April 3rd
On a beautiful spring morning I visited various sites at Reculver and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Linnets, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 immature male Black Redstart singing continually at the Towers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mallard and 1 Willow Warbler.

Singing Black Redstart

I then drove to Chamber's Wall and walked out to Coldharbour and saw 3 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Linnets, 1 female Wheatear, 8 Skylarks, 8 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 14 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Corn Buntings, 20 Meadow Pipits and 1 Firecrest. As I was walking back beside the Wantsum I met Derek Smith who had just found a 1 male Common Redstart (133rd). He had previously found a Common Whitethroat (132nd) on the railway embankment, the earliest bird for Reculver following one a day earlier in 2014.
In addition, on his walk from Shuart to Coldharbour and Plumpudding, Derek saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 2 Continental Coal Tits at Shuart, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Song Thrushes, 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Curlews, 1 Swallow W, 1 Green Sandpiper and another Black Redstart at Plumpudding.

Firecrest - Derek Smith

Male Common Redstart