October 4th
On an overcast and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (181st) calling in the trees near the cafe, 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 1 Brambling, 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Rock Pipits, 81 Meadow Pipits, 6 Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 4 Oystercatchers, 54 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W, 9 Blue Tits and 10 Great Tits flying W along the seawall, 52 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches, 4 Stonechats, 22 Carrion Crows, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Skylarks, 1 Whinchat, 34 Mallard, 17 House Martins W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Shelduck W and 2 Sandwich Terns W.

Meadow Pipit

For two hours either side of midday there was a large movement of mainly House Martins with lesser numbers of Swallows. The same thing was happening at Grenham and Minnis Bay where Terry Wilson saw the same thing. At Bishopstone at midday I counted about 100 House Martins flying W per minute with also about 10 Swallows per minute. Lesser numbers continued moving all afternoon.
This afternoon I had a call from Matt to say he had caught a Marsh Tit in his garden near Tilmanstone and would I like to come and see it. I have not seen Marsh Tit in the hand for about forty years so as we weren't far away we drove over to see it. A really smart little bird. He also had a Yellow-browed Warbler calling in his garden earlier.

Marsh Tit