February 28th
On a dull but calm morning we walked out onto the Marsh and saw 1 Kestrel, 56 Chaffinches, 45 Linnets, 1 Yellowhammer, 20 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Skylarks, 1 Raven, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Stonechat, 14 Tufted Duck, 8 Cormorants, 8 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Greenfinch.
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| Yellowhammer |
February 27th
After yesterday's gale it dawned sunny this morning and Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding whilst we met him at Coldharbour. Between us we saw 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Little Egret, 65 Corn Buntings, 3 Little Grebes, 726 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Snipe, 1 female Goosander dead in Plumpudding, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Stonechat, 160 Common Scoter, 1 Pied Wagtail, 9 Redshank, 48 Linnets, 8 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 1 Lapwing in off, 10 Oystercatchers and 2 Ringed Plovers.
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| Dead female Goosander |
February 26th
Matt arrived at Reculver at 0710 and spent three hours seawatching from the Towers in a north-easterly gale. He counted 160 Common Scoter on the sea, 389 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Gannet, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Kittiwakes E, 16 Common Gulls E, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls E, 33 Great Black-backed Gulls E and 1 second winter Caspian Gull E. He also saw a second winter Iceland Gull flying E towards the car park and then either flying back W or inland (126th). This is only the ninth Iceland Gull to be recorded in the area and the first since 19th April 2009.
February 25th
This morning began sunny with a heavy frost and ended cloudy and rainy as we walked at Reculver and saw 15 Mute Swans, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Chaffinches, 50 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kestrel, 6 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes and 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
February 24th
It was a beautiful, frosty and sunny morning as we walked out on to the Marsh at 0800. We recorded 10 Mallard, 19 Mute Swans, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 80 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 18 Chaffinches, 20 Linnets, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Skylarks, 10 Reed Buntings, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 20 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Cormorants and 2 Grey Herons.
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| Great Crested Grebe |
February 23rd
This morning dawned bright and breezy so we decided to walk from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 310 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Shelduck flying W, 1 male Tufted Duck flying W, 3 Goldfinches, 59 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Reed Buntings, 13 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 6 Mallard, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Stonechats, 2 Snipe, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Turnstone.
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| Ringed Plover |
Matt was also out and walked from Netherhale to Brooksend and on to
Shuart. He counted 7 Common Buzzards, 18 Greylag Geese, 30 Tufted Ducks,
45 Chaffinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 6 Grey Herons, 2
Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Raven, 7 Cetti's
Warblers, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Water Rail,
58 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Kestrels, 3 Stonechats, 400 Dark-bellied
Brent Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 20 Coot, 4 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler,
15 Teal and 1 Black Redstart.
February 22nd
On a damp and breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaffs, 13 Coot, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Mallard, 14 Cormorants, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Tufted Duck, 1 Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck hybrid, 12 Gadwall, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebes, 13 Chaffinches and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
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| Blackthorn blossom |
February 20th
This morning Matt walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding where we met up with him having walked in from Minnis Bay. Between us we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 22 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Stonechats, 33 Lapwings, 1 Canada Goose, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Redwings, 2 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 18 Curlew, 75 Turnstone, 50 Dunlin, 120 Grey Plovers, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 160 Oystercatchers, 30 Sanderling, 2 Bearded Tits, 55 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Raven, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Rock Pipit.
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| Redshank roosting at Plumpudding |
February 19th
There was not a great deal to be seen at Reculver this morning as we walked up to Coldharbour, just 199 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Mute Swans, 16 Meadow Pipits, 11 Linnets, 6 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Teal, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 51 Carrion Crows and 2 Oystercatchers. We also found a group of what appear to be Field Blewits growing beside the seawall near Coldharbour.
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| Field Blewits |
February 17th
This morning we walked out onto the Marsh and recorded 2 Kestrels, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 56 Linnets, 85 Stock Doves, 16 Chaffinches, 1 Redwing, 120 Rooks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 400 Starlings, 14 Mute Swans, 3 Skylarks, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Corn Bunting, 18 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Coot, 11 Cormorants, 12 Blackbirds, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Shelduck, 13 Tufted Duck and 2 Stonechats.
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| Reculver Marshes, Roman Fort and Towers |
February 16th
It was another surprisingly mild morning as we arrived at Reculver just after the overnight rain had moved through east. We walked up to Coldharbour and saw 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 32 Meadow Pipits, 19 Linnets, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 9 Oystercatchers, 17 Corn Buntings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Turnstone, 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Stonechat, 4 Snipe and 22 Stock Doves.
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| Cormorant |
February 15th
With a mild, southerly breeze blowing this morning and the tide going out we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 660 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Ravens, one on the Towers and the other being mobbed by Carrion Crows out on the Marsh, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Corn Buntings, 2 Turnstone, 24 Oystercatchers, 1 Shelduck, 58 Carrion Crows, 8 Mallard, 13 Meadow Pipits, 1 Great Northern Diver (125th), 3 Golden Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe and 9 Goldfinches.
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| Mallard beginning to pair up |
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| Distant Great Northern Diver |
February 14th
On a damp and breezy morning we had walks at Netherhale and Shuart. At Netherhale we saw 14 Greylag Geese, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cattle Egret roosting in a tree in the horse paddock, 6 Goldfinches and 22 Chaffinches. At Shuart we recorded 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 48 Goldfinches, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 25 Linnets, 2 Mallard, 16 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Common Buzzard and on the drive home we saw a Raven flying over the fields at Brook Farm.
February 12th
The morning began at 0530 when we heard a Long-eared Owl call three times from our garden at Bishoptone.
It was a beautiful winter's morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour where we met Matt who had walked in from Shuart. Anne and I recorded 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Avocets flying E (124th), 580 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull flying W, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Stonechats, 11 Mallard, 5 Meadow Pipits, 4 Reed Buntings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Corn Bunting, 10 Linnets, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Skylark singing, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Snipe.
In addition, Matt recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Woodcock, 2 Stonechats, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Lapwings, 22 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Chiffchaff.
February 11th
On a calm morning, the threatened rain did not materialise as we walked out on to the Marsh at Reculver. We counted 24 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 2 Skylarks, 1 Stonechat, 10 Mallard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 65 Stock Doves, 105 Linnets, 85 Fieldfares, 70 Chaffinches, 6 Yellowhammers, 3 Corn Buntings, 27 Reed Buntings, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Cormorants, 31 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Ducks and 2 Teal.
A five minute look at the flat, calm sea on the way home produced 14 Red-throated Divers flying E, 7 Great Crested Grebes and 60 Common Scoter on the sea out by the green buoy.
February 10th
We were back birding at Reculver this morning and on a glorious winter's morning walked up to Coldharbour and back. We counted 23 Great Crested Grebes, 760 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Mute Swans, 1 Redshank, 23 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 16 Linnets, 17 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Heron, 21 Oystercatchers, 2 Skylarks singing, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Stonechat, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 1+ Bearded Tits.
Derek Smith walked from Shuart along the embankment and on to Coldharbour and Plumpudding between 1100 and 1330. He saw 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Canade Geese with 3 hybrids, 18 diver sp. flying E, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Grey Herons, 2 Gadwall, 1 Golden Plover, 25 Curlew, 14 Redwing, 2 Stonechats, 14 Cetti's Warlers and 26 Long-tailed Tits.
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| Interesting pose of a Little Egret - Derek Smith |
February 7th
We arrived at Reculver at 0830 just as the heavy overnight rain had moved away to the south east. It was chilly but there was little wind as we walked along the seawall and counted 771 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Mute Swan, 44 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin, 3 Stonechats, 19 Mallard, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Lapwing, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 female Marsh Harriers, 7 Meadow Pipits and 4 Red-throated Divers E.
February 6th
On an even windier morning we walked around at Reculver and saw 220 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver flying E, 1 Shelduck, 21 Cormorants, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs, 32 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Gadwall, 18 Teal, 23 Coot, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 aythya hybrid, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
February 5th
Although there was a fresh westerly wind blowing the sun was shining brightly and there were a lot of birds singing this morning. We began with half an hour at Reculver where we counted 9 Great Crested Grebes flying W, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Sanderling and 1 Mediterranean Gull. We then walked inland and saw 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 26 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck drake hybrid, 1 Stonechat, 26 Mallard, 14 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 22 Coot, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 Firecrests.
February 4th
On a breezy morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 28 Mallard, 18 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Gadwall, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck hybrid male, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Firecrest.
During the last few days we've seen what appears to be a hybrid aythya duck in with the local Tufted Ducks. I managed to take one or two record shots of it and it seems to be a Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck hybrid.
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| Drake Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck |
February 3rd
On a lovely sunny morning we visited Reculver and Shuart and at Reculver recorded 1 Jay, 2 Green Sandpipers, 21 Tufted Duck, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Redshank, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 36 Teal, 11 Gadwall, 31 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 22 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Cetti's Warbler. At Shuart we saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Mallard, 7 Little Grebes, 6 Tufted Duck, 27 Teal and 2 Gadwall.
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| Robin singing |
Dave Smith arrived at Shuart at 0700 and spent over three hours walking around the eastern end of the Marsh. He recorded 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Mute Swans, 1 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 20 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Coot, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 Red-throated Diver, 7 Little Egrets, 1 Cattle Egret at Plumpudding, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Firecrest, 21 Redwings, 2 Stonechats, 20 Goldfinches and 4 Corn Buntings.
Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding between 0800 and 1030. He counted 14 Grey Herons, 46 Greylag Geese, 6 Canada Geese and 3 hybrids, 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 18 Coot, 120 Lapwings, 35 Stock Doves, 80 Linnets, 60 Chaffinches, 7 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Stonechats.
February 1st
It was a cold and sunny morning as we walked from Reculver to the Wantsum outflow. It was relatively quiet and all we saw were 544 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Redshank, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Oystercatcher, 40 Carrion Crows, 22 Mallard, 2 Stonechats and 1 Chiffchaff.
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| Cattle Egret - Matt Hindle |
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| Dark-bellied Brent Geese resting on the beach |
This morning Matt walked at Netherhale and Shuart and saw 24 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 19 Tufted Duck, 120 Chaffinches, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Cattle Egret, 47 Goldfinches, 5 Corn Buntings, 1 Jay, 3 Kestrels, 60 Linnets, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Gadwall, 25 Teal and 1 Grey Heron.