April 6th

On a glorious spring morning I walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. I counted 8 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Linnets, 10 Meadow Pipits, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 6 singing Sedge Warblers, 14 Corn Buntings, 6 Ringed Plovers, 13 Mute Swans, 9 Redshank, 3 Skylarks, 28 Turnstone, 1 Sand Martin W, 4 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E and 2 Grey Herons.

Black-headed Gulls

This morning Derek Smith walked from Minnis Bay and along the embankment to the Green Wall and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 14 Redshank, 5 Grey Plovers, 29 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 2 Stonechats, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Whitethroat (136th), 6 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 21 Chiffchaffs and 1 Corn Bunting.

Dave Smith was also out and walked from Bishopstone to Reculver and his highlights were 1 Yellow Wagtail (137th) and 1 singing Whitethroat.

 April 5th

On a breezy morning I walked at Reculver and saw 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Skylarks, 7 Greylag Geese, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Egyptian Geese, 1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Coot, 5 calling Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Mallard, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Gadwall, 1 Swallow, 15 Corn Buntings and 10 Linnets.

Matt had a look at Minnis Bay and then walked at Shuart. At Minnis he saw 6 Sandwich Terns (135th), 1 Little Egret and 2 Mediterranean Gulls and at Shuart there were 12 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Redwings, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Brambling, 1 Jay and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

 April 4th

On a lovely morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment and I met him at Coldharbour before we both walked back to Reculver together. His highlight was finding the third calendar year Iceland Gull, sub species Kumlien's, moving slowly W at Coldharbour. 

Third calendar year Iceland Gull, subspecies Kumlien's - Matt Hindle

 Other birds he recorded were 3 Little Egrets, 23 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Shelduck, 4 Stonechats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 male Greenfinch, 5 Greylag Geese, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine, 25 Mediterranean Gulls E calling, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Siskin W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Skylarks and 1 Swallow W. 

 April 3rd

As I left the house this morning there was a migrant Blackcap singing in our garden. I drove to a windy and chilly Reculver and walked out onto the Marsh where I recorded 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 46 Linnets, 1 Siskin W, 14 Chaffinches, 9 Greylag Geese, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 4 Sand Martins, 12 Coot and 14 Tufted Duck.

Derek Smith was out at Shuart at 0730 and walked along the embankment to Chamber's Wall and saw 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 115 Goldfinches flying W, 35 Chaffinches flying W, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Blackcap and 17 Chiffchaffs.

 April 2nd 

On a surprisingly chilly morning I walked at Reculver and saw 6 Goldfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Chaffinches, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Mallard, 4 Mute Swans, 6 Greylag Geese, 14 Coot, 12 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Teal, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Linnets, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Green Woodpecker.

 

 

The Environment Agency destroying the foliage along the railway embankment at Plumpudding - Matt Hindle

 April 1st

Matt was out before me this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He recorded 1 Grey Heron, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 1 male Greenfinch W (133rd), 4 Little Egrets, 3 Stonechats, 66 Turnstone, 2 singing Sedge Warblers (134th), 5 Greylag Geese, 18 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, 10 Sand Martins W, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lapwings, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Siskin, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Shelduck.

I was out a 0745 and walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow and back and saw 3 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Linnets, 32 Oystercatchers, 48 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 6 Ringed Plovers, 19 Redshank, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, 13 Mute Swans, 1 Curlew, 1 Swallow W, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Mallard, 1 Marsh Harrier flying W at Sea, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 2 Shelduck, 2 Corn Buntings and 2 Meadow Pipits.

 March 31st

On a drizzly and overcast morning I walked at Reculver and counted 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 8 Chaffinches, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Chiffchaffs, 13 Greylag Geese, 12 Tufted Duck, 14 Coot, 12 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Shelduck, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Gadwall, 2 Redshank, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Teal and 12 Goldfinches.

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. He recorded 19 Cetti's Warblers, 13 Chiffchaffs, 2 Canada Geese W, 4 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Stonechats, 30 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 alba Wagtails W, 1 Snipe, 240 Oystercatchers, 1 Swallow W, 1 Willow Warbler singing at the stables, 3 Marsh Harriers, 4 Lapwings, 1 Raven, 110 Linnets and 5 Greylag Geese.

 March 30th

It was sunny this morning with a fresh NW wind blowing as I walked inland at Reculver and saw 7 Mute Swans, 12 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Skylarks, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Shelduck,  5 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Coot, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Long-tailed Tits and 3 Mediterranean Gulls W. 

There was a migrant Chiffchaff singing in our garden at Bishopstone as I got home.

 March 29th

This morning, for a change, I walked from Shuart to Plumpudding lagoon. Birds I saw included 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap singing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Marsh Harriers, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Goldfinches, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Skylarks, 4 Lapwings, 22 Linnets, 10 Reed Buntings, 14 Ringed Plovers, 10 Redshank, 130 Oystercatchers, 22 Curlew, 120 Sanderling, 44 Turnstone, 7 Grey Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Stonechat collecting nesting material, 1 Water Rail, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Willow Warbler singing and 15 Chaffinches.

It was good to meet Nick Hando and have a chat as I returned to Shuart. Later he saw 1 Red Kite flying in off the sea, 2 Swallows flying W (132nd), 13 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 90+ Sanderling.

 March 28th

On a sunny morning with a chilly and eye-watering NW wind blowing Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 825 Herring Gulls W, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebes, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 39 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 300 Sanderling, 4 Chiffchaffs, 15 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 140 Oystercatchers, 50 Turnstone, 20 Grey Plovers, 4 Lapwings, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Harrier and 6 Long-tailed Tits.

 I walked at Reculver and saw 1 Kestrel, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Little Egret, 5 Chiffchaffs, 21 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 18 Tufted Duck, 5 Greylag Geese, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Redshank, 12 Gadwall, 8 Teal and 8 Goldfinches.

 March 27th

This morning I walked along the seawall from Reculver and recorded 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 newly arrived Chiffchaffs, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Redshank, 39 Linnets mainly flying W, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Stonechats, 9 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Corn Bunting and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

 

Grey Seal with Grey Mullet

 March 26th

On a sunny but cold morning I walked at Reculver and saw 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Skylark, 2 Shelduck, 3 Greylag Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 14 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 2 Snipe, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Gadwall, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 8 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Teal, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron and 10 Chaffinches.

Male Shelduck

 While I was at Reculver Matt walked from Shuart to Netherhale and recorded 11 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Siskin, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestrel, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 singing Willow Warbler (131st) and 1 Sparrowhawk.

 March 25th

The weather had changed overnight with a fresh NW wind blowing in showers and a marked drop in temperature. Matt walked at various sites at Reculver and at the sea recorded 9 Dunlin W, 13 Common Gulls W, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 12 Common Scoter and 4 Chiffchaffs. Inland he counted 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 11 Chiffchaffs, 14 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Greylag Geese, 5 Shelduck,  11 Coot, 11 Mallard, 8 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Raven, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Common Buzzard.

 March 24th

This morning Matt walked at Reculver and saw 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Siskin, 12 Coot, 12 Tufted Ducks, 14 Gadwall, 7 Greylag Geese, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 1 Red Kite, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

 March 23rd

Today Matt walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and back and saw 1 Red Kite flying W, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Black Redstarts, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Gannet, 3 Stonechats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Turnstone, 2 male Ruff on flooded field south of Coldharbour (130th), 1 Snipe, 50 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Rock Pipit.

Great Crested Grebe - Matt Hindle