October 22nd

It was a glorious autumn morning as we walked up to Coldharbour from Reculver and Matt walked in from Chamber's Wall and met us on the seawall. Between us we counted 1 Kestrel, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 52 Meadow Pipits, 60 Woodpigeons W, 9 Pied Wagtails, 11 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstone, 1 Common Buzzard, 15 Mallard, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Stonechats, 28 Goldfinches, 4 Rock Pipits, 1 Lapland Bunting flying W and calling, 74 Lesser Redpoll flying W, including one flock of 71, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Little Grebes, 15 Siskins W, 59 Chaffinches, 12 Swallows W, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Skylarks, 4 Bearded Tits, 4 Goldcrests, 16 Dunnocks, 1 Water Rail, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Hobby, 2 Bramblings, 10 Song Thrush and 1 Redshank.

This morning Derek Smith and Patrick Giles were out for six and a half hours and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and returned by way of Brooksend. They counted 11 Grey Herons, 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Merlin, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Snipe, 15 Lapwings, 1 Water Rail, 400 Starlings W, 36 Redwings W, 56 Starlings W, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails W, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 1 Tree Sparrow W, 10 Stonechats, 454 Redpolls W, 148 Siskins W, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 26 Chiffchaffs, 36 Goldcrests and Corn Buntings. They also found a Long-tailed Blue on the railway embankment.

Long-tailed Blue - Derek Smith