December 31st

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 230 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Jays, 1 Redshank, 4 Sanderling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Grey Plovers, 14 Mute Swans and 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles.

December 30th

This morning we walked inland from Reculver and recorded 108 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Ravens, 14 Chaffinches, 32 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 22 Coot, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Mute Swans, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Stonechat, 22 Linnets, 8 Bewick's Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 29th

The wind had dropped significantly this morning as we walked out onto the Marsh and counted 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40 Chaffinches, 21 Mute Swans, 8 Bewick's Swans, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Skylarks, 62 Carrion Crows and 1 Pied Wagtail.

Bewick's and Mute Swans

December 28th

On another very windy and showery morning we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Gadwall, 23 Coot, 34 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Teal and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 27th

We got out early this morning before the forecast gale force winds of Storm Gerrrit arrived. We walked inland at Reculver and recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 50 Rooks, 20 Jackdaws, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 23 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 36 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mute Swans, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Chiffchaffs, 340 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Teal and 1 Kestrel.

December 26th

On a beautiful, sunny, winter's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall as far as the Wantsum outflow and saw 1 Merlin, 27 Mute Swans, 8 Fieldfares, 4 Chaffinches, 23 Redwings, 667 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 65 Carrion Crows, 45 Linnets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Oystercatchers, 20 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Grebe, 51 Redshank and 8 Bewick's Swans.

Derek Smith was out this morning at 0800 and walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and along the embankment to the Green Wall. He recorded 6 Red-throated Divers, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Bewick's Swans, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Guillemot on the sea at Coldharbour, 66 Golden Plovers, 94 Redshank, 80 Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, 3 Bearded Tits, 6 Stonechats, 12 Cetti's Warblers and 9 Corn Buntings.

 December 25th

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

An hour at Reculver this morning produced 782 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 19 Mute Swans and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Julian and Alex Perry had a male Blackcap in their garden at Bishopstone.

December 24th

On another very windy morning we walked inland at Reculver and then had a quick seawatch. We counted 85 Rooks, 1 Little Egret, 3 Chiffchaffs, 21 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 15 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 610 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 27 Stock Doves, 30 Jackdaws, 60 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers.

December 23rd

This morning we walked out on to the Marsh at Reculver and recorded 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 41 Chaffinches, 174 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 44 Mute Swans, 200 Rooks, 8 Bewick's Swans, 6 adults and 2 juveniles, 1 Golden Plover, 500 Starlings, 65 Stock Doves, 50 Jackdaws, 17 Mallard, 19 Coot, 1 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe.

Adult Bewick's Swan

Whilst Anne and I walked out onto the Marsh at Reculver Matt walked from Shuart to the embankment and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Redwing, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 35 Fieldfares, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Grey Partridges, 8 Redshank, 650 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 27 Curlew, 200 Oystercatchers, 60 Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlin, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Stonechats, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Canada Geese and 1 Greylag Goose.

December 22nd

On another very windy morning we did the same as yesterday and saw 3 Mute Swans, 30 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard, 5 Moorhens, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Green Woodpecker, 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 105 Common Scoter offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 12 Cormorants and 2 Pied Wagtails.

December 21st

It was very windy this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and then had a brief look at the sea. We saw 70 Rooks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrests, 15 Mallard, 22 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Chiffchaff, 169 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 70 Common Scoter.

December 20th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked out onto the Marsh and saw 240 Stock Doves, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Mallard, 23 Coot, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Grey Herons, 44 Mute Swans, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 2 Kestrels, 30 Chaffinches, 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Linnets, 5 Bewick's Swans, 3 adults and 2 immatures, 104 Fieldfares, 13 Redwings and 9 Grey Partridges.

Bewick's and Mute Swans

December 18th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and counted 216 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 46 Mute Swans, 5 Bewick's Swans, 7 Redshank, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Corn Buntings, 38 Linnets, 220 Carrion Crows, 16 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 16 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwings, 2 Little Grebe and 6 Goldfinches.

December 17th

On a sunny morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 19 Chaffinches, 48 Fieldfares, 91 Redwings, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Merlin, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 11 Blackbirds, 2 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Mallard, 6 Linnets, 250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Goldfinches, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Golden Plover, 1 singing Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel and 38 Stock Doves.

Whilst we were out at Chamber's Wall Matt walked out onto the Marsh from Reculver and recorded 110 Rooks, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Teal, 10 Mallard, 21 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Grey Partridges, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Corn Buntings, 44 Mute Swans, 5 Bewick's Swan, 3 adults and 2 juveniles, 127 Stock Doves, 300 Starlings, 1 Jay, 3 Kestrels and 2 Little Egrets.

Bewick's Swans - Matt Hindle

December 16th

With limited time this morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 80 Rooks, 3 Jays, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 22 Coot, 12 Mallard, 3 Moorhens, 3 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Chaffinches, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 17 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Derek Smith was out between 0800 and 1100 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding, Coldharbour and the embankment. He counted 12 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Grey Herons, 8 Little Egrets, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 132 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 350 Fieldfares, 70 Redwings, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Stonechats, 14 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Corn Buntings.