December 31st

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Jays, 1 Redshank, 4 Sanderling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Grey Plovers, 14 Mute Swans and 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles.

December 30th

This morning we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 108 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Ravens, 14 Chaffinches, 32 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 22 Coot, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Mute Swans, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Stonechat, 22 Linnets, 8 Bewick's Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 29th

The wind had dropped significantly this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and counted 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40 Chaffinches, 21 Mute Swans, 8 Bewick's Swans, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Skylarks, 62 Carrion Crows and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Bewick's and Mute Swans

December 28th

On another very windy and showery morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Gadwall, 23 Coot, 34 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Teal and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 27th

We got out early this morning before the forecast gale force winds of Storm Gerrrit arrived. We walked inland at Reculver and recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 50 Rooks, 20 Jackdaws, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 23 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 36 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Chiffchaffs, 340 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Teal and 1 Kestrel.

December 26th

On a beautiful, sunny, winter's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall as far as the Wantsum outflow and saw 1 Merlin, 27 Mute Swans, 8 Fieldfares, 4 Chaffinches, 23 Redwings, 667 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 65 Carrion Crows, 45 Linnets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Oystercatchers, 20 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe, 51 Redshank and 8 Bewick's Swans.

Derek Smith was out this morning at 0800 and walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and along the embankment to the Green Wall. He recorded 6 Red-throated Divers, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Bewick's Swans, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Guillemot on the sea at Coldharbour, 66 Golden Plovers, 94 Redshank, 80 Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, 3 Bearded Tits, 6 Stonechats, 12 Cetti's Warblers and 9 Corn Buntings.

 December 25th

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 782 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 19 Mute Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Julian and Alex Perry had a male Blackcap in their garden at Bishopstone.

December 24th

On another very windy morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a quick seawatch. We counted 85 Rooks, 1 Little Egret, 3 Chiffchaffs, 21 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 15 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 610 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 27 Stock Doves, 30 Jackdaws, 60 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers.

December 23rd

This morning we walked out on to the Marsh at Reculver and recorded 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 41 Chaffinches, 174 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 44 Mute Swans, 200 Rooks, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 1 Golden Plover, 500 Starlings, 65 Stock Doves, 50 Jackdaws, 17 Mallard, 19 Coot, 1 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe.

Adult Bewick's Swan

Whilst Anne and I walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver Matt walked from Shuart to the embankment and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Redwing, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 Fieldfares, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Grey Partridges, 8 Redshank, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 27 Curlew, 200 Oystercatchers, 60 Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlin, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Stonechats, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Canada Geese and 1 Greylag Goose.

December 22nd

On another very windy morning we did the same as yesterday and saw 3 Mute Swans, 30 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard, 5 Moorhens, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 105 Common Scoter offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 12 Cormorants and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 21st

It was very windy this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and then had a brief look at the sea. We saw 70 Rooks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrests, 15 Mallard, 22 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Chiffchaff, 169 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 70 Common Scoter.

December 20th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked out onto the Marsh and saw 240 Stock Doves, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Mallard, 23 Coot, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Grey Herons, 44 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 2 Kestrels, 30 Chaffinches, 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Linnets, 5 Bewick's Swans, 3 adults and 2 immatures, 104 Fieldfares, 13 Redwings and 9 Grey Partridges.

Bewick's and Mute Swans

December 18th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 216 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 46 Mute Swans, 5 Bewick's Swans, 7 Redshank, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Corn Buntings, 38 Linnets, 220 Carrion Crows, 16 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 16 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 2 Little Grebe and 6 Goldfinches.

December 17th

On a sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 19 Chaffinches, 48 Fieldfares, 91 Redwings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Merlin, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 11 Blackbirds, 2 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Mallard, 6 Linnets, 250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Golden Plover, 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel and 38 Stock Doves.

Whilst we were out at Chamber's Wall Matt walked out onto the Marsh from Reculver and recorded 110 Rooks, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Teal, 10 Mallard, 21 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Grey Partridges, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Corn Buntings, 44 Mute Swans, 5 Bewick's Swan, 3 adults and 2 juveniles, 127 Stock Doves, 300 Starlings, 1 Jay, 3 Kestrels and 2 Little Egrets.

Bewick's Swans - Matt Hindle

December 16th

With limited time this morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 80 Rooks, 3 Jays, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 22 Coot, 12 Mallard, 3 Moorhens, 3 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Chaffinches, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 17 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Derek Smith was out between 0800 and 1100 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding, Coldharbour and the embankment. He counted 12 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Grey Herons, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 132 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 350 Fieldfares, 70 Redwings, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Stonechats, 14 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Corn Buntings.

December 15th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 24 Mute Swans, 720 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Redshank, 100 Common Scoters, 17 Meadow Pipit, 16 Ringed Plovers, 1 Stonechat, 21 Corn Buntings, 20 Oystercatchers, 96 Carrion Crows, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Mallard, 21 Linnets, 20 Goldfinches, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Lapwings, 2 Wigeon, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret and 1 Little Grebe.

Reculver Towers - renovation now complete

Whilst we were at Reculver Matt walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Plumpudding. He saw 5 Goldcrests, 16 Grey Herons, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 310 Linnets, 55 Chaffinches, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Tufted Duck, 8 Little Egrets, 4 Coot, 1 Marsh Harrier, 11 Corn Buntings, 3 Stonechats, 26 Sanderling, 119 Golden Plovers, 18 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 16 Mallard.

December 14th

For a change of scenery we spent the day at Dungeness where we recorded 86 species of birds. Amongst the birds we saw were 38 Bewick's Swans, 4 Whooper Swans, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Great White Egrets, 3 Glossy Ibises, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 55 Egyptian Geese, 6 Goldeneye, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Little Gulls.

December 13th

Matt was out birding at Reculver between 0950 and 1120 and counted 220 Common Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Red-throated Divers, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 38 Mute Swans and 4 adult Bewick's Swans on the fields behind the Oyster Farm, 2 Kittiwakes, 2 Razorbills, 1 Eider, 2 Teal, 1 Great Northern Diver and 2 Gannets.

December 11th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a look at the sea. We saw 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, 22 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Redshank, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtails, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Gannets and 1 Red-throated Diver. On our way home we had a ring-tailed Hen Harrier fly over S.

Female and male Pied Wagtails

December 10th

It was dull and breezy this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where we met Matt who had walked in from Chamber's Wall and Plumpudding. Between us we counted 31 Mute Swans, 867 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier 1, 85 Redshank, 120 Carrion Crows, 2 Pied Wagtails 3 Goldfinches, 36 Turnstone, 64 Mallard, 18 Grey Plovers, 55 Dunlin, 24 Curlews, 140 Oystercatchers, 1 Water Rail, 1 Gannet E, 22 Linnets, 3 Stonechats, 1 Red-throated Diver, 36 Stock Doves, 1 Kingfisher, 20 Redwings, 11 Fieldfares, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Song Thrushes, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Herons, 32 Sanderling, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Bearded Tits and 1 Little Grebe.

Grey Plovers near Coldharbour

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0900 and 1130 and walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and along the embankment. He saw 1 Red-throated Diver E, 13 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 8 Gannets E, 1 Sandwich Tern W, the latest ever record for the area, the previous record being 1st December 2022, 65 Grey Plovers, 73 Redshank, 55 Turnstones, 120 Sanderling, 18 Dunlin, 25 Redwings, 8 Fieldfares, 11 Song Thrushes and 1 Rock Pipit.

December 9th

On a wet and windy morning we spent an hour at Reculver where we saw 446 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 300 Common Scoter, 16 Gannets, 3 Little Gulls flying W, 3 Red-throated Divers and 1 Rock Pipit.

December 8th

We arrived at Reculver just as the sun was rising and as we walked up to Coldharbour the fog began to roll in from the Marsh but as we turned to head back it cleared and left a beautiful sunny morning. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Stonechats, 16 Mute Swans, 334 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 65 Carrion Crows, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Redshank, 35 Mallard, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Oystercatchers, 14 Goldfinches, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 16 Linnets, 1 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Golden Plover calling overhead, 4 Corn Buntings, 4 Bearded Tits and 14 Meadow Pipits.

Coldharbour

December 6th

At last a pleasant sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw 181 Carrion Crows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 246 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Stonechat, 1 Ringed Plover, 16 Mute Swans, 42 Mallard, 3 Turnstone, 4 Corn Buntings, 3 Sanderling, 8 Oystercatchers, 5 Redshank, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 20 Jackdaws and 12 Goldfinches.

Carrion Crow

December 5th

We spent an hour at an overcast and drizzly Reculver this morning and saw 216 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Northern Diver flying W, 65 Carrion Crows, 15 Jackdaws and 1 Redshank.

December 3rd

On another wintry morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a brief look at the sea. We saw 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Mallard, 20 Coot, 1 Shoveler, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Redshank, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Teal, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Grey Wagtail, 154 Common Scoter, 41 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Gannets and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

December 2nd

On an overcast and bitterly cold morning with the tide going out we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 356 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 27 Mute Swans, 240 Carrion Crows, 35 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Stonechats, 17 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Golden Plover, 1 male Goosander on the sea off Coldharbour, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Redshank, 250 Common Scoter offshore, 8 Wigeon, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Bearded Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Fieldfare.

Distant drake Goosander

December 1st

The new month began cold and showery with a fresh NE wind blowing as Matt walked from Reculver to Coldhabour. He saw 8 Stonechats, 202 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose that flew in and landed at the Wantsum outflow before flying E. He also recorded 3 Shelduck, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Mallard, 12 Teal, 1 Kingfisher, 10 Bearded Tits, 2 Fieldfares, 4 Little Grebes, 106 Common Scoter, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 120 Carrion Crows, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 28 Mute Swans, 1 Common Buzzard and 1 Rock Pipit.