February 28th

We arrived at Chamber's Wall in bright sunshine but by the time we had reached Coldharbour thick fog had rolled in off the sea. With such limited visibility it was difficult to see anything particularly as the tide was out, however, the 2 Snow Buntings performed well at the Wantsum outflow running about at my feet. The only other birds were 2 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 14 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Skylarks, 3 Mallard, 4 Redshank and 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

A male Great Tit before the fog arrived

February 27th

It was a fabulous late winter's morning as we walked along various footpaths inland from Reculver and recorded 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Moorhens, 5 Mallard, 80 Rooks at the May Street rookery, 26 Chaffinches, 75 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 35 Jackdaws, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Siskin flying E, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 6 Goldfinches.

Rooks

Linnets

Also in the Shuart and Brooksend area this morning there were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 6 Grey Herons, 6 singing Greenfinches, 1 Redwing, 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 33 Corn Buntings, 1 Siskin, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Teal, 1 Pochard, 21 Tufted Ducks, 1 Shoveler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Stonechat, 1 Snipe and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

February 26th

On a sunny but chilly morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and saw 6 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Shelduck, 14 Blackbirds, 13 Skylarks, 24 Redshank, 2 Coot, 1 Curlew, 16 Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 4 Turnstone, 8 Dunlin, 3 Mallard, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 16 Golden Plovers, 183 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 107 Sanderling and 1 Little Egret.

Male Chaffinch

February 25th

It is always difficult to work out whether Chiffchaffs seen at the end of February or beginning of March are newly arrived or part of the wintering population we have on the Marsh. This morning 2 Chiffchaffs seen in bushes beside the seawall seem good candidates for our first spring arrivals. Other birds seen on our walk at Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour included 7 Mallard, 10 Chaffinches, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Linnets, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 6 Skylarks, 309 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 45 Common Scoter, 21 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 68 Turnstone, 188 Sanderling, 68 Dunlin, 120 Oystercatchers, 26 Grey Plovers, 28 Ringed Plovers, 12 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats and 2 Snow Buntings in the usual place on the beach by the Wantsum outflow.

Winter plumaged Grey Plovers

Sanderling and a few Dunlin

February 24th

On an unusually mild February morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm lagoons. Although there wasn't anything new to be seen we did manage to count 2 Kestrels, 11 Chaffinches, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Skylarks, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 806 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Curlew, 26 Turstones, 11 Oystercatchers, 9 Dunlin, 16 Mallard, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Coot and 2 Redwings.

Winter plumaged Dunlin

This morning Julian Perry had a Siskin (131st) fly W over his garden at Bishopstone.

February 23rd

The day began when Anne heard a male Long-eared Owl calling close to our garden at Bishopstone at about 0030 hours. This is the third record of a Long-eared Owl in the area this year.

This morning was sunny and relatively mild but there was a freshening southerly wind blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back by way of the Green Wall. We saw 7 Goldfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Grey Partridges, 18 Skylarks, 4 Song Thrushes, 42 Corn Buntings, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 276 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstone, 65 Golden Plovers, 2 Snow Bunting, 3 Linnets W, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Fieldfare.

Snow Buntings

February 22nd

On a cooler morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 357 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Pied Wagtails, 5 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 21 Oystercatchers, 2 Stonechats, 4 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 157 Cormorants flying inland to the Stour Valley, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Snow Buntings, 5 Lapwings and 1 Kestrel.

Snow Bunting

Oystercatchers already pairing up

 February 21st

On another pleasant morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Mute Swans, 11 Skylarks, 4 Shelduck, 45 Common Scoter, 1 Little Egret, 3 Curlew, 7 Turnstone, 125 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 2 Coot, 15 Golden Plover, 17 Lapwings, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel.

Inland at Reculver this morning there were 3 Greenfinches, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Chiffchaffs, including 2 singing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Shelduck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Stonechats, 63 Corn Buntings, 38 Stock Doves, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Jay. 1

This morning, Marc Heath found a Black Redstart (130th) on the rocks west of Reculver car park and also heard a Raven flying over Bishopstone.

February 20th

Although there was a fresh southerly wind blowing this morning it felt like spring as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Green Wall and Reculver. Birds we saw included 1 Kestrel, 12 Chaffinches, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 42 Lapwings, 7 Skylarks, 3 Stonechats, 1 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 8 Mute Swans, 2 Coot, 16 Mallard, 6 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 7 Oystercatchers, 7 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plovers, 204 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Teal, 16 Corn Buntings 2 Ravens flying W, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Wigeon, 1 Lapland Bunting, 2 Redwings, 1 Woodcock, 7 Reed Buntings, 1 Great White Egret and 4 Grey Partridges. Julian and Alex Perry also saw the 2 Snow Buntings at the Wanstum outflow.

Raven - Alex Perry

 

Male Reed Bunting

February 19th

At Shuart this morning there were 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Fieldfares, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Common Buzzards, 8 Greylag Geese, 30 Mute Swans, 3 Crossbills flying W (129th), 2 Stonechats, 45 Common Scoter, 30 Wigeon, 7 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochard, 5 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 displaying Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Grey Herons and 2 Little Egrets.

Anne and I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 4 Goldfinches, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 36 Lapwings, 12 Chaffinches, 6 Mallard, 7 Shelduck, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Merlin, 1 Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Snow Buntings, 45 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew and 1 Kestrel.

February 18th

This morning we walked on the Marsh and recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Buzzards, 13 Mallard, 39 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 220 Lapwings, 2 Kestrels, 10 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Barn Owls, 10 Chaffinches, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, 1 Red-legged Partridge and 1 Brambling.

Also at Reculver this morning there was 1 Red-throated Diver, 14 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 100 Lapwings, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechats, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 35 Mallard, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Little Grebe.

This afternoon we had a male Blackcap in our garden at Bishopstone. 

At Shuart this evening there were 6 Greylag Geese, 1 Great White Egret, 250 Lapwings, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Water Rail, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Common Buzzard and 30 Mute Swans.

February 17th

It was very blustery this morning as we walked inland from Reculver. We counted 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Woodcock, 9 Goldfinches, 14 Blackbirds, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redwing, 5 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 85 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Male Pied Wagtail

February 16th

On a relatively mild but windy morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back before the forecast rain arrived. We saw 625 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Redshank, 3 Grey Plovers, 13 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers, 29 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 90 Lapwings flying W, 31 Mallard, 1 Snipe, 1 Greenshank and 4 Mute Swans.

February 15th

On a much milder afternoon we had our daily walk inland at Reculver and saw a very good range of species including 11 Woodcock, 2 Marsh Harriers, 16 Blackbirds, 3 Jays, 3 Mallard, 3 male Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 10 Teal, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Mute Swans, 4 Snipe, 12 Shelduck, 2 Great White Egrets (128th), 1 Kestrel, 35 Linnets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Jack Snipe and 1 Chiffchaff.

Great White Egret

 February 14th

On what is forecast to be the last day of the recent freezing weather we walked at a still cold, snowy and windy Reculver as far as Coldharbour.There are still a lot of birds that seem to be struggling or are out of their normal habitat but hopefully they will survive now the weather is changing. We counted 1,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 3 Redshank, 4 Mute Swans, 12 Lapwings, 2 Grey Plovers, 27 Mallard, 42 Snipe mainly in the grass below the seawall, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 5 Redwing, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 Kestrel, 6 Skylarks, 15 Wigeon, 2 Turnstone, 65 Linnets, 1 adult male Peregrine hunting along the beach, 1 Woodcock, 2 Song Thrushes, 10 Blackbirds and 8 Goldfinches.

Snow Buntings

At the same time at Shuart there were 2 Goldcrests, 1 Bittern disturbed from a ditch by the farm (127th), 8 Moorhens, 13 Teal, 7 Snipe, 4 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Stonechat, 2 White-fronted Geese, 33 Tufted Ducks, 6 Gadwall, 17 Coot, 2 Greylag Geese, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pochard, 47 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 4 Grey Herons and 1 Woodcock. 

Dave and Sarah Smith had a walk at the west end of the Marsh and their highlights were 7 Grey Partridges and 1 Merlin.

 February 13th

On another sunny morning with sub-zero temperatures our walk from Reculver to Coldharbour and inland produced 9 Woodcock, 36 Snipe, 133 Wigeon, 65 Teal, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenshank, 4 Redwings, 1 male Eider flying W (125th), 800 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Skylarks, 45 Common Scoter, 8 Shelduck, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits flying E, 2 Kestrels, 2 Curlew, 1 female Merlin, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Stonechat and 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying E (126th).

February 12th

A walk around the Reculver area this morning produced 22 Snipe, 166 Wigeon, 62 Mallard, 800 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 3 Knot, 20 Lapwings, 1 Redwing, 8 Dunlin, 22 Redshank, 40 Corn Buntings, 1 Fieldfare, 76 Skylarks, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 33 Teal, 3 male Pintail and 1 Grey Heron. 

Dave Smith had an afternoon walk at Reculver and his highights were 30+ Snipe, 6 Woodcock, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Knot, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Snow Buntings, 10 Golden Plover, lots of Wigeon and Dark-bellied Brent Geese and good numbers of Dunlin. He also noticed that a number of birds seem to be struggling because of the cold weather.

February 11th

After more snow overnight a walk on Reculver Marshes this morning produced 2 Chiffchaffs, 141 Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck, 14 Woodcock, 1 Water Rail, 1 Common Buzzard, 103 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpipers, 51 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 47 Skylarks, 36 Teal, 10 Redwings, 3 Stonechats, 7 Shelduck, 73 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret, 135 Lapwings, 79 Grey Plover, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 Greenshank, 1,058 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Knot (124th), 60 Redshank, 1 Shoveler, 48 Common Scoter, 3 Gadwall, 14 Curlew, 181 Golden Plover, 6 Fieldfares, 1 Guillemot flying E, 3 White-fronted Geese, 4 Jack Snipe, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 90 Sanderling, 60 Turnstone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Grey Partridges, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 female/immature Goldeneye flying E, 90 Linnets, 1 Kestrel and 35 Blackbirds.

Reculver Marshes in the snow

 Birds seen at Shuart today included 27 Teal, 80 Wigeon, 1 Kestrel, 2 Woodcock, 2 Corn Buntings, 25 Tufted Ducks, 4 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Song Thrushes, 2 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Peregrine, 6 Snipe and 7 Ring-necked Parakeets.

February 10th

A snowy and icy walk out onto the Marsh this morning produced 10 Woodcock, 87 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 231 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck, 53 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Fieldfares, 235 Lapwings, 21 Skylarks, 27 Dunlin, 5 Sanderling, 6 Redwings, 30 Common Gulls, 1 Little Egret, 28 Golden Plovers, 450 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 wintering Greenshank (120th), 3 Stonechats, 18 Redshank, 5 Gadwall, 3 Curlew, 3 Pintail, 1 Egyptian Goose (121st), 1 Green Woodpecker, 28 Meadow Pipits, 2 Coot, 4 Moorhens, 5 Tundra Bean Geese flying N (122nd), 55 Stock Doves, 1 Peregrine, 2 White-fronted Geese flying N (123rd), 110 Linnets, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Jay.

February 9th

On a sunny afternoon but with the temperature still sub-zero and snow on the ground I walked inland at Reculver and counted 20 Stock Doves, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Teal, 2 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 14 Blackbirds, 4 Woodcock, 38 Wigeon, 9 Mute Swans, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe (119th).

 February 8th

With snow still falling this morning Julian Perry was out on his run around the Marsh and saw 4 Woodcock, 1 at Chamber's Wall, 2 near Coldharbour and 1 at the Reculver Information Centre. He also saw 2 Common Snipe flying up along the top of Bishopstone Cliffs whist back in his garden at Bishopstone, the female Blackcap was again present.

A short walk this afteroon in sub-zero temperatures south of Reculver produced 2 Woodcock, 1 Kestrel, a flock of 48 Skylarks on a winter wheat field and 1 Lapwing. I also saw a Woodcock in my Bishopstone garden this evening.

February 7th

We didn't venture out in the snow today but Alex Perry managed to photograph a female Blackcap (118th) in his garden at Bishopstone.

Female Blackcap - Alex Perry

February 6th

Occasionally we put out a trail camera in our back garden to see if there are any foxes. About two weeks ago we had a brief view of an owl flying over just after midnight and last night it reappeared and is a Long-eared Owl. This is not unprecedented as we had a male singing regularly during January and in February 2016.

This morning we had an inland walk at Reculver and recorded 32 Chaffinches, 120 Rooks, 50 Jackdaws, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Mallard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Woodcock, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Pied Wagtail.

At 11.15, I was looking out of the window and could see a group of birds sitting in the top of a tree some way away and on looking at them through binoculars saw they were 18 Magpies.

February 5th

On what turned into a beautiful sunny morning our walk on the Marsh produced 2 Kestrels, 12 Skylarks, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Coot, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Moorhen, 364 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Meadow Pipits, 2 Redshank, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 45 Common Scoter, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Stonechats, 4 Redwings, 42 Corn Buntings, 3 Curlew, 1 Water Rail, 22 Linnets and 1 Snipe.

February 4th

The morning began foggy but by the time we had reached Coldharbour the fog had cleared and it turned into a glorious sunny winter's morning. Birds we recorded included 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Golden Plover, 21 Ringed Plover, 23 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 28 Redshank, 12 Reeed Buntings, 3 Stonechats, 24 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 395 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Mute Swans, 17 Corn Buntings, 1 Lapland Bunting in with the Meadow Pipits at Coldharbour, 18 Meadow Pipits, 1 Sanderling, 1 Short-eared Owl sitting on a post in the Oyster Farm and 7 Goldfinches.

The River Wantsum

Redshank

February 3rd

On a rainy walk inland at Reculver this afternoon we saw 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 3 Jays, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Gadwall, 6 Chaffinches and 1 Kestrel.

February 2nd

On a much milder but occasionally drizzly morning we walked out on the Marsh south of the railway and counted 67 Chaffinches, 35 Yellowhammers, 116 Corn Buntings, 7 Mute Swans, 190 Lapwings, 13 Reed Buntings, 24 Mallard, 5 Song Thrushes, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 85 Stock Doves, 250 Woodpigeons, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 11 Blackbirds. 

Meadow Pipit in the murk

 

While we were doing this Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour which was very quiet but his highlights were 354 Lapwings flying W, 5 Shelduck W and 45 Common Scoter on the sea.

February 1st

It was a thoroughly unpleasant morning with a cold northerly breeze blowing non-stop drizzle in off the sea and making it difficult to see anything through our binoculars. With the tide out we only managed to count 3 Shelduck, 474 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 8 Oystercatchers, 18 Mallard, 12 Teal flying W, 1 Curlew, 25 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank and 6 Meadow Pipits.