February 28th
There was a change in the weather this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour with a moderate SW wind blowing in patchy cloud. We recorded 1 female Sparrowhawk with a freshly killed Collared Dove on the road by the cafe, 1 Kingfisher, 66 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Gannets E, 2 Redshank, 33 Mallard, 43 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 33 Corn Buntings, 1 male Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 9 Mute Swans, 4 Stonechats, 1 Little Egret, 1 female Snow Bunting, 6 Sanderling W and 40 House Sparrows in the bushes at Reculver.

Male House Sparrow

February 27th
On what appears to be the last day in this unseasonal warm spell we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm in bright sunshine and virtually no wind. We saw 18 Reed Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Corn Buntings, 1 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 28 Mallard, 16 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Chaffinches, 13 Golden Plover, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Water Rail and 1 Jay.

February 26th
On a wonderful, sunny winter's morning there was not a great deal to see as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we recorded included 187 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Owl calling, 15 Redshank, 18 Oystercatchers, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Kingfisher, 28 Mallard, 1 Turnstone, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 22 Corn Buntings, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Coot, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Datk-bellied Brent Geese below the Towers

February 25th
It had dawned sunny but frosty this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 12 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 14 Mute Swans, 35 Oystercatchers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Redshank, 1 adult Lesser Black-backes Gull, 2 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Curlew, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 48 Corn Buntings, 35 Mallard, 2 Turnstone, 30 Carrion Crows, 2 Grey Partridges and 1 Kestrel.

Mallard drakes

February 24th
The early morning fog persisted until mid morning and so it was a bit of a struggle to see anything as we walked from Shuart to Brooksend and on to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. We managed to record 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Mistle Thrushes singing, 16 Blackbirds, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Siskin (115th), 1 Jay, 5 Mallard and 1 Greylag Goose calling in the fog.

February 23rd
We were greeted at a very foggy Reculver this morning by a Chiffchaff singing from the Roman walls by the Towers. With this unusual southerly flow of weather it seems a likely candidate for the earliest spring migrant at Reculver beating the previous record of 1st March 1998.
As we walked along the seawall to Coldharbour the fog lifted and it was a lovely winter's morning. Other birds we saw included 3 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 1 Water Rail calling, 55 Corn Buntings, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Curlew, 2 Shoveler, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Little Egret, 14 Cormorants flying out to sea, 2 Snow Buntings, 25 Meadow Pipits, 4 Redshank, 45 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coot and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

A foggy seawall

February 22nd
With fog coming and going this morning and the tide miles out it was a bit of a struggle to see anything! In the event we recorded 3 Fieldfares, 4 Goldfinches, 9 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Mallard, 18 Meadow Pipits, 11 Redshank, 8 Skylarks, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 1 Golden Plover, 1 male White Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Snow Buntings, 22 Linnets, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Crested Grebes.
Mike Roser and Dave Perrin walked around the Reculver area this morning before the fog returned and their highlights were 2 Snow Buntings, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers and 4 Corn Buntings. They also saw an early Peacock butterfly.
Chris Tedder had a walk along the seawall to Plumpudding this afternoon with varying visibility in the fog. Her highlights were 3 Shoveler, 1 Common Scoter E, 1 Pochard (113th) in Coldharbour, 42 Grey Plovers, 36 Sanderling, 172 Oystercatchers, 8 Curlew, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 White Wagtail, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great White Egret (114th) seen briefly in the Oyster Farm, 8 Stonechats, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Grey Partridge calling, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Little Owl calling.

Pochard - Chris Tedder

February 21st
This morning we walked from Reculver to Shuart and counted 291 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Owl, 31 Redshank, 30 Meadow Pipits, 4 Ringed Plovers, 42 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 35 Mute Swans, 27 Mallard, 7 Turnstone, 54 Corn Buntings, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Pied Wagtail, 9 Grey Plovers, 2 Curlew, 9 Shelduck, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Stonechats, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Goldcrests.

February 20th
On another bright morning with the tide out but coming in we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. It was relatively quiet but we did see 3 Pied Wagtails, 305 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 19 Shelduck, 2 Grey Plovers, 29 Oystercatchers, 29 Mallard, 12 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Golden Plover, 9 Redshank and 2 Curlews.

February 19th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow and recorded 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Cetti's Warblers singing, 71 Cormorants flying to the Stour Valley, 11 Mallard, 3 Lapwings, 58 Mute Swans, 1 Redshank, 26 Carrion Crows, 44 Oystercatchers, 8 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Stonechat, 2 Red-legged Partridges and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Kingfisher

February 18th
We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and saw 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 12 Meadow Pipits, 26 Corn Buntings, 33 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 49 Mute Swans, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 Stonechat, 2 Grey Plovers, 18 Ringed Plovers, 51 Cormorants, 34 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 1 male Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Turnstone, 2 Ravens flying E (112th), 7 Sanderling, 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Tufted Duck.

Male Snow Bunting

We met Marc Heath as we were leaving the seawall and as he was starting on a similar walk to us. His totals included 2 Ravens flying E, 21 Sanderling, 9 Red-throated Divers, 2 Gannets, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Ringed Plovers, 32 Corn Buntings, 7 Turnstone, 520 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Skylarks, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Snow Buntings, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 35 Oystercatchers, 17 Mute Swans, 5 Stonechats and 1 Red Admiral butterfly.

Ravens - Marc Heath

February 17th
It was bright again this morning as we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon and saw 9 Curlew, 262 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Redshank, 105 Oystercatchers, 76 Turnstone, 22 Sanderling, 26 Common Scoter, 41 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Wagtail, 22 Golden Plovers, 14 Meadow Pipits, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Mallard.

Redshank

February 16th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 131 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Redshank, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 32 Meadow Pipits, 34 Mallard, 4 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 22 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlews, 1 Little Egret, 4 Linnets, 24 Carrion Crows, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Buzzard.
Chris Tedder had a walk from Shuart to Reculver during the day. Amongst the birds she saw was 1 Red-legged Partridge, 28 Corn Buntings, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 1 Greylag Goose flying SE, 1 White-fronted Goose (111th), 27 Common Scoter, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Plovers, 17 Ringed Plovers, 4 Curlew, 10 Sanderling, 56 Oystercatchers, 8 Turnstone, 4 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 17 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Little Owl.

Ringed Plovers

Adult White-fronted Goose

February 15th
On yet another glorious winter's morning we walked at Reculver and then up to Coldharbour lagoon. At the Towers there was a young Grey Seal that had hauled itself out onto the apron.

Young Grey Seal

We saw a good range of species including 320 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Shelduck, 125 Oystercatchers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Little Egret, 5 Redshank, 27 Ringed Plovers, 6 Sanderling, 32 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Red-throated Divers, 58 Corn Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat, 2 Snow Buntings, 6 Grey Plovers, 1 Snipe, 3 Curlews, 1 Turnstone, 25 Meadow Pipits and 1 adult Gannet flying E.

Male Starling

On a surprisingly mild afternoon we walked down West Brook Valley and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Jay, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 27 Rooks at the rookery, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest and 11 Yellowhammers.

February 14th
The day dawned frosty and a bit misty but as soon as the sun rose it warmed so we had a ringing session out on the Marsh. Birds we saw included 38 Chaffinches, 62 Corn Buntings, 1 Grey Heron, 26 Reed Buntings, 42 Mute Swans, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Yellowhammers, 7 Skylarks and 1 Kestrel.

Birds ringed 15: Reed Bunting 10, Robin 1, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackbird 2.

February 13th
It was another fine February morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm and then inland at Reculver. Birds we saw included 6 Mute Swans, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Corn Buntings, 10 Chaffinches, 4 Linnets, 52 Mallard, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Little Egret, 2 Stonechats, 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Shelduck, 11 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Snow Bunting, 8 Skylarks, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 male Tufted Duck (110th).

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat

February 12th
It was another beautiful winter's morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. We saw 176 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 23 Ringed Plovers, 34 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstone, 42 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 36 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 2 Grey Plovers, 12 Corn Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail, 42 Mute Swans, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Singing Reed Bunting

February 11th
As we arrived at the Towers we met Joe Sparey from Worcestershire who had just found and photographed a Black Redstart (109th) below the Towers.

Black Redstart - Joe Sparey

We then walked up to Coldharbour and recorded 303 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Redshank, 33 Oystercatchers, 31 Ringed Plovers, 46 Mallard, 2 Snow Buntings, 6 Mute Swans, 4 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 5 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 28 Carrion Crows, 2 Little Grebes, 44 Corn Buntings and 2 Stonechats.

Ringed Plover

February 10th
This morning our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour was dry but light rain set in as we walked back. Birds we saw included 30 House Sparrows by the King Ethelbert pub, 203 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 24 Mute Swans, 9 Redshank, 32 Oystercatchers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 29 Mallard, 24 Corn Buntings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Turnstone, 8 Shelduck, 34 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret and 2 Snow Buntings.

Snow Bunting

February 9th
On another extremely windy morning we visited Reculver where we recorded 9 Red-throated Divers flying W, 98 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 5 Redwings, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Later at Shuart we saw 3 Common Buzzards, 13 Mute Swans, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests and 4 Long-tailed Tits.

Chiffchaff

February 8th
On an absolutely foul afternoon with a force 7 southerly gale blowing and heavy rain, all Matt managed to see at Reculver were 9 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Common Buzzard.

February 7th
Today dawned totally different to yesterday with sunshine and a southerly gale blowing. At a very muddy Chamber's Wall we walked as far as the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 2 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 6 Skylarks, 177 Brent Geese, 5 Redshank, 44 Mallard, 14 Oystercatchers, 46 Carrion Crows, 6 Shelduck, 6 Grey Plovers, 2 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret and 70 Lapwings.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

February 6th
We decided to visit Dungeness today as rain was forecast to stay away until mid afternoon. However as we arrived in the area the rain began to fall quite heavily and persisted for a while but then stopped and a thick fog descended. After lunch we decided to return home having seen 1 male Smew, 3 Cattle Egrets and 1 Great White Egret amongst the more common species.
We dropped in briefly at Reculver on the way home where we recorded 3 Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 4 Goldfinches and 2 Mallard.

February 5th
It was less cold this morning and still and overcast as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We recorded 285 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Red-throated Divers, 3 Teal, 1 Peregrine, 8 Redshank, 5 Grey Plovers, 31 Ringed Plovers, 34 Oystercatchers, 52 Meadow Pipits, 9 Turnstone, 7 Shelduck, 2 Stonechats, 4 Mute Swans, 64 Mallard, 12 Linnets, 20 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew, 32 Corn Buntings and 1 Pied Wagtail.
This afternoon we walked around a chilly and breezy Shuart and saw 11 Mute Swans, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Long-tailed Tits.

February 4th
Another unpleasant day with a strong SW wind blowing and continuous rain meant that we only had a very brief visit to the area this afternoon. All we maneged see were 31 Mute Swans, 12 Chaffinches, 17 Cormorants flying to the Stour Valley and a flock of 8 Goldfinches.

February 3rd
On a wonderful, sunny and frosty February morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and counted 18 Blackbirds, 2 Mute Swans, 105 Cormorants flying inland to the Stour Valley, 10 Reed Buntings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 250 Woodpigeons, 5 Song Thrushes, 73 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Shelduck, 62 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Snow Buntings, 2 Grey Plovers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 35 Carrion Crows, 6 Skylarks and 1 Stonechat.

Mallard on the sea at Coldharbour

February 2nd
With a strong NW wind forecast this morning I arrived at the Towers at 0730 for what turned out to be another uneventful seawatch. In one and a half hours I only saw 8 Kittiwakes W, 186 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 20 Common Gulls W, 50 Black-headed Gulls W, 200 Herring Gulls W, 66 Cormorants and 3 Red-throated Divers.

Winter plumaged Black-headed Gull

February 1st
It's very rare for us not to go out but the foul weather today kept us indoors. It was cold and there was persistent, heavy wintry rain. Hopefully tomorrow will turn up something of interest.