January 15th
Matt was out early and found 2 Barn Owls and 1 Little Owl. He then drove over to Reculver and we walked up to Coldharbour getting soaked in the process. We managed to count 339 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Common Scoter, 1 Eider, 12 Shelduck, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper (112th) feeding in the Oyster Farm lagoons, 1 Curlew, 54 Mallard, 20 Oystercatchers, 110 Carrion Crows, 4 Golden Plovers, 2 Stonechats, 7 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Kestrel.
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Saturday, 14 January 2017
January 14th
On a cold and breezy morning we arrived at Reculver at 0745 and spent an hour seawatching before we drove to Chamber's Wall and walked out to Coldharbour. At Reculver we counted 350 Kittiwakes W, 1 Eider, 12 Common Scoter, 22 Red-throated Divers W, 360 Herring Gulls W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 442 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 250 Black-headed Gulls W.
At Chamber's Wall we saw 76 Corn Buntings, 25 Yellowhammers, 30 Reed Buntings, 14 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Skylarks, 1 Lapland Bunting, 12 Shelduck, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 60 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Avocet, 65 Lapwings and 1 Marsh Harrier.
Julian and Alex Perry saw a Fulmar (110th) at Minnis Bay today.
This afternoon Matt walked the Nethergong/Brooksend/Shuart loop and recorded 1 Barnacle Goose (111th), 37 Mute Swans, 950 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Grey Partridges, 1 Peregrine, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 60 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plovers, 16 Curlew, 200 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal and 66 Turnstone.
On a cold and breezy morning we arrived at Reculver at 0745 and spent an hour seawatching before we drove to Chamber's Wall and walked out to Coldharbour. At Reculver we counted 350 Kittiwakes W, 1 Eider, 12 Common Scoter, 22 Red-throated Divers W, 360 Herring Gulls W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 442 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 250 Black-headed Gulls W.
At Chamber's Wall we saw 76 Corn Buntings, 25 Yellowhammers, 30 Reed Buntings, 14 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Mute Swans, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Skylarks, 1 Lapland Bunting, 12 Shelduck, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 60 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Avocet, 65 Lapwings and 1 Marsh Harrier.
Julian and Alex Perry saw a Fulmar (110th) at Minnis Bay today.
This afternoon Matt walked the Nethergong/Brooksend/Shuart loop and recorded 1 Barnacle Goose (111th), 37 Mute Swans, 950 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Grey Partridges, 1 Peregrine, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 60 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plovers, 16 Curlew, 200 Oystercatchers, 1 Stonechat, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal and 66 Turnstone.
Friday, 13 January 2017
January 13th
We appear to have got off lightly after the overnight wintry weather as there was no lying snow and the temperature was just above freezing. However there was a strong NW wind blowing and it still felt bitterly cold as I spent an hour seawatching at Reculver this morning. The only things that appeared to be moving were gulls moving W and I counted 750 Herring Gulls, 1300 Black-headed Gulls, 59 Kittiwakes, 50 Common Gulls, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Other birds included the usual 676 Cormorants and 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese with 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Shelduck.
We appear to have got off lightly after the overnight wintry weather as there was no lying snow and the temperature was just above freezing. However there was a strong NW wind blowing and it still felt bitterly cold as I spent an hour seawatching at Reculver this morning. The only things that appeared to be moving were gulls moving W and I counted 750 Herring Gulls, 1300 Black-headed Gulls, 59 Kittiwakes, 50 Common Gulls, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Other birds included the usual 676 Cormorants and 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese with 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Shelduck.
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| Black-headed Gulls |
Thursday, 12 January 2017
January 12th
An uneventful morning saw us walking around the Oyster Farm and then inland. We saw 60 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 50 Carrion Crows, 44 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 3 Lapwings, 500 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Jay, 2 Marsh Harriers, 14 Reed Buntings and 1 Kestrel.
During the day Tony Swandale found a Purple Sandpiper (109th) at Minnis Bay.
An uneventful morning saw us walking around the Oyster Farm and then inland. We saw 60 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 50 Carrion Crows, 44 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 3 Lapwings, 500 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Jay, 2 Marsh Harriers, 14 Reed Buntings and 1 Kestrel.
During the day Tony Swandale found a Purple Sandpiper (109th) at Minnis Bay.
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
January 11th
This morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and recorded 700 Black-headed Gulls feeding offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kittiwakes W (108th), Curlew, 220 Cormorants, 38 Sanderling, 60 Grey Plovers, 160 Oystercatchers, 189 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 50 Dunlin, 9 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 33 Turnstone, 1 Stonechat and 3 Lapwings.
We then had a brief walk at Shuart and saw 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Common Buzzard.
This morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding and recorded 700 Black-headed Gulls feeding offshore, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kittiwakes W (108th), Curlew, 220 Cormorants, 38 Sanderling, 60 Grey Plovers, 160 Oystercatchers, 189 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 50 Dunlin, 9 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 33 Turnstone, 1 Stonechat and 3 Lapwings.
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| Sanderling |
We then had a brief walk at Shuart and saw 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Common Buzzard.
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
January 10th
It was sunny but blustery this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver on the way home. We saw 235 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Blackbirds, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2 Water Rails, 140 Carrion Crows, 12 Mute Swans, 4 Linnets, 2 Little Egrets, 18 Curlew, 5 Shelducks, 67 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 3 Gannets, 130 Cormorants, 1 Stonechat, 10 Skylarks, 4 Redwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 25 Corn Buntings, 18 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Jay and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Julian Perry had a male Blackcap (107th) visit his garden at Bishopstone.
It was sunny but blustery this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then visited Reculver on the way home. We saw 235 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Blackbirds, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2 Water Rails, 140 Carrion Crows, 12 Mute Swans, 4 Linnets, 2 Little Egrets, 18 Curlew, 5 Shelducks, 67 Mallard, 2 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 3 Gannets, 130 Cormorants, 1 Stonechat, 10 Skylarks, 4 Redwings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 25 Corn Buntings, 18 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Jay and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Julian Perry had a male Blackcap (107th) visit his garden at Bishopstone.
Monday, 9 January 2017
January 9th
The morning began with a bit of excitement. We had just arrived at Reculver when I received a call from Matt who was driving over to meet us to say that he had found a flock of 145 Greylag Geese in a winter wheat field by St Nicholas roundabout and that there were 2 Bean Geese (1 Taiga and 1 Tundra) as well as 1 Pink-footed Goose in with them. We drove over to see them still in the field but walking away from us but found the three birds of interest and it was immediately obvious the size difference of the "taiga" compared to the Pink-foot and "tundra" which were about the same size as each other and smaller. We managed to take some very distant photographs before the whole flock took off and flew over the Thanet Way into Reculver air space making 105th and 106th species for the year and onto Netherhale and Brooksend before flying back south.
After this we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Eider, 1 Common Scoter, 5 Redshank, 26 Yellowhammers, 4 Redwings, 65 Corn Buntings, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 45 Chaffinches, 5 Lapland Buntings, 30 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Curlew, 3 Shelduck, 1 Stonechat, 70 Mallard, 1 Gannet and 24 Reed Buntings.
The morning began with a bit of excitement. We had just arrived at Reculver when I received a call from Matt who was driving over to meet us to say that he had found a flock of 145 Greylag Geese in a winter wheat field by St Nicholas roundabout and that there were 2 Bean Geese (1 Taiga and 1 Tundra) as well as 1 Pink-footed Goose in with them. We drove over to see them still in the field but walking away from us but found the three birds of interest and it was immediately obvious the size difference of the "taiga" compared to the Pink-foot and "tundra" which were about the same size as each other and smaller. We managed to take some very distant photographs before the whole flock took off and flew over the Thanet Way into Reculver air space making 105th and 106th species for the year and onto Netherhale and Brooksend before flying back south.
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| "Tundra" Bean Goose "Taiga" Bean Goose and Pink-footed Goose |
After this we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Eider, 1 Common Scoter, 5 Redshank, 26 Yellowhammers, 4 Redwings, 65 Corn Buntings, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 45 Chaffinches, 5 Lapland Buntings, 30 Skylarks, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 19 Curlew, 3 Shelduck, 1 Stonechat, 70 Mallard, 1 Gannet and 24 Reed Buntings.
Sunday, 8 January 2017
January 8th
An early morning text informed me that Marc Heath had a Tawny Owl (102nd) at Shuart.
We arrived at Minnis Bay at 0800 and walked to Netherhale and recorded 2 Goldcrests, 2 Common Buzzards, 600 Cormorants, 111 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Pied Wagtails, 16 Sanderling, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Dunlin, 19 Redshank, 32 Turnstone, 1 Shelduck, 30 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Grebes, 7 Teal, 2 Pochard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 14 Mallard, 1 Jay, 1 Woodcock, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Next we drove to Reculver and walked east along the seawall to see an Avocet (103rd) found by Marc Heath earlier. Other birds counted included 283 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Lapwing, 1 Stonechat, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers W (104th), 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Eider, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Gannet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Stonechats.
An early morning text informed me that Marc Heath had a Tawny Owl (102nd) at Shuart.
We arrived at Minnis Bay at 0800 and walked to Netherhale and recorded 2 Goldcrests, 2 Common Buzzards, 600 Cormorants, 111 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Pied Wagtails, 16 Sanderling, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Dunlin, 19 Redshank, 32 Turnstone, 1 Shelduck, 30 Mute Swans, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Little Grebes, 7 Teal, 2 Pochard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 14 Mallard, 1 Jay, 1 Woodcock, 2 Goldcrests and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Next we drove to Reculver and walked east along the seawall to see an Avocet (103rd) found by Marc Heath earlier. Other birds counted included 283 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Lapwing, 1 Stonechat, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 12 Corn Buntings, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers W (104th), 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Eider, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Gannet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Stonechats.
Saturday, 7 January 2017
January 7th
On a thoroughly damp and drizzly morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver via Coldharbour. We saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 27 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 6 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 4 Redwings, 15 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 6 Corn Buntings, 3 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Wigeon, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 38 Mallard, 5 Skylarks, 50 Chaffinches, 6 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 80 Carrion Crows, 3 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats and 1 Red-throated Diver.
Marc Heath who was also out this morning added Water Rail (101st) to the species recorded so far this year.
On a thoroughly damp and drizzly morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Reculver via Coldharbour. We saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 27 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Oystercatchers, 1 Kestrel, 6 Redshank, 6 Mute Swans, 4 Redwings, 15 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 6 Corn Buntings, 3 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Wigeon, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 38 Mallard, 5 Skylarks, 50 Chaffinches, 6 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 80 Carrion Crows, 3 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats and 1 Red-throated Diver.
Marc Heath who was also out this morning added Water Rail (101st) to the species recorded so far this year.
Friday, 6 January 2017
Thursday, 5 January 2017
January 5th
After yesterday's drizzle and gloom today dawned sunny and cold so we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall to the Oyster Farm before visiting Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Yellowhammers, 22 Blackbirds, 37 Corn Buntings, 23 Mute Swans, 7 Goldfinches, 18 Chaffinches, 1 Merlin (97th), 10 Lapland Buntings, 541 Cormorants, 4 Shelduck, 86 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank, 81 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Oystercatchers, 165 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 1 Gannet E, 5 Dunlin, 13 Skylarks, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Plover, 30 Sanderling 1 Peregrine (98th), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Gadwall and 1 Marsh Harrier.
This afternoon Marc Heath saw a Short-eared Owl (99th) at the Oyster Farm.
After yesterday's drizzle and gloom today dawned sunny and cold so we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along the seawall to the Oyster Farm before visiting Reculver on the way home. Birds we saw included 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Yellowhammers, 22 Blackbirds, 37 Corn Buntings, 23 Mute Swans, 7 Goldfinches, 18 Chaffinches, 1 Merlin (97th), 10 Lapland Buntings, 541 Cormorants, 4 Shelduck, 86 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank, 81 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Oystercatchers, 165 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 1 Gannet E, 5 Dunlin, 13 Skylarks, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Plover, 30 Sanderling 1 Peregrine (98th), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Gadwall and 1 Marsh Harrier.
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| Male Stonechat feeding on the seawall |
This afternoon Marc Heath saw a Short-eared Owl (99th) at the Oyster Farm.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
January 4th
With a fresh WNW wind blowing we started the morning at Minnis Bay but did not see a great deal just 750 Cormorants, 22 Grey Plover, 4 Curlew, 1 Red-throated Diver, 50 Oystercatchers, 20 Dunlin and 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
On our way home we had a walk at Netherhale and Brooksend and recorded 9 Grey Partridges, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Blackbirds, 39 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag Goose (96th), 2 Moorhens, 2 Teal, 1 Goldcrest, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 4 Coot, 3 Wigeon, 4 Red-legged Partridges and 1 Grey Heron.
With a fresh WNW wind blowing we started the morning at Minnis Bay but did not see a great deal just 750 Cormorants, 22 Grey Plover, 4 Curlew, 1 Red-throated Diver, 50 Oystercatchers, 20 Dunlin and 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
On our way home we had a walk at Netherhale and Brooksend and recorded 9 Grey Partridges, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Blackbirds, 39 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag Goose (96th), 2 Moorhens, 2 Teal, 1 Goldcrest, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 4 Coot, 3 Wigeon, 4 Red-legged Partridges and 1 Grey Heron.
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
January 3rd
On a cold morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 404 Dark-bellied Brent Goose including a Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied hybrid, 10 Mute Swans, 15 Redshank, 2 Little Owls (93rd), 27 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 4 Grey Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 3 Marsh Harriers, 28 Oystercatchers, 2 Dunlin (94th), 1 Snipe, 4 Corn Buntings, 6 Linnets, 2 Shelduck, 54 Mallard, 3 Goldfinches, 50 Cormorants, 175 Carrion Crows, 3 Curlew, 1 Grey Partridge (95th) and 1 Black Redstart.
On a cold morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 404 Dark-bellied Brent Goose including a Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied hybrid, 10 Mute Swans, 15 Redshank, 2 Little Owls (93rd), 27 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 4 Grey Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 3 Marsh Harriers, 28 Oystercatchers, 2 Dunlin (94th), 1 Snipe, 4 Corn Buntings, 6 Linnets, 2 Shelduck, 54 Mallard, 3 Goldfinches, 50 Cormorants, 175 Carrion Crows, 3 Curlew, 1 Grey Partridge (95th) and 1 Black Redstart.
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| Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied Brent Goose |
Monday, 2 January 2017
January 2nd
On a cold and bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Kestrel, 45 Corn Buntings, 6 Tree Sparrows, 25 Chaffinches, 38 Redwings, 7 Fieldfares, 12 Mute Swans, 84 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 14 Skylarks, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 213 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 40 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 160 Carrion Crows, 2 Great Skuas W (90th) over the seawall at Coldharbour, 3 Gadwall, 2 Redshank and 20 Reed Buntings.
This afternoon we walked at Reculver and Shuart trying to add a few new species to our 2017 list. In the event we saw 7 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Greenfinch (91st ), 7 Mallard, 10 Teal, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk (92nd).
On a cold and bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Kestrel, 45 Corn Buntings, 6 Tree Sparrows, 25 Chaffinches, 38 Redwings, 7 Fieldfares, 12 Mute Swans, 84 Mallard, 1 Stonechat, 14 Skylarks, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 213 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 40 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 160 Carrion Crows, 2 Great Skuas W (90th) over the seawall at Coldharbour, 3 Gadwall, 2 Redshank and 20 Reed Buntings.
This afternoon we walked at Reculver and Shuart trying to add a few new species to our 2017 list. In the event we saw 7 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Greenfinch (91st ), 7 Mallard, 10 Teal, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk (92nd).
Sunday, 1 January 2017
January 1st
We began birding in the dark in our quest to see as many species as possible to start 2017. The morning was damp and overcast but the first good bird seen was a Woodcock coming in to its daytime roost near Reculver.
At Shuart we recorded 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Redwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Fieldfares, 10 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 4 Teal and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.
We then returned to Reculver where we had a seawatch and then walked inland. Birds we saw included 175 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Eider, 8 Gannets, 60 Common Scoter, 1 Gadwall, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black Redstart at the Towers and 1 Rock Pipit. Inland we found 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Mallard, 10 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Wigeon, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Snipe, 1 Jay and 1 Green Sandpiper.
We finished the morning by walking from Chamber's Wall to Reculver in the drizzle seeing 5 Yellowhammers, 5 Redwings, 12 Fieldfares, 8 Corn Buntings, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Lapland Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 3 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 8 Wigeon, 50 Mallard, 2 Teal, 150 Carrion Crows, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 26 Ringed Plovers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Lapwings and 1 Grey Heron.
Our morning's work produced 76 species.
Marc Heath and Julian and Alex Perry were also out all day and saw 13 species we did not: Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Curlew, Turnstone, Barn Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Tree Sparrow taking the day's total for the Marsh to 89 species.
We began birding in the dark in our quest to see as many species as possible to start 2017. The morning was damp and overcast but the first good bird seen was a Woodcock coming in to its daytime roost near Reculver.
At Shuart we recorded 1 Marsh Harrier, 9 Redwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Fieldfares, 10 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 4 Teal and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.
We then returned to Reculver where we had a seawatch and then walked inland. Birds we saw included 175 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Eider, 8 Gannets, 60 Common Scoter, 1 Gadwall, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black Redstart at the Towers and 1 Rock Pipit. Inland we found 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Mallard, 10 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 10 Mute Swans, 1 Wigeon, 2 Corn Buntings, 3 Snipe, 1 Jay and 1 Green Sandpiper.
We finished the morning by walking from Chamber's Wall to Reculver in the drizzle seeing 5 Yellowhammers, 5 Redwings, 12 Fieldfares, 8 Corn Buntings, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Lapland Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 3 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 8 Wigeon, 50 Mallard, 2 Teal, 150 Carrion Crows, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 26 Ringed Plovers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Lapwings and 1 Grey Heron.
Our morning's work produced 76 species.
Marc Heath and Julian and Alex Perry were also out all day and saw 13 species we did not: Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Curlew, Turnstone, Barn Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Tree Sparrow taking the day's total for the Marsh to 89 species.
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