March 15th
The morning began with heavy rain but had dried up by mid-morning. We walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 1 Chiffchaff on the rocks at Reculver, 1 Jay, 3 Black Redstarts, including 1 adult male, 134 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Redshank, 2 White Wagtails, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Mute Swans, 87 Cormorants, 20 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 17 Mallard, 17 Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 5 Turnstones, 1 Marsh Harrier, 40 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egrets, 40 Common Scoter and 4 Great Crested Grebes.
In the late afternoon Derek Smith found 8 Chiffchaffs between Shuart and Plumpudding.

March 14th
It was a beautiful early spring morning and we saw a good range of species. Matt arrived at Reculver early and later we met him at Chamber's Wall and we all walked up to Coldharbour and along the seawall to The Oyster Farm before visiting Reculver again.
Between us we saw 6 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese (123rd), 24 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 1 Marsh Harrier, 344 Woodpigeons E, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Little Owl, 1 second winter Yellow-legged Gull, 79 Corn Buntings, 3 Rock Pipits, 9 Meadow Pipits W, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 21 Chaffinches, 63 Cormorants, 9 Mallard, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Redshank, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 41 Turnstone, 2 Jackdaws W, 2 Kestrels, 44 Carrion Crows, 2 Common Redpolls E (124th), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 75 Grey Plovers, 40 Common Scoter, 2 Bearded Tits, 4 Red Kites (125th) circling over the fields at Brook Lane, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Green Woodpecker, 17 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Coot and 1 Grey Heron.

Bearded Tit beside the Wantsum

 

Red Kite

March 13th
For a change we didn't get wet this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. Birds we saw included a very flighty Black Redstart, 242 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Mallard, 23 Oystercatchers, 5 Turnstone, 11 Mute Swans, 13 Ringed Plovers, 1 Snipe, 2 Gadwall, 20 Shelduck, 14 Teal, 72 Carrion Crows, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 31 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Redshank, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Little Owl, 4 Goldfinches, 5 Tufted Duck and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Black Redstart

Derek Smith was out this evening at the eastern end of the Marsh and recorded 1 White Wagtail, 32 Fieldfares, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 5 Snipe and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit.

March 12th
On another damp morning we walked from Minnis Bay to Plumpudding lagoon and recorded 161 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 66 Redshank, 42 Turnstone, 107 Sanderling, 2 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 26 Ringed Plovers, 10 Dunlin, 96 Oystercatchers, 5 Curlew, 36 Grey Plovers, 42 Common Scoter, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Sanderling

March 11th
This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour getting soaked in the process although the rain eased off as we walked back. We saw 6 Mute Swans, 1 Fulmar E, 1 Guillemot W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pied Wagtails, 9 Redshank, 8 Turnstones, 10 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatchers, 19 Mallard, 1 Teal, 13 Common Scoter E, 1 Grey Plover, 12 Shelduck, 1 second winter Yellow-legged Gull, 45 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret and 112 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

March 10th
With a mild but blustery S wind blowing this morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and saw 1 Cetti's Warbler, 30 Corn Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 46 Cormorants S, 1 Kestrel, 13 Redshank, 19 Shelduck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Little Egrets, 16 Mallard, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone, 55 Carrion Crows, 50 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and as we drove home 2 Carrion Crows were giving a Raven a hard time as it flew over Reculver Lane.
Marc Heath was out between 0615 and 0930 and re-found the Red-necked Grebe drifting E off the Towers, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Oystercatchers, 12 Ringed Plovers, 7 Reed Buntings, 2 Lapwings on the beach, 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Dunlin, 24 Shelduck, 3 Turnstone, 2 Stonechats, 1 Chiffchaff in the seawall bushes, 1 Fulmar, 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Yellowhammer W.
Fran Partridge also found a male Bullfinch by the Oyster Farm buildings.

March 9th
On a morning that was virtually windless and gradually got milder we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then back along the railway embankment and the Oyster Farm. We saw 3 Red-throated Divers, the Red-necked Grebe still with 3 Great Crested Grebes offshore, 3 Mute Swans, 17 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 24 Redshank, 11 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plovers, 14 Oystercatchers, 10 Turnstone, 21 Shelduck, 105 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Egrets, 60 Carrion Crows, 2 Gadwall, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 second winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Dunlin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Yellowhammers, 10 Corn Buntings and 3 Song Thrushes.

March 8th
We arrived at Reculver at 0800 after the overnight rain had moved through and in sunshine but with a strengthening W wind blowing we walked up to Coldharbour. We recorded 40 House Sparrows, 34 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Pied Wagtails W, 9 Mute Swans, 9 Turnstone, 14 Sanderling, 22 Oystercatchers, 13 Shelduck, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying W (121st) , 70 Carrion Crows, 1 Curlew, 6 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Dunlin and 6 Meadow Pipits W.

Ringed Plover

This afternoon we spent 45 minutes at the Towers and almost the first bird we saw was a Red-necked Grebe (122nd) drifting E with 3 Great Crested Grebes. Other birds we saw were 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Rock Pipit, 5 Shoveler W and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull W.

March 7th
It was wet and misty this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the seawall and back to Shuart. We saw 1 Woodcock, 55 Chaffinches, 1 female Brambling, 20 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers, 48 Reed Buntings, 6 Mallard, 7 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Pied Wagtails W, 3 Grey Plovers, 3 Stonechats, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 58 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover and 1 Goldcrest.

March 6th
On a significantly milder morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and then inland. Birds we saw included 33 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mute Swans, 34 Linnets, 49 Shelduck, 13 Redshank, 14 Oystercatchers, 3 Pintail, 34 Mallard, 1 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier, 30 Corn Buntings, 9 Teal, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Curlew, 3 Ravens flying W over the White Poplars, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 55 Carrion Crows, 40 Common Scoter, 6 Ringed Plovers, 5 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Guillemot, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Goldcrests, 3 Tufted Ducks and 1 Grey Heron.

March 5th
This morning we visited Reculver and then we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour. We saw 130 Teal, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 10 Mute Swans, 68 Mallard, 1 female Pintail, 20 Chaffinches, 11 Lapwings, 76 Corn Buntings, 2 Little Gulls, adult and first winter, over the fields, 32 Reed Buntings, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Little Egrets, 62 Mallard, 2 Redshanks, 22 Shelduck, 62 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 72 Carrion Crows and 1 Grey Partridge.

Adult Little Gull

March 4th
After the recent awful weather it felt almost balmy this morning with the sun out and only a light breeze. We walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and also along the railway embankment and counted 66 Corn Buntings, 22 Chaffinches, 71 Mallard, 2 Little Egrets, 37 Shelduck, 52 Carrion Crows, 186 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Redshank, 32 Golden Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, 9 Skylarks, 1 Curlew, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Shoveler, 30 Reed Buntings and 2 Stonechats.
On our way home we dropped in at Reculver where we saw 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 250 Woodpigeons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Gadwall, 130 Teal, 3 Pintail, 30 Shelduck, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 1 Woodcock and 1 Cetti's Warbler singing.

March 3rd
This morning at Bishopstone Marc Heath found 2 Firecrests and 1 Bullfinch (119th) whilst Dave Smith had 2 Little Gulls E and 1 Knot.
With a thaw setting in this afternoon we walked along the seawall from Reculver to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 1 Lapwing, 23 Redshank, 31 Ringed Plovers, 62 Dunlin, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 11 Turnstone, 5 Mute Swans, 3 Sanderling, 11 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Teal, 53 Mallard, 5 Pintail (120th), 32 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Gadwall, 32 Carrion Crows, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snipe and 2 Grey Plovers.

March 2nd
With freezing rain making walking and driving treacherous we did not venture out today but Julian and Alex Perry walked down to the beach at Bishopstone and managed to see 13 Red-breasted Mergansers (117th) flying W before their binoculars froze over. Marc Heath also saw 3 Knot (118th) on the beach.

March 1st

Matt was out braving the freezing conditions this afternoon and at Reculver recorded 17 Little Gulls E  made up of 15 adults and 2 juveniles (113th), 7 Kittiwakes E, 2 Scaup (114th), 1 Teal, 1 Snipe, 1 Golden Plover on the rocks by the car park, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck W, 2 Red-throated Divers E, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (115th), 30 Dunlin E and 1 Redwing in off the sea.
Later he walked inland and saw 33 Snipe, 4 Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe (116th), 4 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Teal, 2 Stonechats, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Meadow Pipits, 1 Fieldfare, 600 Woodpigeons, 1 Shoveler, 1 Dunlin and 5 Lapwings.3