April 24th

On what started as a cold and blustery morning but gradually improved Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment, We met him at Coldharbour and then we walked back to Reculver. Between us we saw 1 Fulmar, 2 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Stonechat, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Whitethroats, good numbers of Sedge Warblers, 5 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Tufted Duck, 13 Swallows W, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 3 Lapwing and 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying W. We also saw 4 Wheatears, 1 Hobby flying W (151st), 2 Sanderling, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Redstarts on the railway embankment, 1 male and 1 female, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the embankment (152nd), 3 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 singing Firecrest, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Sand Martins W and 1 Raven.

Matt then walked inland at Reculver and found another female Common Redstart and our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year.

Male Stonechat

Cuckoo