February 29th
After the rain cleared we spent half an hour at Minnis Bay this afteroon where a SW gale was still blowing and managed to see 4 Great Crested Grebes, 105 Cormorants, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 first year Mediterranean Gull and 16 Redshank.

A through the window shot of a male Sparrowhawk with one of our local House Sparrows

February 28th
We arrived at Reculver earlier than usual to avoid the threatened rain and managed to walk to Coldharbour and back before it started. There wasn't a great deal different to see but we counted 314 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 18 Mallard, 20 Redshank, 5 Mute Swans, 10 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret, 16 Turnstone, 6 Shelduck, 16 Ringed Plovers, 80 Corn Buntings, 5 Skylarks and 7 Grey Plovers.

Mallard

February 27th
Matt braved the pouring rain this morning and visited Minnis Bay where he saw 1 male Eider (118th), 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Red-throated Divers, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Curlew and 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

February 26th
It was a bit of a struggle this morning because although the sun was shinning strongly there was a cold and blustery westerly gale blowing as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. With the tide out we managed to count 570 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Oystercatchers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 15 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 18 Mallard, 75 Corn Buntings, 2 Curlew, 5 Mute Swans, 60 House Sparrows and 1 Kestrel.

Kestrel

This afternoon we drove down to Minnis Bay and on the way had 2 Ravens flying over the Thanet Way near Netherhale Farm. At Minnis Bay we saw 1 Great Northern Diver flying W (117th) and 6 Great Crested Grebes.

February 25th
On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 611 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Redshank, 4 Mute Swans, 14 Mallard, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier, 26 Ringed Plovers, 6 Turnstone, 40 Corn Buntings, 6 Shelduck, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Greylag Geese.

February 24th
On yet another damp and very windy morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 10 Chaffinches, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mallard, 7 Cormorants, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 84 Carrion Crows, 3 Stonechats, 1 Grey Heron, 30 Corn Buntings, 1 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 6 Goldfinches.
After this we spent half an hour at Reculver car park where there was nothing to be seen except the usual early morning westerly movement of gulls. We counted 110 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull and 30 Black-headed Gulls.
Matt was also out this morning and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Plumpudding and recorded 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Greylag Geese, 19 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 19 Coot, 48 Mute Swans, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets,2 Stonechats, 24 Song Thrushes, 21 Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jays, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Long-tailed Tits.

February 23rd
It was another very windy day as we walked at Reculver and recorded 85 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cormorants, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 82 Carrion Crows, 1 Jay and 2 Stonechats.

Blackthorn and Coltsfoot in flower

February 22nd
There was a 40mph SW gale blowing this morning as we visted various sites in the Reculver area. We managed to record 195 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Curlew, 4 Shelduck, 60 House Sparrows, 36 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Chiffchaffs, 15 Cormorants, 3 Stonechats, 104 Carrion Crows, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Moorhen, 2 Jays, 4 Goldfinches and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

February 21st
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 590 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 96 Carrion Crows, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 3 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 21 Mallard, 24 Turnstone, 80 House Sparrows, 10 Corn Buntings, 1 Tree Sparrow, 76 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers, 28 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 1 Little Egret and 2 Shelduck,

Winter plumaged Sanderling

February 20th
It was a drizzly and windy morning as we walked at various sites at Reculver and recorded 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 7 Cormorants, 14 Chaffinches, 96 Carrion Crows, 1 Grey Heron, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting along the back of the Oyster Farm, 4 Stonechats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jays, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

February 19th
On another sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 560 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe flying W, 47 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 12 Turnstone, 3 Mute Swans, 16 Mallard, 9 Redshank, 30 Corn Buntings, 55 Ringed Plovers, 1 Red-throated Diver flying E, 6 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Skylarks.

Winter plumaged Grey Plover

February 18th
There was a gap in the awful weather we have had recently and the sun was shining brightly as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 1 second winter Mediterranean Gull flying W (116th), 3 Red-throated Divers, 13 Redshank, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese, 97 Oystercatchers, 34 Ringed Plovers, 29 Turnstone, 3 Shelduck, 4 Sanderling, 116 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Corn Buntings, 9 Dunlin, 7 Mallard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Stonechats, 5 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 6 Skylarks and 1 Common Buzzard.

Winter plumaged Dunlin

February 17th
On a morning with a gale force SW wind blowing in heavy showers we walked inland at Reculver and Shuart. Birds we saw included 10 Chaffinches, 1 Mistle Thrush, 15 Blackbirds, 1 Green Woodpecker, 48 Carrion Crows, 36 Stock Doves, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Stonechats, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Jays, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 12 Mute Swans and 2 Mallard.

February 16th
Matt braved the elements this morning and walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Cormorants, 1 Coot, 1 Water Rail, 1 Fielfare, 1 Redwing, 70 Corn Buntings, 1 Yellowhammer, 15 Chaffinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Jay.
Later at Minnis Bay he recorded 2 Little Egrets, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-throated Divers.

February 15th
It was very windy again this morning so we walked inland at Reculver and counted 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 30 House Sparrows, 45 Stock Doves, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper, 54 Carrion Crows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Mistle Thrush, 7 Chaffinches and 1 Jay.

February 14th
On a cold, calm and sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 100 House Sparrows, 233 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 6 Shelduck, 23 Redshank, 13 Oystercatchers, 7 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 64 Corn Buntings, 40 Reed Buntings, 28 Ringed Plovers, 16 Turnstone, 6 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Skylarks, 1 Coot, 7 Mute Swans, 8 Magpies, 1 Lapwing and 1 Stonechat.

Male Yellowhammer

February 13th
We managed to miss the heavy showers this morning as we had an hours walk at Reculver. We managed to see 2 Goldfinches, 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Common Buzzard, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swans, 74 Stock Doves, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Coot.

February 12th
The wind had moderated somewhat this morning as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour in bright sunshine. We recorded 2 Goldfinches, 1,035 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 25 Turnstone, 87 Corn Buntings, 2 Shelduck, 22 Oystercatchers, 8 Redshank, 39 Mallard, 40 Reed Buntings, 22 Ringed Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 80 House Sparrows, 2 Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammers and 4 Skylarks.

Tree Sparrow

February 11th
There was still a gale force and cold south westerly blowing this morning although the sun was shining brightly. We struggled up to the Wantsum outflow from Chamber's Wall but there was very little to see just 66 Mute Swans, 29 Mallard, 1 Teal, 4 Skylarks, 2 Coot, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Gadwall, 1,060 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Shelduck, 10 Oysterctatchers, 1 Curlew and 8 Turnstone.
We spent 40 minutes at a very windy Minnis Bay this afternnon but only saw 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull E, 2 Guillemots W, 28 Cormorants, 2 Gannets and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Minnis Bay

February 10th
Although Strom Ciara had moved off to Scandinavia this morning it was still very windy although the sun was shining brightly. Rather than battling the wind on the seawall we spent some time at Reculver this morning and recorded 153 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 200 Herring Gulls flying W, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flying W, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 51 Chaffinches, 2 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Pied Wagtail.

February 9th
Storm Ciara with its storm force winds and frequent rain stopped us visiting the area today .

February 8th
On a damp morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 321 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 250 Cormorants out on the sandbanks, 6 Turnstone, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Stonechats, 1 Gannet, 12 Shelduck, 16 Mallard, 16 Ringed Plovers, 12 Reed Buntings, 2 Oystercatchers, 80 House Sparrows, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Little Egret, 1 Tree Sparrow, 20 Corn Buntings and 1 Kestrel.

February 7th
On another lovely morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 9 Shelduck, 6 Sanderling,17 Redshank, 3 Gannets flying E, 5 Turnstone, 148 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 49 Ringed Plovers, 50 House Sparrows, 26 Reed Buntings, 40 Corn Buntings, 1 Curlew, 1 Guillemot flying E, 4 Mallard, 4 Stonechats and 1 Kestrel.

February 6th
On a fantastic, cold and sunny winter's morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 10 Shelduck, 654 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Turnstone, 2 Mute Swans, 31 Ringed Plovers, 11 Mallard, 76 Corn Buntings, 80 House Sparrows, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammers, 18 Reed Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Curlews, 15 Meadow Pipits, 2 Lapland Buntings on the seawall with other buntings, 2 Stonechats and 10 Redshank.

Lapland Buntings

Male Stonechat

Corn Bunting

February 5th
This morning we completed our regular walk from Reculver to Coldharbour at high tide and counted 341 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 8 Gannets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers flying W (114th), 3 Turnstone, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Mute Swans, 66 Corn Buntings, 1 Guillemot flying E (115th), 22 Reed Buntings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 male Yellowhammer, 6 Redshank and 1 Ringed Plover.

February 4th
There was a strong westerly wind blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 52 Mute Swans, 1 Fieldfare, 7 Reed Buntings, 35 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 16 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 456 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 44 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plovers and 6 Corn Buntings.

February 3rd
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and saw 70 House Sparrows, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 318 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Gannets fishing offshore, 2 Shelduck, 6 Turnstone, 10 Reed Buntings, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Heron, 16 Mallard, 77 Cormorants, 1 Oystercatcher, 6 Corn Buntings, 1 Redshank, 21 Ringed Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Ravens flying W, 5 Robins and 1 Kestrel.

Raven

Robin

February 2nd
We had a walk inland at Reculver this morning after the overnight rain had moved through. There was a blustery W wind blowing but it was surprisingly mild. We counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 21 Goldfinches, 2 Jays, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Coot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer and 8 Chaffinches.

Hazel catkins

February 1st
The month began with an uneventful walk from Reculver to Minnis Bay when we saw 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Jay, 60 House Sparrows, 1 Kestrel, 105 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 4 Shelduck, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, 1 Yellowhammer, 17 Mallard and 18 Oystercatchers.