November 6th  -  Species number 304 for Reculver Area

Adult summer plumaged White-billed Diver - Alex Perry

Just as we got home from our regular birding walk this morning I received a message from Terry Wilson to say that the adult summer plumaged White-billed Diver (189th) previously seen further east on Thanet was close inshore at Minnis Bay. We immediately drove over and were able to see the bird now about 400 metres offshore by the red buoy drifting west and frequently diving. A superb new species and 304th for the area.
Our previous walk from Reculver to Coldharbour had been uneventful and we saw 234 Cormorants, 1 Peregrine, 6 Pied Wagtails, 26 Meadow Pipits, 4 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, 36 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 1 Snow Bunting W, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Rick Pipit and 1 Teal.
During the afternoon Dudley Cox saw a ring-tailed Hen Harrier twice at the Oyster Farm lagoons.