December 28th

On what turned out to be a bright, calm but chilly morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 407 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Meadow Pipits, 17 Mute Swans, 37 Ringed Plovers, 3 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 4 Reed Buntings, 65 Corn Buntings, a flock of 52 Russian White-fronted Geese flying out to see towards Essex, 45 Common Scoter, 22 Oystercatchers, 6 Grey Plovers and 1 Little Egret.

Marc arrived on the Marsh early and had 2 Woodcocks, 1 Little Owl and 1 Red-legged Partridge. He then walked from Reculver to Coldharbour, half an hour before us, and counted 1 Kestrel, 36 Ringed Plovers, 9 Mute Swans, 8 Redshank, 5 Little Grebes, 40 Corn Buntings, 8 Reed Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 30 Red-throated Divers, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 16 Grey Plovers, 21 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret and 2 flocks of Russian White-fronted Geese, including the flock we saw and numbering about 100 in total flying out to sea. He also saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Common Scoter, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 large auk flying E.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and between 0930 and 1230 walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding, Shuart and Brooksend. He recorded 1 Fulmar E, 30 Red-throated Divers E, 38 Great Crested Grebes at Minnis Bay, 42 Mute Swans, 16 Grey Herons, 13 Little Egrets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 86 Sanderling, 70 Turnstone, 26 Redshank, 90 Fieldfares, 1 Rock Pipit and 2 Cetti's Warblers. 

Maria and Mike Longdon walked from Minnis Bay to Reculver and back between 1100 and 1400. Apart from the usual they saw 4 Snow Buntings and 2 Snipe on one of the small islands on the scrape at Plumpudding, 23 Russian White-fronted Geese flying W over Reculver car park , 2 Short-eared Owls in the Oyster Farm and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Minnis Bay.