November 15th
We spent this morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 6 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Woodcock, 55 Greylag Geese, 9 Mute Swans, 9 Bramblings, 4 Stonechats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Buzzards, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Common Redpoll, 100 Stock Doves, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 7 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, 40 Blackbirds, 1 Bullfinch, 8 Siskins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 26 Skylarks, 8 Corn Buntings, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Woodlark W (203rd), 1 Yellowhammer, 20 Chaffinches, 35 Linnets and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Birds ringed 53: Wren 2, Reed Bunting 7, Cetti's Warbler 3, Common Redpoll 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Chaffinch 7, Great Tit 2, Goldfinch 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 25.

On an overcast afternoon without a breath of wind we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and along to Plumpudding lagoon. We counted 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 1 Stonechat, 84 Common Scoter, 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Bearded Tits, 54 Lapwings, 7 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Snow Buntings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Corn Buntings, 12 Goldfinches, 1 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher.
We met Derek Smith who was also out on the Marsh and had seen most of the birds we had seen but in addition 1 Coal Tit and 1 Chiffchaff at Shuart and also 3 Water Rails, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 60 Lapwings and the 5 Snow Buntings.

November 14th
We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we counted 300 Starlings W, 1 Peregrine, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 182 Fieldfares W, 56 Chaffinches W, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Sparrowhawks, 36 Lesser Redpolls W, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 90 Cormorants, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Common Treecreeper, 1 Little Egret, 1 red-head Goosander W, 2 Grey Herons, 33 Siskins W, 6 Redwings W, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 12 Goldfinches and 1 Brambling.

Birds ringed 12: Goldcrest 2, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Goldfinch 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 5.

November 13th
With the continuing cold and strong, eyewatering NNW wind making birding difficult this morning we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. We saw 15 Gannets W, 145 Cormorants, 22 Oystercatchers, 77 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Dunlin, 54 Carrion Crows, 3 Stonechats, 2 Snow Buntings flying W over Coldharbour, 32 Mallard, 11 Redshank, 4 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 17 Goldfinches, 12 Grey Plovers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 18 Kittiwakes W, 8 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron and 16 Fieldfares.

November 12th
A ten hour seawatch at the Towers produced 8 Whooper Swans (202nd) south in off the sea, 21 Great Skuas W, 99 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 46 Common Scoter, 308 Gannets, 84 Oystercatchers, 1 Short-eared Owl in off the sea, 3 Golden Plovers W, 3 Grey Plovers W, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Curlews, 1 Pomarine Skua W, 1 juvenile Sabine's Gull W, 1 Shelduck W, 8 Red-throated Divers, 8 Little Gulls, 2 Guillemot W, 1 Great Northern Diver E, 1,160 Cormorants, 9 Wigeon, 218 Kittiwakes W, 6 Lapwings W, 1 Peregrine, 7 large auks, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Rock Pipit.

Whooper Swans - Richard Collins

Kittiwakes - Richard Collins

This morning Julian and Alex Perry found 3 Snow Buntings west of Coldharbour.

Snow Bunting - Alex Perry

November 11th
With limited time on a drizzly morning we only had a quick walk at Reculver and saw 15 Chaffinches, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 182 Cormorants flying out to sea from the Stour Valley, 4 Goldcrests, 11 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Siskin W, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Kestrel and 18 Blackbirds.
Marc Heath found a Firecrest in Bishopstone Glen this morning.

November 10th
On a blustery and showery morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm and recorded 175 Cormorants S, 4 Redwings, 2 Kestrels, 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 38 Chaffinches, 70 House Sparrows, 34 Corn Buntings, 65 Linnets, 14 Oystercatchers, 16 Goldfinches, 54 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 75 Carrion Crows, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 8 Grey Partridges, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Coot, 3 Sanderling, 18 Reed Buntings, 12 Skylarks, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Lesser Redpoll W.
At Minnis Bay Terry Wilson saw 130 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Goosander.

November 9th
We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 34 Blackbirds, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 36 Skylarks W, 4 Bramblings W, 37 Fieldfares W, 35 Redwings W, 34 Chaffinches W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 59 Lesser Redpoll, 52 Linnets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 210 Stock Doves, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Snipe, 4 Corn Buntings, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Siskins, 150 Starlings W and 1 Grey Heron.

Birds ringed 76: Chiffchaff 1, Reed Bunting 8, Chaffinch 4, Lesser Redpoll 36, Blue Tit 1, Goldfinch 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 4, Redwing 1, Starling 1, Blackbird 15, Kingfisher 1, Green Woodpecker 1.

Adult female Kingfisher

This afternoon we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back and saw 2 Black Redstarts by the car park, 5 Little Egrets, 120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 59 Redshank, 13 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Stonechats, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Curlew, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Teal, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 immature Great Northern Diver, 1 female Goosander, 34 Corn Buntings, 6 Gannets, 7 Common Scoter and 7 Lapwings.

November 8th
We began the morning with a relatively uneventful seawatch at Reculver where we counted 8 Wigeon, 5 Eiders, 5 Gannets, 910 Cormorants, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver flying E , 23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Common Scoter and 1 Kittiwake.
We then walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 26 Redwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Grey Partridges, 35 Chaffinches, 1 Kestrel, 60 House Sparrows, 12 Skylarks, 1 Stonechat, 52 Mallard, 20 Common Scoter, 12 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 30 Linnets, 2 Redshank, 16 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 18 Corn Buntings.
This afternoon we walked at Shuart and Reculver and saw 10 Mallard, 1 female Pintail, 2 Teal, 1 Brambling, 25 Redwings and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

November 7th   -  200th species for 2017
This morning we had a ringing session at Shuart where the first bird we caught was a Common or Mealy Redpoll (200th) which has not been a common species at Reculver.

Common Redpoll

On an interesting morning we also saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 23 Lapwings W, 3 Hawfinches W, 12 Bramblings W, 9 Siskins W, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 14 Goldcrests, 10 Song Thrushes, 41 Fieldfares W, 56 Redwings W, 4 Bullfinches, 19 Redpolls W, 1 Firecrest, 171 Starlings W, 24 Skylarks W, 1 Grey Heron, 149 Chaffinches W, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Blackcap and 25 Blackbirds.

Birds ringed 30: Goldcrest 9, Firecrest 1, Wren 2, Bullfinch 2, Common Redpoll 1, Robin 2, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 4, Redwing 1, Blackbird 5.

Chris Roome found a male Mandarin (201st) on the sea at Reculver.

November 6th
We spent a sunny and cold morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 1,109 Fieldfares W, 1,168 Redwings W, 42 Chaffinches W, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Teal, 66 Stock Doves, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawks, 39 Goldfinches, 1 Brambling, 23 Lesser Redpolls W, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Blackcap, 4 Yellowhammers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 13 Siskins, 1 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Skylarks W, 1 Green Sandpiper and 410 Starlings W.

Birds ringed 20: Goldcrest 2, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Robin 1, Chaffinch 5, Grey Wagtail 1, Blackcap 1, Reed Bunting 1, Blue Tit 2, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 2.

Matthew also found a Woodcock at Bishopstone.

Grey Wagtail

This afternoon we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour in bright sunshine and counted 218 Fieldfares W, 50 Redwings W, 3 Stonechats, 1 Goldcrest, 125 Starlings W, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Corn Buntings, 1 Kingfisher, 35 Redshank, 16 Gannets, 40 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 50 Linnets, 44 Mallard, 8 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Wigeon, 7 Turnstone and 1 Little Egret.
Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment between 1100 and 1500 and recorded  6 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Water Rail, 5 Snipe W, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 230 Fieldfares W, 45 Redwings W, 8 Redpoll W, 23 Siskins W, 3 Bramblings W and 1 Bullfinch. He also counted 16 Common Darters and 1 Migrant Hawker.

Male Common Darter - Derek Smith

November 5th
There had been a significant drop in temperature overnight and a chilly westerly breeze was blowing as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour this morning. I saw 6 Long-tailed Tits, 75 Cormorants, 35 Redwings, 43 Chaffinches, 1 Goldcrest, 18 Blackbirds, 24 Goldfinches, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier disturbing a group of 21 Grey Partridges, 3 Fieldfares, 19 Corn Buntings, 45 Skylarks, 15 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 92 Linnets, 14 Reed Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 4 Redshank, 58 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Rock Pipit, 32 Oystercatchers, 8 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Green Woodpecker.
Marc Heath had a seawatch from the Towers this morning between 0730 and 0930 and counted 126 Gannets W, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Oystercatchers, 475 Cormorants, 1 skua species E, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese E, 5 Shelduck W, 1 Rock Pipit, 44 Skylarks W, 7 Turnstone, 1 auk species E, 5 Sanderling and 4 Redshank.
Brent Geese numbers have been low so far this autumn but Terry Wilson saw 120 at Grenham Bay this morning.
Julian and Alex Perry found the 2 Snow Buntings on the beach west of Coldharbour.

Snow Bunting - Alex Perry

November 4th
There was a large movement of Redwings at Bishopstone last night.
The weather had changed this morning with overcast conditions and the threat of rain as I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour before visiting Reculver on the way home. I saw a good range of species including 39 Redwings, 1 Chiffchaff, 29 Goldfinches, 63 Chaffinches, 21 Fieldfares, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Blackbirds, 2 Kestrels, 1 male Ring Ouzel, 22 Corn Buntings, 3 Tree Sparrows, 1 Golden Plover, 61 Linnets, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Bramblings W, 90 Mallard, 1 Red-throated Diver E, 2 Redshank, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Egret, 22 Oystercatchers, 6 Wigeon, 1 redhead Goosander (199th) on the sea at Coldharbour with Mallard before it flew W, 5 Gannets E, 1 Firecrest, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Gadwall and 2 Siskins W.

 Goosander - Marc Heath

Marc Heath was also out this morning and started at Shuart where he saw 1 Hawfinch flying W, 2 Bramblings, 90 Redwings and 23 Fieldfares. Walking from Chamber's Wall to the seawall he added 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 10 Corn Buntings, 1 redhead Goosander, 6 Wigeon, 25 Sanderling, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Common Scoter E and 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

November 3rd
It was another wonderful sunny and still morning as I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. I saw 36 Goldfinches, 6 Pied Wagtails, 6 Redshank, 1 Little Owl, 6 Lesser Redpoll W, 2 Grey Herons, 34 Skylarks W, 7 Gannets, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 29 Meadow Pipits, 46 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Siskin W, 13 Corn Buntings, 60 Carrion Crows, 36 Cormorants, 1 male Grey Partridge calling, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver, 14 Wigeon, 3 Little Egrets, 52 Mallard, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Redwings, 21 Linnets, 1 Gadwll, 1 Snow Bunting, 19 Sanderling, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Brambling, 1 Jay and 20 Blackbirds.
Whilst I was at the western end of the Marsh, Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment. He counted 75 Fieldfares W, 130 Redwings W, 23 Skylarks W, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Stonechats, 17 Siskins W, 48 Chaffinches W, 28 Lesser Redpoll W, 5 Bramblings W, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler.

Firecrest

Yellow-browed Warbler

November 2nd
On another glorious morning I walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall to the Oyster Farm. Birds I saw included 16 Blackbirds, 46 Skylarks W, 5 Redwings, 36 Chaffinches W, 7 Mute Swans, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 45 Reed Buntings, 1 Water Rail, 6 Little Egrets, 9 Redshank, 1 Brambling W, 152 Linnets, 4 Gannets E, 11 Goldfinches, 68 Carrion Crow, 1 Oystercatcher, 37 Meadow Pipits, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Stonechats, 14 Mallard, 35 House Sparrows, 1 Lesser Redpoll W, 17 Corn Buntings, 2 Siskins W and 150 Starlings W.

Snow Bunting

Derek Smith was also birding this morning and between 0700 and 1000 walked from Shuart to Plumpudding. He counted 85 Blackbirds, 20 Song Thrushes, 29 Siskins W, 26 Greenfinches W, 17 Lesser Redpoll W, 2 Bramblings W, 4 Stonechats, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 23 Goldcrests.

This afternoon I received interesting ringing information about two birds we controlled on the Marsh this year.

The first was a Lesser Redpoll we caught at Shuart on 31st October 2017 which had been ringed on 17th October 2015 at Copeland Bird Observatory, County Down, Northern Ireland. Copeland is 585km NW of Shuart.

The second bird was a Belgian ringed Reed Warbler that had been ringed on 13th May 2017 at Sint Laureins, Oost-Vlanderen, Belgium and that we controlled on Reculver Marshes on 18th June 2017. This bird had flown 162km W.

November 1st
The month began with a fantastic, still, sunny morning which we spent ringing at Shuart. During the five hours we were there we recorded 3 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Goldfinches, 72 Skylarks W, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 47 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bramblings, 16 Fieldfares, 4 Stonechats, 1 Merlin, 112 Lapwings W, 10 Siskins, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Bullfinches W, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 20 Chaffinches, 360 Starlings W and 1 Hawfinch flying S.

Birds ringed 54: Wren 1, Lesser Redpoll 29, Stonechat 2, Reed Bunting 7, Chaffinch 3, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 7, Green Woodpecker 1.

First year female Stonechat

This morning Terry Wilson found 3 Eiders at Grenham Bay at 0700 and then walked to Coldharbour and saw 2 Grey Plover, lots of Meadow Pipits, 25 Mallard, 2 Kestrels, 22 Sanderling, 3 Little Egrets and 1 Grey Wagtail.
This afternoon Matt and Marion refound the Long-tailed Duck (197th) that had been seen this morning. Also between Plumpudding and Coldharbour they saw 16 Corn Buntings, 13 Redshank, 32 Common Scoters, 102 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Snow Bunting (198th).