail, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl and 2 Tufted Ducks. We also saw four mixed flocks of mainly Black-headed Gulls flying E but with a few very noisy Mediterranean Gulls in amongst them and totalling 170 birds.

Matt was also out  this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He saw 1 Grey Heron, 13 Tufted Ducks, 2 Grey Partridges, 35 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Sandpipers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 8 Reed Warblers, 22 Whitethroats, 2 Mallard with 9 ducklings, 5 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 2 Kestrels, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, 5 Little Egrets, 34 Sedge Warblers, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 White Wagtails, 4 Stonechats, 7 Shelduck, 43 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 2 Grey Plovers, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Firecrest, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 female Hen Harrier flying W, 2 Snipe, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Lapwings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Avocets on the flooded fields at Chamber's Wall and 1 Common Buzzard.

April 13th

On another sunny and warm morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 2 Blackcaps, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Skylarks, 32 Linnets, 7 Wheatears, 6 males and 1 female, 14 Sedge Warblers, 13 Mallard, 10 Mediterranean Gulls flying E and calling, 4 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Shelduck, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Stonechats, 2 Short-eared Owls and 1 Whimbrel flying E.

Singing Sedge Warbler

Dave Smith was also out this morning at 0550 and walked from Shuart to Coldharbour, Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. Birds he saw incuded 5 Greylag Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Avocets in the flooded fields, 7 Lapwings, 2 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Redshank, 9 Turnstones, 49 Mediterranean Gulls flying S, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 1+ Bearded Tits, 37 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Swallows, 5 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 1 female Ring Ouzel, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Reed Buntings.

2 Red Kites flew W at Bishopstone at 1305.