March 31st

The month ended with a gale force south westerly wind and rain so we spent from 0745 to 0930 at Minnis Bay seeing what flew by. We counted 12 Common Scoter, 27 Sandwich Terns W, 3 Fulmars (135th), 1 third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull W, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Gannets, 1 Common Gull W and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

As the rain had turned to drizzle we visited Reculver on the way home and saw 16 Goldfinches, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Tufted Ducks, 4 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mallard, 1 male Wheatear and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Immature male Sparrowhawk hunting House Sparrows in our garden

March 30th

On an increasingly windy morning we walked along the seawall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Black Redstart on the rocks at the car park, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Mallard, 16 Linnets, 1 Sandwich Tern flying W, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Ringed Plovers, 9 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank and 4 Stonechats.

Matt was out before us and walked up to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 3 Sand Martins W, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Kestrels, 10 Chiffchaffs, 46 Meadow Pipits W, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Stonechats, 1 Yellow Wagtail W, 40 Common Scoter, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Rock Pipit, 10 Sandwich Terns,  6 Velvet Scoter, 160 Sanderling, 2 Siskins W, 2 Golden Plovers W, 29 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 96 Linnets, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Gadwall, 1 Greenfinch and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

This afternoon our walk inland at Reculver produced 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Redwing, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Mallard, 1 male Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Chiffchaffs and 1 Green Woodpecker.

March 29th

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. We met him at Coldharbour and returned with him to Reculver. Between us we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 23 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 female Pintail, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Redshank, 18 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Stonechats, 5 Shelduck, 37 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Red-throated Divers, 109 Common Scoter E, 1 Sandwich Tern E, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Corn Buntings, 1 Sedge Warbler (133rd), 6 Velvet Scoter off Coldharbour, 1 Swallow W, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Grey Heron, 210 Sanderling, 31 Turnstone, 8 Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 7 alba Wagtails, 1 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrests, 6 Teal, 2 Willow Warblers (134th), 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Lapwings, 1 Yellowhammer, 11 Mallard, 10 Oystercatchers, 34 Carrion Crows, 2 Kestrels, 31 Woodpigeons flying high E in a flock and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Male Reed Bunting

March 28th

On a cold and rainy morning we birded at various sites at Reculver and recorded 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Coot, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 female Pintail, 1 Redshank, 21 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier flying NW out to sea, 50 Meadow Pipits W and 1 Red Kite (132nd) flying W and first seen near the Shuart crossing by Derek Smith.

Derek Smith was also out in the rain between 0900 and 1200 and walked from Shuart along the embankment to Coldharbour and Plumpudding. He saw 3 Teal, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Red Kites W, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 2 pairs of Lapwings, 17 Meadow Pipits W, 27 Chaffinches W, 35 Goldfinches W, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 9 singing Chiffchaffs and 6 Goldcrests.

March 27th

After yesterday's washout, today dawned cold, bright and breezy. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and recorded 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Goldfinches, 8 Mallard, 24 Linnets W, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Skylarks, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 1 male Wheatear, 1 Marsh Harrier, 25 Carrion Crows,, 7 Meadow Pipits and a tight flock of 38 Black-headed Gulls flying E.

Little Egret

Starlings

Derek Smith was out between 1300 and 1530 and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back by way of Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 8+ Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Raven E, 6 Mediterranean Gulls E, 12 Tufted Duck, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 8 singing Chiffchaffs and 1 Corn Bunting. He also saw Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies as well as Dark-edged and Dotted Bee-flies.

March 26th

On a very wet morning we had a quick look at Reculver where we only saw 2 Yellowhammers, 15 Chaffinches and 1 Common Buzzard. At the Roman Galley field the Bewick's Swan appears to have gone although there were still 24 Mute Swans there.

Derek Smith was out in persistent rain between 1030 and 1300 and walked from Shuart and along the embankment to Coldharbour and back via Plumpudding. He counted 3 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Lapwings, 11 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 8 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Goldcrests.

March 25th

With a south west gale blowing this morning we birded at sheltered sites at Reculver and Shuart. At Reculver we counted 5 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Mallard, 9 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Coot and in the field near the Roman Galley, 22 Mute Swan and 1 first winter Bewick's Swan.

At Shuart we saw 2 Jays, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Teal, 1 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

March 24th

On yet another very blustery morning that ended with torrential rain we walked at Reculver and Shuart, At Reculver we saw 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 4 Mallard, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Pied Wagtail, 21 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Teal and 1 female Pintail.

At Shuart we recorded 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 75 Jackdaws, 60 Rooks, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Teal, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Male and female Tufted Duck

 Dave Smith was out at Reculver at 0625 and recorded 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Lapwings, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 5 Bearded Tits, 1 Swallow W (131st), 4 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 1 Rock Pipit and 6 Corn Buntings.

March 23rd

On an increasingly blustery morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 2 Chiffchaffs, 135 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 alba Wagtail W, 4 Stonechats, 1 Redshank, 4 Meadow Pipits, 31 Golden Plovers W, 9 Mallard, 22 Linnets, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Rock Pipits W, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Wheatears, 1 male and 2 females, 4 Mediterranean Gulls W, 1 Little Egret, 2 Coots, 2 Sand Martins W, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 23 Mute Swans and 1 first winter Bewick's Swan.

Female Wheatear - Matt Hindle

March 22nd

It was a miserable, drizzly and windy morning as we spent and hour at Minnis Bay where we saw 31 Red-throated Divers, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Curlew, 17 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gull and 1 Pied Wagtail.

On the way home we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 19 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 12 Goldfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 14 Chaffinches, 4 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 female Pintail, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

March 21st

This morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He counted 3 Great Crested Grebes, 237 Meadow Pipits W, 15 Chiffchaffs, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Shelduck W, 25 Common Scoter, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 Stonechats, 264 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Greylag Geese, 45 Golden Plover W, 2 Wigeon, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Wheatears and 1 male Yellow Wagtail flying W, the earliest Reculver record by seven days (130th). Other birds he saw included 12 alba Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 46 Chaffinches W, 3 Gadwall, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Turnstone, 10 Barnacle Geese E, 8 Dunlin and 1 Snow Bunting.

 Anne and I birded inland at Reculver and then at Shuart and saw 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Meadow Pipits W, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Mallard, 25 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Little Grebe, 30 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 2 Kestrels, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Greylag Geese and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Snow Bunting - Matt Hindle

 March 20th  -  An Exciting Morning

We arrived at Reculver at 0800 and had just reached the seawall when we received a call from Matt to say that he had 2 ALPINE SWIFTS (129th) flying thirty feet above his head and moving slowly west along the embankment just west of the Shuart crossing. He had excellent views as they flew back and forth across the embankment and then west again. With his help we eventually picked them up ten minutes later flying over the White Poplars and then towards us on the seawall. They flew steadily towards us passing about fifty yards behind the Oyster Farm and giving superb views before continuing west and passing south of the Towers. They were later seen at Seasalter and Oare Marshes.

Previous records of Alpine Swifts in the recording area are listed below:

1	26/04/1947	Reculver
1	23/04/1992	Minnis Bay
1 flying west	04/05/1992	Minnis Bay/Reculver
2	23 to 26/04/93	Reculver
1 flying west	02/05/1993	Reculver
1 flying west	14/04/2017	Shuart

 

Other birds we saw between us were 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 13 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Kestrels, 4 Coot, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kingfisher, 177 Meadow Pipits W, 2 Little Egrets, 17 alba Wagtails W, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, 9 Rock Pipits W, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 229 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Snow Bunting in off the sea, 2 Dunlin, 1 House Martin (128th), 147 Chaffinches mainly W, 19 Teal, 1 Siskin W, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Wigeon and 1 male Brambling.

March 19th

The overnight rain had cleared away and had left a bright and breezy morning as we walked up to Coldharbour. We saw 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Wigeon, 1 Stonechat, 6 Linnets, 240 Dark-bellied Goose, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 1 Redshank, 5 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 1 adult male Black Redstart on the rocks by the Towers, 25 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan and 1 Chiffchaff.

Mallard are beginning to pair up

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and counted 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Partridge, 8 Mallard, 4 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Teal and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

March 18th

On a rainy morning we visited Reculver and Shuart. At Reculver we saw 2 Little Grebes, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 6 Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Heron, 1 female Pintail, 9 Teal, 2 Sand Martins, our earliest since 2009 (127th), 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 24 Mute Swans, 2 Yellowhammers, 200 Chaffinches and 1 adult male Black Redstart on the rocks at the car park. We didn't see at great deal at Shuart, just 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Jays.

Julian Perry had 2 singing Chiffchaffs at Bishopstone this morning and one on the cliffs.

March 17th

The threatened rain did not materialise this morning although it was very dreary as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 150 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 female Black Redstart, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Oystercatchers, 3 Wheatears, 2 males and 1 female (126th), 4 Linnets, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Stonechats, 1 Redshank, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Turnstone, 5 Skylarks and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Male Wheatear