January 1st
To start the year we attempted to see as many species in the recording area as we could. We arrived at Minnis Bay at 0700 and drove to Reculver and then Shuart where we walked via Plumpudding lagoon back to Minnis Bay. We saw 2 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Corn Buntings, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Stonechats, 30 Skylarks, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 38 Mute Swans, 25 Redshank, 230 Oystercatchers, 70 Grey Plovers, 7 Little Egrets, 17 Curlews, 75 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin, 16 Red-throated Divers, 24 Turnstone, 27 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Rock Pipit, 82 Common Scoters, 1 Guillemot, 2 Gannets, 5 Little Grebes, 28 Mallard, 5 Teal, 5 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler.
It began pouring with rain at 1100 so we went home for lunch before returning to Chamber's Wall and getting soaked walking out to Coldharbour. We did however manage to see 3 Redwings, 11 Fieldfares, 4 Yellowhammers, 42 Corn Buntings, 55 Reed Buntings, 60 House Sparrows, 8 Gadwall, 6 Snow Buntings, 15 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon and 1 Little Egret.
We ended the day having seen 78 species.
Julian and Alex Perry were also out and in addition saw 5 Woodcocks, 2 Grey Partridges, 23 Lapwings and 6 Ringed Plovers taking the day's total to 82 species.