February 14th
With a fresh NNE wind blowing Matt, Dave Smith and I had a seawatch at Reculver between 0700 and 0900. We counted 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls E, 8 Red-throated Divers E, 416 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Grey Plovers W, 1 male Pintail E, 2 Little Gulls W (120th), 1 male Red-breasted Merganser E (121st), 1 Curlew W, 1 Gannet E and 80 Common Gulls E.
February 13th
It was brighter than I had expected this morning as I had a short walk at Reculver. The first bird I heard and then saw was a first year male Black Redstart singing on the Towers. Other birds included 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Linnets, 1 Oystercatcher, 22 Corn Buntings, 1 Redshank, 12 Cormorants and 2 Pied Wagtails.
February 10th
Matt had a call today from a local farmer, Tim Smith, to say he had seen a Common Crane (119th) on his land but that it had flown north. Matt and I went this afternoon to see if we could find it again. After an hour's searching we saw it flying from Minnis Bay south towards the Thanet Way. This is the sixth record of this species in the area and is the twelfth bird.
Common Crane - Tim Smith
Other birds we saw included 95 Fieldfares, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Egyptian Geese, 10 Skylarks, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 21 Lapwings and 1 Green Woodpecker.
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.
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| 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 Iceland Gull flying E at Minnis Bay (118th). This is only the tenth record of this species in the area.
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| Second winter Iceland 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Rock Pipit |
