October 16th

We had an excellent morning's bird watching and ringing in calm and cold conditions at Reculver. We saw 402 Siskins W, 3 Pied Wagtails, 13 Redwings, 232 Chaffinches W, 28 Cormorants, 53 Fieldfares W, 11 Lesser Redpolls, 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, a flock of 20 Cattle Egrets flying E (185th), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Partridge, 7 Song Thrushes, 6 Little Grebes, 30 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Grey Wagtails, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 17 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 female Pintail, 55 Mallard, 30 Teal, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawks, 9 Bramblings, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Heron, 358 Starlings W, 1 Hobby, 14 Skylarks and 1 Great White Egret flying high W down West Brook Valley.

Birds ringed 49: Chiffchaff 8, Goldcrest 6, Wren 2, Long-tailed Tit 12, Great Tit 3, Chaffinch 5, Blackcap 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Brambling 2, Siskin 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1, Blackbird 2.

Male Brambling

Male Siskin

Redwing

 Dave Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He counted 400 Woodpigeons, 10 Lapwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 3 Jays, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 9 Song Thrushes, 272 Redwings, 56 Fieldfares, 1 Stonechat, 35 Chaffinches, 16 Brambling, 100 Linnets, 30 Lesser Redpoll, 105 Siskins, 17 Corn Buntings, 43 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (186th),1 Little Grebe, 3 Geat Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Plover, 30 Ringed Plovers, 8 Curlew, 16 Turnstone, 40 Sanderling, 2 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Red-throated Divers, 8 Gannets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 65 Skylarks, 1 Blackcap, 2,000+ Starlings, 1 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtails and 3 Rock Pipits.

After we had finished ringing Matt had a walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. He recorded 83 Fieldfare flying W, 2 Siskins W, 8 Redwings, 19 Skylarks W, 3 Stonechats, 3 Common Buzzards, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 25 Chaffinches W, 10 Brambling W, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Song Thrushes, 22 Golden Plovers, 4 Lesser Redpoll W, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Bearded Tits, 76 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe on the sea, 1 Guillemot, 2 Sandwich Terns, 14 Redshank, 6 Grey Plovers, 1 Wheatear and 1 adult Little Gull.