November 19th

With a cold gale force northerly wind blowing in showers and the sea breaking over the promenade and flooding the road, Matt and Derek seawatched at Reculver from 1045 to 1345. The undoubted highlight of the morning was Matt seeing a first winter Black Guillemot flying in at 1045 and landing on the sea just to the east of the Towers and only 100 metres offshore. After a couple of minutes it took off and continued flying east towards Minnis Bay. Other birds seen included 4 Knot W, 10 Common Scoter W, 3 Kittiwakes W, 4 Gannets W, 3 Little Gulls W, 2 large auks E and 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese W.         

We have just received the ringing information of a first year Chiffchaff we controlled at Reculver on October 9th. It had been ringed at Aislaby, North Yorkshire on September 10th and had flown 366 km SSE to reach Reculver.