December 1st

After a night with a fresh NW wind blowing we arrived at Reculver at first light for a seawatch, but it turned out to be disappointing with few birds seen. In two and half hours we recorded 1,500 Cormorants, 1 immature Eider, 280 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 21 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Skua W, 2 Shelduck W, 17 Gannets, 1 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sanderling, 1 Knot, 12 Common Scoter, 6 large auks and 1 Razorbill W.

After I had left the Towers, Matt and Derek Smith remained for a while and recorded 7 Little Gulls W, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Skuas W, 14 Shelduck W, 1 immature Peregrine, 18 large auks E, 20 Gannets, 2 Wigeon W and 2 Kittiwakes W.

Later at Brooksend, Matt found a flock of 36 Russian White-fronted Geese and 2 Barnacle Geese.

This morning Julian Perry found 4 Snow Buntings on the beach between Reculver and the Green Wall.

This afternoon we walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver and saw 34 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Grey Partridges, 2 Kestrels and 1 Common Buzzard.