April 26th

The highlight of the morning was when Dave Smith found a female Red-footed Falcon feeding over Reculver bushes and nearby fields (156th). On occasions it was difficult to find high in the bright blue sky but with patience reasonable views were possible. This is only the fourth record for the area following a male at Coldharbour from 14th-21st June 1970, a first year male at Minnis Bay on 14th May 1992 and a female photographed at Shuart on 22nd May 2008.

 

 

Female Red-footed Falcon - Dave Smith

Other birds he saw on his walk from Reculver included 9 Greylag Geese, 12 Mute Swans, 5 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Avocets, 18 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Lapwing, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, 90 Sanderling, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Common Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Red Kite W, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 10 Sand Martins, 12 Swallows, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 33 Whitethroats, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Meadow Pipits and 9 Corn Buntings.

Whitethroat - Dave Smith

 

Linnet - Dave Smith

Matt and I were joined by Anne for the first time in four months on our ringing session at Reculver. We saw 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 10 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 6 Reed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Greylag Geese, 3 Mallard, 2 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 48 Sand Martins, 1 Red Kite W and 1 Jay.

Birds ringed 12: Reed Warbler 2, Reed Bunting 2, Blackcap 3, Robin 1, Whitethroat 4.

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and back via Brooksend. He counted 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 16 Greylag Geese, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 male Pochard, 3 Marsh Harriers, 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Red Kite W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover over and calling (157th), 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel E, 2 Cuckoos, 1 Raven E, 4 Swallows W, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 3 Corn Buntings.