April 30th

Although it was a beautiful spring morning there seemed to be fewer birds to be seen as Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and we walked in from Chamber's Wall before we all returned to Reculver. We counted 3 Blackcaps, 26 Shelduck, 20E, 4W + 2, 15 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Yellow Wagtails W, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Stonechats, 7 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Terns, 2 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Greenshank E, 11 Swallows, 1 Corn Bunting, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Hobby, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Sand Martins, 3 Grey Plovers, a flock of 42 sub-adult Black-headed Gulls flying E, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Fulmar E.

Male Reed Bunting - one of ours

This afternoon we had a walk at Reculver and recorded 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 3 Sand Martins, 3 Mallard, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 6 Reed Warblers.

April 29th

On what turned out to be a lovely sunny morning Matt walked from Bishopstone to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment where we met him after walking in from Chamber's Wall. Between us we saw 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Owl, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 14 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Whimbrel, 10 Tufted Duck, 3 Stonechats, 32 Reed Warblers, 150 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Common Terns, 2 Fulmar, 11 Swallows, 1 Corn Bunting, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 House Martin, 6 Teal, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Grasshopper Warbler on the railway embankment, 9 Blackcaps, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1male Common Redstart, 1 male Ring Ouzel, 5 Swifts W, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Gannet, 6 Common Buzzards, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 family parties of Mallard with 8 + 7 ducklings, 2 Great Crested Grebes + young, 1 Garden Warbler (155th), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Song Thrush.

Rock Pipit

Male Ring Ouzel - Matt Hindle

 Dave Smith was out at a similar time but walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He counted 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 7 Teal, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Swifts, 2 Lapwings, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Whimbrel on the beach, 2 Curlew, 4 Sanderling 1 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Terns, 1 Fulmar, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Swallows, 2 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 male Common Redstart, 2 Stonechats, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Corn Bunting.

April 28th

After overnight rain, this morning was milder with sunny periods and a light south west breeze as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. Birds we counted included 10 Reed Warblers, 21 Sedge Warblers, 11 Skylarks, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lapwings, 11 Goldfinches, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Mallard, 6 Swallows, 5 Swifts flying W (154th), 6 Oystercatchers, 21 Linnets, 1 Whimbrel flying in off the sea, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Tufted Duck and 2 Greenshank flying W.

Derek Smith was out between 1100 and 1500 and walked from Minnis Bay to Brooksend and Shuart and back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding. His highlights were 4 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 12 Swifts W, 23 Swallows W, 1 House Martin W, 4 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Corn Buntings.

This evening I received the ringing information of a Dutch ringed Blackcap we mist netted at Reculver on 5th November 2022. It had originally been ringed as a first year male at Duizendmeterweg, Bentveld, Zandvoort, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands on 26th October 2022 and had flown 252 WSW km to reach Reculver.

April 27th

With limited time this morning we walked inland at Reculver where we saw 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Kestrels, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 6 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Swallows, 14 Sand Martins, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Turtle Dove (153rd) and 3 Yellowhammers.

Turtle Dove

Great Crested Grebe with very small chick on its back

April 26th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Little Egrets, 6 Oystercatchers, 17 Linnets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Mallard, 1 Yellow Wagtail W, 11 Sedge Warblers, 4 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel and 1 Swallow W.

This afternoon a walk inland at Reculver produced 2 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers and 1 Sand Martin.

April 25th

Although the sun was shining brightly this morning there was a chilly north westerly wind blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the railway embankment towards Minnis Bay. We counted 13 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Skylarks, 7 Sedge Warblers, 10 Linnets, 5 Reed Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 12 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 1 Swallow, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Chaffinches and 1 Lapwing.

Dave Smith was out early and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Minnis Bay. He saw 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Kestrels, 1 Hobby, 1 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Railway Embankment

April 24th

On what started as a cold and blustery morning but gradually improved Matt completed his regular walk from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment, We met him at Coldharbour and then we walked back to Reculver. Between us we saw 1 Fulmar, 2 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Stonechat, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 30 Whitethroats, good numbers of Sedge Warblers, 5 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Tufted Duck, 13 Swallows W, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 3 Lapwing and 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying W. We also saw 4 Wheatears, 1 Hobby flying W (151st), 2 Sanderling, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Common Redstarts on the railway embankment, 1 male and 1 female, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the embankment (152nd), 3 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 singing Firecrest, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Sand Martins W and 1 Raven.

Matt then walked inland at Reculver and found another female Common Redstart and our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year.

Male Stonechat

Cuckoo

April 23rd

On a morning with a fresh SW wind blowing Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and met us on his way back at Chamber's Wall and then we all walked back to Reculver. Our morning's totals included 29 Yellow Wagtails W, 20 Whitethroats, 21 Swallows W, 4 House Martins W, 3 Little Egrets, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Wheatears, 62 Sand Martins W, 24 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 59 Goldfinches, 15 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Ringed Plovers W (149th), 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Shelduck, 2 Lapwings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Stonechats, 1 Cuckoo (150th), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Redwing.

April 22nd

The overnight rain had moved away as Matt made an early start on his walk from Bishopstone to Plumpudding. We met him at Chamber's Wall and between us we saw 14 Blackcaps, 20 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Partridges, 4 Common Sandpipers, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Wheatears, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Shoveler, 57 Mediterranean Gulls mainly flying E, 3 Greylag Geese, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Shelduck, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Avocet flying W (146th), 2 Stonechats, 2 Corn Buntings, 38 Swallows flying W, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Chiffchaffs, 6 Teal, 2 Jays, 1 Nightingale singing along the embankment (147th), 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Sand Martins flying W, 1 Rock Pipit displaying, 2 Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Pochard.

Dave Smith was also out at daybreak and walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and on the Coldharbour. He counted 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Velvet Scoter, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 39 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-bacled Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 45 Swallows flying W, 2 Willow Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats (145th), 11 Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest, 1 female Common Redstart, 2 Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and the embankment before going on to Brooksend. He found 1 Tree Pipit flying W (144th), 1 female Common Redstart (148th)., 5 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck W, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Avocet W, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 35 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Barn Owl, 16 Swallows W, 5 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Wheatear, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 36 Whitethroats, 35 Blackcaps, 26 Chiffchaffs and 7 Willow Warblers.

April 21st

On a wet morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and counted 11 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Common Scoter E, 6 Green Sandpiper, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Whitethroats, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 male Wheatear, 5 Gannets E, 2 Common Terns, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallows and 1 Chiffchaff.

Dave Smith was out early and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding in the rain and his highlights were 9 Teal, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits W, 19 Turnstone, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 1 Willow Warbler and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

It was drier this afternoon so we had a walk at Reculver and saw 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mallard, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Pied Wagtails and 12 Sand Martins.

April 20th

On another windy morning there was not much different to be seen as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then dropped in at Reculver on the way home. We counted 15 Goldfinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Skylarks, 10 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Yellow Wagtails, 11 Sedge Warblers, 10 Chaffinches, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Swallows, 3 Blackcaps, 10 Mallard, 2 Whitethroats, 4 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 7 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Green Sandpiper.

April 19th

The morning began sunny but it very quickly clouded over with a chilly easterly breeze blowing as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Wantsum outflow. We counted 10 Goldfinches, 11 Skylarks, 7 Mallard, 16 Linnets, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Shelduck, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Blackcap, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Swallows, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatchers, 42 Turnstone, 2 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits, 20 Chaffinches and 1 Brambling.

Summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits

Dave Smith was also out this morning from 0555 and completed his regular walk from Shuart to Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. Birds he saw included 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 10 Shelduck, 9 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaffs, 13 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Corn Bunting.

April 18th

With a chilly north-east wind blowing we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 6 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Heron. After this we spent 40 minutes at Reculver where there was not a great deal to see other than 2 Great Crested Grebes E, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit E and 1 Fulmar.

April 17th

Dave Smith was out at 0530 this morning and completed his regular walk from Shuart to Plumpudding. Birds he saw included 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E, 2 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Water Rail, 6 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper at the Plumpudding outfall (140th), 1 Greenshank (141st), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 24 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Swallows, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Meadow Pipits and 1 Corn Bunting.

We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 13 Mallard, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Skylarks, 18 Linnets, 4 Reed Warbles, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Swallow, 14 Goldfinches, 10 Sedge Warblers, 12 Chaffinches, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel flying off the beach at Coldharbour (142nd), 23 Black-headed Gulls E and 3 Common Terns flying out to sea at the Wantsum (143rd).

 April 16th

We left our house at Bishopstone in bright sunshine but by the time we got to the Marsh there was fog that lasted until about 0915. We walked from Chamber's Wall up to the crossing where we met Matt who had already walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and then we all walked back to Reculver before Anne and I walked inland. Despite the fog, between us, we managed to accumulate 7 Blackcaps, 26 Cetti's Warblers, 15 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 13 Tufted Duck, 32 Sedge Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Redpoll flying W (139th), 2 Grey Herons, 13 Chiffchaffs, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Little Egret, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Reed Warblers, 16 Linnets, 5 Skylarks, 9 Mallard, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Swallows, 2 Stonechats, 13 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Derek Smith was also out and from 0600 and covered most of the eastern part of the Marsh walking from Shuart along the embankment and on to Coldharbour and Brooksend. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 35 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 14 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 32 Chiffchaffs and 3 singing Corn Buntings.