November 17th
On a calm and quite bright winter's morning we walked inland at Reculver and recorded 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Goldfinches, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Jays, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mallard, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 50 Carrion Crows.
Marc Heath was out at 0600 at Shuart where he recorded 1 Barn Owl, 2 Little Owls, 1 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Woodcocks and on his drive back to Reculver he had another Barn Owl at Chamber's Wall.
He then walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. Birds he saw included 559 Cormorants, 3 Kingfishers, 24 Redshank, 13 Meadow Pipits, 17 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit, 7 Mute Swans, 36 Reed Buntings, 4 Ringed Plovers, 76 Corn Buntings, 4 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Lapwings, 2 Curlew, 2 Snow Buntings, 8 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, 23 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 9 Coot, 10 Skylarks, 1 Bearded Tit, 3 Fieldfares, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe, 1 Yellowhammer, 12 Pied Wagtails and 50 House Sparrows.

Bearded Tit - Marc Heath

Derek Smith walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment and back via Coldharbour and Plumpudding starting at 0800 and finishing at 1300. He counted 38 Mute Swans, 310 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Grebe, 8 Kestrels, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Golden Plovers, 142 Oystercatchers, 66 Grey Plovers, 69 Redshank, 18 Dunlin, 124 Sanderling, 400 Starlings W, 120 Blackbirds, 40 Redwings, 60 Fieldfares, 15 Song Thrushes, 8 Mistle Thrushes, 28 Pied Wagtails, 4 Stonechats, 9 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 46 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Yellowhammer and 33 Corn Buntings.

November 16th
It was good to be out again as we walked along the seawall from Reculver. It was overcast with no wind and the tide was just beginning to come in. Birds we saw included 52 Carrion Crows, 120 Cormorants flying S to the Stour Valley, 1 Grey Plover, 58 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Shelduck, 6 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 male Sparrowhawk.
Marc Heath was at Shuart early this morning and saw 1 Woodcock, 1 Red-legged Partridge and 1 Little Owl. He then moved on to Chamber's Wall where in two hours he recorded 11 Coot, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 13 Meadow Pipits, 15 Reed Buntings, 1 Water Rail, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Corn Buntings, 30 House Sparrows, 17 Oystercatchers, 13 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 12 Ringed Plovers, 19 Turnstone, 43 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Plover, 71 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 1 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe and 34 Chaffinches.

November 15th

With a very fresh NE wind blowing in showers, Matt spent from 0650 to 1450 at the Towers seawatching and was joined by Chris Tedder for most of the time. The majority of the birds he recorded were moving west. He counted 399 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 27 Shelduck, 182 Wigeon, 67 Gannets, 17 Kittiwakes, 42 Teal, 1 Eider, 44 Red-throated Divers, 5 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Kestrel, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 380 Cormorants, 76 Common Gulls, 90 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Great White Egrets flying west at 0745, 4 Pintail, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Curlews, 6 Grey Plovers, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Razorbills, 42 Lapwings, 1 Peregrine, 1 Snipe, 12 Dunlin, 12 Common Scoter, 10 Great Skuas (6 west and 4 east), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls flying E (3rd winter and 2nd winter), 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Velvet Scoter (196th) and 1 Shag east.

November 14th
Today I received information about a first year female Goldcrest we ringed on Reculver Marshes on 4th November. It was subsequently controlled 9 days later on 13th November at Durlston Country Park, Dorset 238 km WSW.

November 13th
Matt spent a lovely winter's morning ringing south of the railway where he saw 4 Grey Partridges, 1 Water Rail, 8 Redwings, 2 Goldcrests, 65 Corn Buntings, 8 Yellowhammers, 2 Tree Sparrows, 2 Brambling, 30 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 20 Blackbirds, 50 Reed Buntings, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Stonechat.

Birds ringed 53: Chaffinch 5, Reed Bunting 27, Tree Sparrow 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 3, Yellowhammer 3, Dunnock 1, Redwing 1, Blackbird 7, Corn Bunting 1, Kingfisher 1, Water Rail 1, Magpie 1

Corn Bunting

Water Rail

November 12th
Matt managed a quick visit to Reculver this morning and recorded 4 Rock Pipits flying W, 1 male Peregrine, 1 Red-throated Diver, 6 Gannets, 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Chiffchaff.

November 11th
During the day Richard Collins saw 10 Gannets feeding off Reculver, Anne found a male Stonechat below the cliffs at Bishopstone and Marc Heath had a Woodcock fly over him at Hillborough as he cycled home from work.

November 10th
March Heath was out before 0615 at Shuart where he recorded 1 Little Owl, 1 Red-legged Partrdge and 2 Woodcocks.
He then drove to Reculver and walked up to Coldharbour and saw 1 Black Redstart on the rocks by the Towers, 1 Little Owl, 5 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 11 Robins, 33 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 43 Gannets E, 4 Red-throated Divers, 10 Meadow Pipits, 325 Cormorants, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Kestrels, 77 Ringed Plovers, 4 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 9 Turnstone, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Little Grebes, 10 Reed Buntings, 4 Stonechats, 1 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Corn Buntings, 1 Guillemot E, 2 large auks E, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 1 Wigeon, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Rock Pipits, 1 Snow Bunting a Coldharbour, 2 Mallard, 1 Short-eared Owl at the Oyster Farm, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Partridges and 3 Grey Plovers.

Snow Bunting - Marc Heath

Derek Smith was out between 0800 and 1430 and walked from Shuart to the embankment and on to the Green Wall and Coldharbour before returning via Plumpudding. He counted 66 Mute Swans, 30 Gannets offshore, 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Curlew, 2 Grey Partridges, 115 Blackbirds, 20 Redwings, 30 Fieldfares, 60 Skylarks, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Bearded Tit, 3 Siskins W, 72 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 48 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Yellowhammer and 60+ Corn Buntings.

A late Common Darter - Derek Smith

November 9th
Derek Smith walked from Chamber's Wall and along the railway embankment to Plumpudding before returning along the seawall. It was relatively quiet but he did manage to see 68 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 40 Fieldfares, 25 Redwings, 1 Rock Pipit, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Stonechats and 1 Firecrest at Chamber's Wall.

November 7th

Matt walked from Chambers Wall to Coldharbour and then along the seawall and back via the Green Wall. Birds seen included 3 Fieldfare, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Redwing, 14 Corn Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Stonechats, 3 Little Grebes, 11 Coot, 6 Gannets, 79 Ringed Plover, 25 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 58 Lapwing south west, 125 House Sparrows, 1 Marsh Harrier and 3 Tree Sparrows.

November 6th
Matt had a seawatch at Reculver Towers for 2 hours this morning, birds seen included 138 Gannets west, 21 large auk sp., 802 Cormorants, 9 Wigeon west, 75 Common Scoter, 11 Brent Geese, 21 Kittiwakes west, 5 Red throated Divers, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Merlin in off sea, 1 Great Skua west, 2 Little Gulls west, 3 Pintail west (195th), 12 Oystercatchers, 6 Skylarks west and 1 Curlew.
Matt had a ringing session this afternoon on Reculver Marshes south of the railway and birds seen included 38 Corn Buntings, 16 Yellowhammers, 2 Brambling, 13 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Golden Plover, 3 Tree Sparrows, 30 Chaffinches, 1 Stonechat, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Siskin, 4 Grey Partridges and 20 Skylarks.

Birds ringed 25: Robin 3, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 5, Reed Bunting 2, Tree Sparrow 3, Dunnock 3, Yellowhammer 1, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 4.

Tree Sparrow

During the afternoon Chris Tedder walked to Chamber's Wall and her high;ights included 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Guillemots E, 31 Common Scoter E, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Bearded Tit and 2 Ravens.

November 5th
Matt walked from Shuart to Plumpudding, along the seawall to ColdhHarbour and then back via the railway embankment. Birds seen included 10 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 2 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 75 Lapwings, 1 Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 13 Corn Buntings, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 70 Blackbirds, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 Siskin, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets, 6 Bearded Tits, 4 Stonechats, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk and 10 Long-tailed Tits.

November 4th
Whilst I have been incapacitated Matt has been ringing by himself on the Marshes south of the railway and this morning caught a male Pine Bunting (194th) that appears to have a trace of Yellowhammer in it. Primaries 3-5 seem to have pale yellow edges. With dark shaft streaks on the crown it looks like a first year male and so isn't the bird recorded in February 2018. We have a small feather that was dislodged as it flew away on release which we hope to send off for DNA testing, but when is a Pine Bunting not a Pine Bunting?

Matt spent the morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and birds seen included 1 Grey Wagtail, 12 Yellowhammers, 30 Corn Buntings, 1 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 1 Siskin, 1 male Pine Bunting, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Marsh Harrier, 60 Reed Buntings, 40 Chaffinches and 20 Golden Plover. 

Birds ringed 48: Goldcrest 3, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Bunting 22, Robin 4, Great Tit 4, Chaffinch 3, Blue Tit 1, Yellowhammer 4, Dunnock 4, Pine Bunting 1, Song Thrush 1.

November 3rd
Derek Smith was out between 0730 and 1230 walking from Shuart, along the embankment to the Green Wall and back via Chamber's Wall and Plumpudding. He recorded 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 56 Lapwings flying S, 35 Song Thrushes, 30 Redwings, 150 Fieldfares, 4 Jays, 3 Swallows, 12 alba Wagtails W, 1 Rock Pipit, 10 Stonechats, 3 Bearded Tits, 4 Bramblings W, 48 Chaffinches W, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Siskins W, 8 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 35 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 28 Corn Buntings and 3 Yellowhammers.

Firecrest - Derek Smith

Marc Heath was also in the area from 0645 to 0945 and walked from the Towers to Chamber's Wall and counted 1 Barn Owl, 5 Goldcrests, 15 Robins, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 347 Cormorants, 31 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails, 63 Reed Buntings, 8 Oystercatchers, 13 Redshank, 11 Gannets W, 54 Corn Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 12 Golden Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Stonechats, 90 Mallard, 20 Turnstones, 39 Ringed Plovers, 60 Fieldfares, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Kingfisher, 25 Skylarks, 1 Green Woodpecker, 32 Mute Swans, 25 Chaffinches, 2 Yellowhammers, 8 Redwings, 1 Swallow, 2 Bramblings, 1 Curlew, 32 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and then back via the railway embankment and Green Wall. Birds seen included 620 Cormorants, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Little Owl, 5 Goldcrests, 94 Meadow Pipits, 15 Gannets, 1 Little Egret, 70 Corn Buntings, 12 Golden Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 11 Stonechats, 80 House Sparrows, 91 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 110 Reed Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Curlew, 7 Brent Geese, 2 Herons, 1 Blackcap, 4 Greenfinches, 16 Skylarks, 1 Siskin, 56 Fieldfare, 1 Merlin, 3 Brambling, 4 Yellowhammers, 60 Robins, 55 Blackbirds, 35 Song Thrushes, 20 Redwing, 2 Tree Sparrows and 5 Grey Partridges. 

November 2nd
This morning Marc Heath walked from the Towers to Coldharbour and back and recorded 3 Goldcrests, 6 Robins, 1 Kingfisher, 34 Blackbirds, 27 Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 17 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 300 Cormorants, 6 Reed Buntings, 36 Mallard, 22 Turnstone, 2 Swallows W, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Skylarks, 10 Goldfinches, 2 Rock Pipits, 60 Corn Buntings, 80 House Sparrows, 1 Merlin out at sea, 6 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, 16 Mute Swans, 2 Lapland Buntings W and 1 House Martin at the Towers.