January 13th

It was even colder this morning and there was little to see as we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. With the tide out, but starting to come in, all we counted were 616 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 17 Oystercatchers, 9 Redshank, 58 Carrion Crows, 4 Mallard, 2 Shelduck and 1 Stonechat. Things improved significantly as we reached Reculver when we received a call from Matt to say Derek Smith had found a Cattle Egret (110th) in the horse paddocks at Netherhale. Luckily it was still there when we arrived, sitting in a tree. 

Cattle Egret - Matt Hindle

 

Cattle Egret

Matt walked from Netherhale to Shuart, Plumpudding and Brooksend and saw 1 Firecrest, 50 Chaffinches, the Cattle Egret found by Derek, 1 Little Owl (111th), 1 Mistle Thrusk, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Buzzards, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 34 Corn Buntings, 150 Linnets, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Shelduck, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 70 Sanderling, 30 Redshank, 9 Grey Herons, 1 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Shoveler (112th), 25 Coot, 28 Tufted Duck, 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 7 Golden Plover, 1 Greylag Goose and 1 Canada Goose with 4 hybrids and 1 female/immature male Black Redstart (113th).

Black Redstart - Matt Hindle

Derek Smith was out between 0800 and 1300 walking from Shuart to Brooksend, Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. He recorded 23 Red-throated Divers W, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Gannet, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 28 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 60 Redshank, 130 Sanderling, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 25 Coot, 7 Golden Plover, 36 Rooks, 1 Little Owl, 3 Ring-necked Parakeets, 40 Stock Doves, 7 Fieldfares W, 23 Redwings, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 40 Chaffinches, 90 Linnets, 1 Firecrest and 7 Corn Buntings.