April 7th
On a superb spring morning I hoped for some migrants but it was relatively quiet as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the seawall and then had a look at Reculver. We saw 8 Linnets W, 1 Firecrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Chaffinches, 4 Mute Swans, 9 Mallard, 14 Redshank, 2 Gadwall, 22 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 24 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 7 Golden Plovers, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
At Reculver we counted 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Mute Swans, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Mallard, 1 Little Owl and 1 Swallow W.
This morning Julian Perry found a Black Redstart by the Oyster Farm and at lunchtime a Red Kite (125th) flew W over our gardens at Bishopstone.
This afternoon Anne and I walked round Shuart and saw 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Jay, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 18 "alba" Wagtails including 2 smart male White Wagtails feeding on a newly sown field, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Lapwings, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Red-legged Partridges.

Male Chaffinch