December 31st

On another unpleasant morning with a gale force westerly wind blowing in rain and drizzle we spent an hour at Reculver where we recorded 310 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Northern Diver flying high E, 3 Turnstone, 7 Cormorants, 2 Red-throated Divers E, 1 female/immature Black Redstart feeding in the rocks at the car park and 1 Common Buzzard sitting in a field looking for worms on our way home.

Matt braved the elements this morning and walked inland at Reculver where he saw 36 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Redwings and 1 Common Buzzard.

We ended the year having recorded 196 species, one less than last year.

December 29th

On a bright and breezy morning a walk at Reculver produced 9 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Gadwall, 53 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 1 Stonechat, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Teal

December 28th

With a south-westerly gale blowing in rain I spent 40 minutes at Minnis Bay this afternoon. I counted 42 Dunlin, 35 Grey Plovers, 98 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Common Scoter flying W, 11 Redshank, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 23 Turnstone, 82 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Red-throated Diver.

December 27th

This morning I had a walk around the Reculver area and recorded 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Redwings, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 1 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Moorhens, 57 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 32 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Eiders and 1 Great Northern Diver sitting on the sea off the Towers.

 December 26th

The male Long-eared Owl was heard calling again at Bishopstone a number of times at about 2320 hrs.

After overnight rain it was bright and breezy this morning as I walked at Reculver. Birds I saw 12 Chaffinches, 18 Goldfinches, 1 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 13 Lapwings, 43 Teal, 1 Raven, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Moorhens, 1 Grey Wagtail, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Red-throated Divers W.

 December 25th

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Last night just before midnight we heard a Long-eared Owl call three times at Bishopstone.

This afternoon David, June and Robin Elliott had a walk at Reculver and saw 3 Short-eared Owls at the Oyster Farm.

 December 24th

This morning we walked from Reculver to the Green Wall and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 157 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 180 Lapwings, 1 Merlin hunting over the Oyster Farm lagoons, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Shelduck W, 32 Mallard, 32 Carrion Crows, 2 Redshank, 7 Corn Buntings, 2 Stonechats and 1 Kestrel.

December 23rd

After this morning's heavy rain we didn't venture out until after lunch when we walked out on to the Marsh. We didn't see a great deal, just 61 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellowhammer, 122 Chaffinches and 1 Common Buzzard.

Reculver Marshes

 December 22nd

Our walk this morning from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding began in bright sunshine and ended in pouring rain. Birds we saw included 39 Redshank, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Shelduck, 204 Oystercatchers, 149 Sanderling, 271 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 53 Turnstone, 8 Goldfinches, 3 Linnets, 23 Meadow Pipits, 47 Carrion Crows, 13 Curlew, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 18 Mallard, 47 Grey Plovers, 120 Dunlin and 240 Lapwings.

Sanderling feeding on the seaweed at Minnis Bay

 While we were at Minnis Bay, Matt had a walk at Reculver and recorded 2 Fieldfares, 42 Teal, 2 Redshank, 49 Mallard, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 95 Grey Plovers, 150 Chaffinches, 7 Yellowhammers, 130 Linnets, 20 Corn Buntings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 240 Lapwings, 100 Stock Doves, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Wigeon, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Stonechat and 1 adult male Black Redstart.

December 21st

This morning we managed to walk from Reculver to Coldharbour before the threatened rain arrived. We recorded 1 Kestrel, 279 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 32 Mute Swan, 4 Redshank, 62 Carrion Crows, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Linnet, 65 Mallard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Teal, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 13 Oystercatchers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Coot, 24 Turnstone, 14 Curlew, 21 Lapwings and 1 Common Buzzard.

December 20th

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Coot, 250 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 male Pochard, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swan and 2 Mallard.

December 19th

On a much milder but very windy afternoon I had a walk inland at Reculver and counted 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Coot, 9 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 1 female Peregrine, 350 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 110 Lapwings and 1 Grey Heron.

December 18th

On yet another freezing morning we spent an hour at Reculver and saw 1 Common Buzzard, 134 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 114 Lapwings flying W out at sea, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers flying E, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Teal flying E, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew.

December 17th

Matt was out in the freezing weather this morning and walked at Reculver where he saw 40 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 37 Redwings, 4 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Water Rails, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 56 Teal, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 150 Stock Doves and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend and on to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. Birds he saw included 7 Grey Herons, 1 Spoonbill at Brooksend flying SE towards Pegwell Bay where it was seen later, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 185 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 60 Teal, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 330 Lapwings, 35 Golden Plovers, 12 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 60 Redwings, 12 Mistle Thushes, 20+ Song Thrushes, 2 Stonechats and 1 male Snow Bunting at Plumpudding.

Male Snow Bunting - Derek Smith

 December 16th

On a very frosty and slippery morning I completed my regular walk from Reculver to Coldharbour. It was relatively quiet but I did see 5 Lapwings, 4 Sanderling, 94 Mallard, 31 Corn Buntings, 385 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Wigeon, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechats, 11 Kittiwakes W, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 Kestrel.

Matt walked inland at Reculver and then back by way of the Green Wall. He counted 15 Snipe, 37 Golden Plover, 15 Redwing, 3 Sparrowhawks, 6 Moorhens, 4 Redshank, 65 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 4 Kestrels, 59 Lapwings, 16 Song Thrushes, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Water Rail, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Fieldfare, 24 Skylarks, 1 Rock Pipits, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Stonechats, 220 Linnets, 27 Mallard, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 78 Corn Buntings, 130 Stock Doves, 1 Peregrine and 48 Mute Swans.

December 15th

It was another cold but sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We recorded 1 Kestrel, 6 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 5 Goldfinches, 355 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Ravens flying E towards Thanet, 105 Mallard, 6 Teal, 5 Stonechats, 2 Shelduck, 2 Sanderling, 1 Oystercatcher, 39 Carrion Crows, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Snipe, 5 Snow Buntings, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Ringed Plover.

Two colour-ringed Brent Geese

December 14th

On another cold morning we had a look at Reculver before walking inland. We saw 5 Wigeon, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Kittiwakes, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, 24 Redwings, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 2 Redshank, 120 Stock Doves, 22 Lapwings, 3 Golden Plovers, 5 Green Sandpipers, 2 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 4 Water Rails, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe, 30 Linnets and 1 Marsh Harrrier. 

Later at Shuart we recorded 1 Goldcrest, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Lapwings, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 1 Chiffchaff.

 December 13th

On a freezing but bright morning with the tide out I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. I saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Blackbirds feeding on ivy berries around the Roman wall, 162 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 11 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 64 Mallard, 43 Carrion Crows, 16 Ringed Plovers, 23 Wigeon, 8 Lapwings on the beach, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Snow Buntings between the Green Wall and the Wantsum outflow, 17 Teal, 1 Little Egrets, 1 Shelduck, 64 Golden Plovers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Linnets, 3 Stonechat and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Snow Bunting

This morning Julian and Alex Perry saw an Egyptian Goose flying E over the Towers.

December 12th

After yesterday's freezing fog and ice and the overnight snow we didn't get out until after lunch and visited Reculver. When we arrived at Towers there was a distant group of birds sitting on the sea and with my telescope I was able to identify 32 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Common Scoter and male Scaup. Around the Towers we also found 2 Stonechats, 1 adult male Black Redstart and 1 Redshank on the grass.

December 10th

Today dawned calm, bright and frosty so I completed my regular walk from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds I saw included 12 Teal E, 9 Meadow Pipits, 550 Dark-bellied Geese, 1 adult male Black Redstart, 1 Stonechat, 35 Ringed Plovers, 11 Redshank, 47 Mallard, 3 Sanderling, 62 Carrion Crow, 8 Oystercatchers, 17 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 65 Golden Plovers, 1 Snipe, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kestreland 1 Little Egret.

December 9th

On an overcast and freezing morning I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 620 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28 Mallard, 48 Carrion Crows on the beach, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Redshank, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 4 Stonechats, 4 Reed Buntings, 65 Golden Plovers, 2 Ravens, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Turnstone and 1 Little Egret.

After lunch we visited Shuart where we saw 14 Redwings, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Goldcrest, 24 Teal, 2 Mallard, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 37 Lapwings and 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

December 8th

On a freezing morning Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. He saw 2 Stonechats, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Razorbill, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Kestrels, 1 female Merlin, 1 Dartford Warbler, 1 Snow Bunting and 30 Corn Buntings.

December 7th

On a cold and overcast morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 576 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 104 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 54 Mallard, 18 Cormorants, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Stonechat and 1 Snow Bunting.

December 6th

The wind had changed overnight to a fresh northerly and had blown the overcast, drizzly weather away. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldfinches, 44 Mallard, 35 Carrion Crows, 19 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Redshank, 11 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plovers, 33 Cormorants, 2 Stonechats, 1 adult male Black Redstart and 1 Kestrel.

Male Stonechat

Grey Plover

December 5th

We thought we would have a change of scenery this morning so we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon. In cold and drizzly conditions we counted 27 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 190 Sanderling, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Lapwings, 2 adult Kittiwakes flying E, 13 Redshank, 18 Turnstone, 1 Kestrel, 23 Curlew, 220 Oystercatchers, 3 Snow Buntings, 1 Stonechat and 2 Little Egrets.

Male Snow Bunting

December 4th

With a cold easterly wind blowing we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 393 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Velvet Scoter, a male and female flying E and then back W, 88 Mallard, 58 Cormorants, 2 Turnstone, 13 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 12 Redshank, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Northern Diver sitting on the sea close inshore, 2 Teal, 22 Carrion Crows and 1 Corn Bunting.

 December 3rd

There was a fresh and cold ENE wind blowing at Reculver where we spent an hour this morning and saw  339 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Northern Diver W, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Red-throated Diver and 38 Cormorants.

December 1st

This morning dawned overcast and drizzly but gradually improved as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. With the tide going out we recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechats, 2 Redshank, 341 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Corn Buntings, 71 Carrion Crows, 31 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grbes, 3 Turnstone, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Shelduck and 3 Oystercatchers.

On a wet, drizzly but still afternoon we had an hour seawatch at Minnis Bay where we counted 48 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Razorbill, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 500 Cormorants and 1 Sandwich Tern flying E which is the first December record for this species for the area.