February 13th

With an increasingly strong south wind blowing we visited Shuart and Reculver this morning. At Shuart we counted 1 Kestrel, 2 Jays, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Mallard, 28 Goldfinches, 12 Mute Swans and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and at Reculver we saw 2 Kestrels, 200 Woodpigeons, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Teal, 3 Mute Swans and 160 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Drake Teal

 Alex Lipczynski was on the second day of the NE Kent Co-ordinated Wader Count Survey and walked from the eastern end of Minnis Bay to Cold Harbour and back between 0900 and 1130. His total counts were 190 Sanderling, 63 Turnstone, 27 Redshank, 53 Grey Plover, 22 Dunlin, 24 Ringed Plovers, 20 Curlew and 81-121 very mobile Oystercatchers. At Plumpudding there was the usual large flock of Dark-belllied Brent Geese which settled on the sea just offshore and which then flew inland onto the field opposite. From photographs he counted 1,141 including 2 Black Brants. Steffan Walton also saw the Dartford Warbler near the Oyster Farm.

Both Black Brants - Alex Lipczynski