November 2nd

This morning began drizzly but cleared at about 0900. Matt walked from Reculver to Coldharbour along the seawall where we met him before we all returned to seawatch from the Towers. We had an excellent morning seeing a good range of species and counted 3 Goldcrests, 5 Rock Pipits, 4 Stonechats, 7 Little Egrets, 41 Gannets E, 36 Wigeon W, 12 Corn Buntings, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Herons, 5 Curlew, 1,546 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W, 1 Shelduck W, 1 Brambling in off, 200 Knot flying high W, 2 Yellowhammers, 60 Dunlin, 2 Gadwall and 1 Spotted Redshank in the Oyster Farm and then flying S (195th). We also saw, 600 Starlings, 1 Peregrine high over the sea and diving at a Short-eared Owl, 5 Teal, 31 Common Scoter, 18 Little Gulls high in off, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Siskins, 1 Kittiwake E, 1 Red-breasted Merganser W, 1 Pink-footed Goose E (196th), 9 Skylarks in off, 2 Great Skuas E, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Greenfinch.

November 1st

This morning we had a ringing session at Shuart where we saw 1 Kestrel, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 550 Redwings, 26 Fieldfares, 2 Brambling, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Water Rail, 6 Goldfinches, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Firecrest, 4 Bramblings, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Tree Sparrow, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Snipe, 125 Chaffinches, 30 Skylarks, 16 Siskins, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Jay, 2 Ravens, 65 Lapwings, 150 Starlings, 1 Common Buzzard, 25 Blackbirds and 20 Song Thrushes.

Birds ringed 34: Wren 2, Chiffchaff 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Chaffinch 3, Robin 2, Reed Bunting 13, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 3, Blackbird 3, Green Woodpecker 1.

Adult Redwing

Dave Smith was also out and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall and back along the Green Wall. He saw 25 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 13 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing, 41 Fieldfares, 7 Stonechats, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 115 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Goldeneye flying E, 33 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 7 Lesser Redpolls W, 410 Goldfinches W, 1 Siskin W, 30 Corn Buntings and 1 Yellowhammer.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart along the Embankment to Chamber's Wall and Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He counted 6 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Snipe E, 18 Curlew, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Jays, 350 Redwings W, 1 Mistle Thrush W, 130 Blackbirds, 6 Fieldfares W, 45 Song Thrushes, 800 Starlings W, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Stonechats, 16 Skylarks W, 3 Pied Wagtails W, 12 Lesser Redpolls W, 208 Goldfinches W, 3 Siskins W, 43 Chaffinches W, 1 Brambling W, 23 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 26 Goldcrests.