October 17th
Not all Ophelia's Sahara dust and murk from yesterday had cleared by this morning so that there was a bright red sunrise, yellowish sky and a faint smell of burning in the air. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before visiting Reculver. Birds we saw included 16 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 10 Mute Swans, 75 Golden Plovers, 1 Peregrine, 5 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 17 Mallard, 17 Corn Buntings, 2 Redwings, 6 Grey Partridges, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 14 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 42 Carrion Crows, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Wigeon, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Grey Heron, 132 Collared Doves on the wires at Reculver and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Derek Smith walked from Shuart to the Green Wall, along the railway embankment and returned via Plumpudding. Birds began moving late morning and he counted 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Kestrels, 40 Song Thrushes, 32 Redwings, 55 Blackbirds, 370 Starlings W, 43 Skylarks W, 16 alba Wagtails W, 68 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Rock Pipit W, 3 Tree Sparrows, 6 Bearded Tits, 10 Stonechats, 32 Robins, 238 Chaffinches W, 38 Siskins W, 15 Redpolls W, 56 Goldfinches W, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 26 Chiffchaffs, 38 Goldcrests and 6 Corn Buntings W.

Coal Tit - Derek Smith

Cetti's Warbler - Derek Smith