April 15th
This morning was overcast with rain in the air as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and saw 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Green Woodpecker, 31 Mute Swans, 2 Chiffchaffs, 13 Cormorants, 3 Pied Wagtails, 13 Swallows W, 15 Linnets, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Ringed Plovers,  Redshank, 4 Sandwich Terns, 22 Oystercatchers, 4 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 8 Turnstone, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Sand Martins and 1 Whitethroat.

Sandwich Tern

April 14th
On yet another beautiful morning we completed our usual walk from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before visiting Reculver on the way home. We saw 14 Sedge Warblers, 11 Cormorants, 12 Linnets, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 5 Redshank, 3 Greylag Geese flying W, 5 Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 16 Turnstone, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Mallard, 2 male Wheatears, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Black Redstart and 14 Mute Swans.
I met Francesca Partridge on the seawall and after a chat she continued on along the railway embankment to Shuart and refound the Purple Heron south of the railway line. She also saw a Ring Ouzel and a Cuckoo.

Second winter/summer Mediterranean Gull

I was told by a birding friend that the other day he found a photographer at the Towers playing a tape trying to lure the Black Redstart even closer. I would like to point out that Black Redstarts are Schedule 1 species and it is therefore illegal to disturb them during the breeding season. This sort of action is totally unnecessary as with a bit of patience excellent views can be had.

April 13th
On another beautiful spring morning I began by walking from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 15 Cormorants, 22 Linnets, 12 Sedge Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Mute Swans, 5 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 14 Redshank, 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldfinches, 4 Ringeed Plovers, 11 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 1 Mediterranean Gull E, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Swallow.
I then drove to Reculver and found 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 7 Tufted Ducks, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Black Redstarts, 1 Little Egret, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Stonechat, 1 Little Owl, 8 Linnets and 2 Swallows.

Stonechat

Derek Smith was out at Shuart between 0830 and 1100 and recorded our first Cuckoo (148th) at Plumpudding. Other birds he saw included 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls E, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Sand Martins, 12 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats, 14 Sedge Warblers, 17 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warblers and 1 Siskin.

April 12th
After yesterday's excitement today was even better. Although there were no rarities to be seen, the overnight rain had grounded a good range of migrants and what with the fantastic weather it was one of my best spring days at Reculver.
Matt and I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment and round the Oyster Farm lagoons. Birds we saw included 14 Chiffchaffs, 10 alba Wagtails W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Shelduck, 8 Swallows W, 33 Sand Martins, 2 immature male Black Redstarts singing at Reculver, one at the Towers and the other from the toilet block, 15 Mute Swans, 9 Blackcaps, 16 Oystercatchers, 10 Yellow Wagtails W, 5 Wheatears, 9 Cormorants, 14 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shoveler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Short-eared Owl, 35 Linnets, 1 Tree Pipit W, 11 Mallard, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Common Redstarts, 19 Willow Warblers, 3 Song Thrushes, 4 Corn Buntings, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (146th), 1 Peregrine, 40 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Owl, 2 Grey Partridges, 13 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal, 5 Ring Ouzels in a flock and 1 Greenshank (147th). This is the earliest Greenshank we have had in the area beating a bird in 2009 by one day.

Female Wheatear

This afternoon at Shuart we found 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Snipe, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Common Buzzards and 6 Song Thrushes and on our return home the Coal Tit was singing behind our garden.
Derek Smith was also out at Shuart this afternoon and walked further spending more time than us and counted 16 Blackcaps, 9 Willow Warblers, 13 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Common Redstart and 1 Ring Ouzel.

April 10th
It turned out to be a very good morning. We began and ended at Reculver but in between walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back via the Green Wall. On our walk from Chamber's we saw 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaffs, 9 Song Thrushes, 2 Cetti's Warblers,15 Mute Swans, 6 Mallard, 8 Redshank, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Curlew, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Whimbrel (143rd), 1 male Wheatear, 15 Linnets, 1 Swallow, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Tree Pipits (144th), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 21 Cormorants, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Corn Bunting.
The undoubted highlight of the morning was us disturbing an adult Purple Heron (145th) from a ditch south of Reculver. This is the thirteenth Purple Heron for Reculver. Unfortunately it flew away from us behind a line of sallows so it wasn't until it was a fair distance away I managed to take some photos. Although not very good they do show some of the most significant structural features of the bird compared to a Grey Heron, namely smaller size, bowed wings, long dagger-shaped bill and large neck bulge and feet.

Adult Purple Heron

Other birds seen included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 4 Goldfinches, 11 Tufted Ducks, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Mallard, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Cetti's Warbler.
At lunchtime Matt thought he could here a Coal Tit singing in the road behind our house so we drove round and there sitting in a conifer was a Coal Tit singing non stop.
After this we drove down to Reculver and walked around the bushes and the Towers and counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Goldcrest and the immature male Black Redstart still singing "fit to bust" on the Towers.
Next a walk at Shuart produced 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Lapwing, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Blackcap.

April 10th
With it being a sunny Sunday and the last day of the school holidays Reculver was soon heaving with cyclist, dogs and walkers. We only walked half way along the seawall from Reculver before walking inland to avoid the crowds and saw 1 Black Redstart singing at the Towers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 21 Mute Swans, 2 Little Owls, 17 Redshank, 3 Pied Wagtails, 8 Oystercatchers, 8 Linnets, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Ringed Plovers, 6 Cormorants, 9 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret, 5 Mallard, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Tufted Ducks and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Male Pied Wagtail

Marc Heath was out early and his highlights were 3 Egyptian Geese W (140th), 1 Coal Tit and 1 Short-eared Owl.
Derek Smith was out between 0630 and 1100 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He counted 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin W, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Swallows W, 1 male Common Redstart, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler (141st), 21 Chiffchaffs and 1 Willow Warbler.
During the afternoon Mike Bedwell found a Canada Goose (142nd) in the Wanstum near Coldharbour.

April 9th
On a damp and breezy morning we had a bit of a surprise at Shuart where a tinkling bell alerted us to an escaped Harris's Hawk. Other more expected sightings included 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Raven and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

Harris's Hawk

As the rain increased we had a look at Reculver and found 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Swallows, 8 Sand Martins, 3 Mallard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 14 Mute Swans and 4 Goldfinches.

April 8th
It was a cool but sunny morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then dropped in at Reculver on the way home. We recorded 4 Chiffchaffs, 23 Linnets, 3 Blackcaps, 14 Chaffinches, 12 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 7 Redshank, 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mute Swans, 33 Meadow Pipits, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Tufted Ducks and 5 Sand Martins.

Sedge Warbler

Marc Heath was also out in the area before us and during the day found 80 species including 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Yellowhammer,2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Black Redstarts, 1 Sandwich Tern (138th), 3 Wheatears, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 male Common Redstart and 1 Ring Ouzel.
Also during the day Julian and Alex Perry had our first House Martin  (139th) of the year.

April 7th
As promised the cooler weather had arrived overnight as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour on a breezy morning with sunshine and showers. Birds we saw included 6 Goldfinches, 1 male Black Redstart still singing at the Towers, 29 Linnets W, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Little Owl, 3 Swallows W, 5 Cormorants, 19 Carrion Crows, 18 Oystercatchers, 5 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shovelers, 6 Shelduck, 2 White Wagtails, 10 Redshank, 2 Curlews, 3 male Wheatears, 12 Turnstone, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Tufted Ducks and 12 Sand Martins.
Bob Dean also had a Sedge Warbler by Plumpudding Riding Centre.

Goldfinch

April 6th
On an increasingly windy morning with occasional light showers we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver on the way home. We saw 6 Chiffchaffs, 16 Linnets W, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Marsh Harriers, 9 Cormorants, 8 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 2 Mute Swans, 14 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 12 Chaffinches, 1 Blackcap, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Swallow, 7 Tufted Ducks, 10 Sand Martins, 2 Teal, and 1 male Black Redstart sheltering from the wind and rain on the rocks below the Towers.
Marc Heath was out later and got soaked but saw 2 Ravens flying W towards the Towers, 1 Black Redstart, 5 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 4 White Wagtails, 3 Wheatears, 7 Corn Buntings, 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Great Northern Diver offshore.

Male Black Redstart singing - Marc Heath

Raven - Marc Heath

Terry Wilson birded in the Minnis Bay area and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Swallow, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck and 1 Curlew.

April 5th
On another beautiful morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 1  Black Redstart singing at the Towers, 1 Chiffchaff, 16 Mute Swans, 28 Linnets W, 19 Meadow Pipits W, 1 Woodlark W (137th), 5 Swallows W, 7 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, 19 Turnstone, 1 Pied Wagtail, 10 Cormorants, 7 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Mallard, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 male Wheatears, 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 7 Mediterranean Gulls E, 6 Goldfinches and 30 Sand Martins at the colony.

Male Wheatear

Marc Heath was also out from 0600 to 0945 and his highlights were 1 Black Redstart, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Swallows, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Yellow Wagtails (136th), 1 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Merlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Ring Ouzel, 7 Mediterranean Gulls E, 5 Sand Martins and 1 Redpoll.

April 4th
After overnight thunderstorms this morning dawned overcast and damp so I decided to walk from Chamber's Wall, around Coldharbour and up to the Wantsum outflow. I saw 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Goldfinches, 10 Chaffinches, 6 Chiffchaffs, 22 Linnets, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 6 migrant Song Thrushes, 12 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 11 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 25 Cormorants, 1 male Ring Ouzel (134th) flying W over Coldharbour, 8 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstone, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Knot (135th), 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow W, 1 Corn Bunting and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Knot

April 3rd
On a beautiful spring morning I visited various sites at Reculver and recorded 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Little Egret, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Linnets, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 immature male Black Redstart singing continually at the Towers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mallard and 1 Willow Warbler.

Singing Black Redstart

I then drove to Chamber's Wall and walked out to Coldharbour and saw 3 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 19 Linnets, 1 female Wheatear, 8 Skylarks, 8 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 14 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Corn Buntings, 20 Meadow Pipits and 1 Firecrest. As I was walking back beside the Wantsum I met Derek Smith who had just found a 1 male Common Redstart (133rd). He had previously found a Common Whitethroat (132nd) on the railway embankment, the earliest bird for Reculver following one a day earlier in 2014.
In addition, on his walk from Shuart to Coldharbour and Plumpudding, Derek saw 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 2 Continental Coal Tits at Shuart, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Song Thrushes, 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Curlews, 1 Swallow W, 1 Green Sandpiper and another Black Redstart at Plumpudding.

Firecrest - Derek Smith

Male Common Redstart

April 2nd
A message from Julian Perry said that as he was completing his early morning run around the Bishopstone and Hillborough areas he had 6 singing Chiffchaffs and 1 Willow Warbler (130th).
I began the morning by walking from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 2 Goldcrests, 11 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Chaffinches, 11 Redshank, 5 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swans, 12 Oystercatchers, 12 Goldfinches and 2 Long-tailed Tits.
Next I visited Reculver where I found 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 5 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal and 1 Black Redstart and 2 Scandinavian Rock Pipits below the Towers.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and on to Coldharbour before returning along the railway embankment and saw 3 Common Buzzards W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Wheatear, 1 Sedge Warbler (131st), 2 Blackcaps, 21 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers and 8 Corn Buntings.

April 1st
The month began with the Long-eared Owl calling intermittently behind our house at about 0430. Later at Bishopstone Anne found a pair of Stonechat on the cliffs below Reculver Drive.
I arrived at Shuart at 0800 and walked around the area and found 4 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redwings, 6 Jays, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Kestrel, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 9 Greenfinches, 4 Ring-necked Parrakeets, 4 Lapwings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Song Thrushes, 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Mallard, 8 Skylarks, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 14 Chaffinches and 8 pairs of Rooks at the Wade House rookery.
On my way home I visited Reculver and counted 8 Goldfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Great Northern Diver on the sea off the Towers and 10 Sand Martins at the colony.
I spoke to Martin Tapp of Shuart Farm today and he has had 5 Bramblings (129th) feeding with the Chaffinches at his bird table over the last week.

Meadow Pipit

I received notification from the BTO Ringing Office today that a Blackbird we ringed at West Brook Valley on 28th January 2016 was controlled at Losser, Overjissel, THE NETHERLANDS 58 days later on 26th March. It had flown 414 km ENE on its way back to somewhere in Northern Europe.