November 15th

It was overcast, dull, damp and drizzly but calm this morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 17 Meadow Pipits, 1 Curlew, 32 Gannets, 42 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pied Wagtail, 11 Shelduck, 1 Guillemot, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 38 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Common Scoter, 11 Turnstone, 154 Cormorants, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Kestrels and a flock of 156 Lapwings flying W high over the sea. We also recorded 105 Mallard, 1 Water Rail calling, 1 Peregrine, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Redshank, 2 Tree Sparrows, 11 Linnets, 2 Sandwich Terns flying W close inshore and the latest ever record for Reculver, 10 Goldfinches and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Julie Childs had a very enjoyable four hours between Reculver and Coldharbour. She saw 7 Corn Buntings, 1 Merlin, 1 Bearded Tit and heard a Cettis Warbler with another also heard inland from Cold Harbour. Other highlights were about 30 Gannets fishing close to Coldharbour, several Redwings and 4 Stonechat.

 

Alex and Julian Perry were also out this afternoon and found 5 Bearded Tits.

Bearded Tit - Alex Perry

 November 14th

This morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and managed to miss most of the heavy showers that were blowing in from the NE. We counted 95 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 93 Gannets, 1 Little Egret, 120 Cormorants, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 52 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 40 Ringed Plovers, 1 Kestrel, 10 Tree Sparrows, 1 Stonechat, 21 Goldfinches, 16 Meadow Pipits, 3 Corn Buntings and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

November 13th

On a dull, damp and breezy morning we walked at Reculver and saw 7 Gannets, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Little Egret, 58 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Oystercatchers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Jay, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron and 60 Linnets.

This afternoon Derek Smith walked from Minnis Bay and found 2 Snow Buntings east of Coldharbour.

Snow Bunting - Derek Smith

November 12th

There were a lot of disappointed birders at Reculver this morning as yesterday's Pied Wheatear failed to reappear, 

It was a blustery but dry morning as we walked up to Coldharbour and saw 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Red-brested Merganser, 2 Common Scoter, 73 Chaffinches flying W, 200 Cormorants, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redwings, 30 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 1 Brambling, 160 Starlings flying W, 11 Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Kestrel, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Siskin, 4 Stonechats, 4 Turnstone, 1 Sparrowhawk, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Goldfinches, 2 Lapwings and 5 Gannets.

After leaving Reculver, Matt had a look from Minnis Bay and recorded 10 Gannets, 1 Razorbill, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 41 Lapwings W, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Rock Pipit, 8 Siskins W and 33 Chaffinches W.

November 11th - Reculver's second Pied Wheatear

My blog today is starting with this afternoon's excitement! After this morning's ringing session at Reculver, Matt came home with us for lunch after which we agreed to meet at Reculver for a walk. He arrived before us and as we walked up to the car park he was beckoning us to hurry up as he had found a pale female wheatear on the rocks at the car park. It spent the afternoon flycatching from the rocks but often disappeared from view behind them. We were able to eliminate Desert Wheatear on the limited extent of black on its tail so that only left Pied or Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. After taking photos and studying its plumage we became pretty sure it was a female PIED WHEATEAR (193rd) and put the news out. This is the second record of this species for Reculver following on from a first year male on 18th and 19th October 1986.

Female Pied Wheatear - Matt Hindle

We spent the morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 11 Redwings, 2 Pied Wagtails, 8 Lesser Redpolls, 71 Siskins, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 6 Brambling, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Song Thrushes, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 20 Tree Sparrows, 160 Linnets, 3 Jays, 5 Grey Partridges, 1 Peregrine, 5 Yellowhammers, 790 Starlings W, 9 Mute Swanss, 3 Mallard, 1 Woodcock, 47 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Birds ringed 34: Goldcrest 1, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Robin 4, Lesser Redpoll 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 5, Blackbird 18

November 10th

We spent the morning ringing on the Marshes south of the railway line, Birds we saw included 657 Cormorants, 5 Brambling, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Mallard, 1 Siskin, 30 Blackbirds, 13 Redwings, 15 Song Thrushes, 30 Chaffinches, 2 Peregrines, 1 Fieldfare, 17 Golden Plovers, 9 Tree Sparrows, 1 Marsh Harrier, 60 Linnets, 17 Corn Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 16 Magpies flying S, 2 Redpoll, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 31 Lapwings flying W and 1 Common Buzzard.

Birds ringed 42: Reed Bunting 13, Chaffinch 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1, Redwing 6, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 15

Redwing

November 9th

We spent a cloudy morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 11 Bramblings, 2 Sparrowhawks, 22 Fieldfares, 23 Redwings, 40 Blackbirds, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Peregrine, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Skylarks W, 20 Lapwings, 1 Water Rail, 3 Little Egrets, 52 Chaffinches, 2 Kestrels, 2 Corn Buntings, 119 Starlings W, 3 Jays, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Goldfinches, 1 Serin flying W and calling (192nd), 1 Golden Plover and 5 Grey Herons.

Birds ringed 39: Wren 1, Robin 3, Reed Bunting 7, Chaffinch 4, Cetti's Warbler 1, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 20

Adult male Chaffinch

 This afternoon Matt walked from Reculver to Chamber's Wall and recorded 70 Chaffinches, 6 Gannets, 226 Brent Geese, 1 Fieldfare, 6 Stonechats, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Woodcock, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Wigeon, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Rock Pipits, 460 Starlings, 1 Eider, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Lapwings, 1 Peregrine, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 63 Redshank, 92 Mallard, 1 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 2 Little Egrets, 350 House Sparrows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Bramblings and 1 Grey Wagtail.

November 8th

On a cold and sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Highlight of the morning occurred as we reached the Green Wall on out way back when a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard (191st) took off from the grass bank and flew E over Reculver and on towards Hillborough. Other birds we saw 3 Pied Wagtails, 180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese including a Black Brant x Dark-bellied hybrid, 4 Stonechats, 1 Grey Plover, 12 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 23 Chaffinches W, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 44 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 12 Mallard, 19 Goldfinches, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 150 House Sparrows, 1 Golden Plover, 11 Skylarks W and 1 Snow Bunting flying E over the beach.

Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent Goose hybrid

November 7th

On a bright and breezy morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 21 Mute Swans, 1 Fieldfare, 30 Blackbirds, 72 Redwings, 15 Chaffinches, 2 Kestrels, 56 Mallard and 205 Cormorants flying to the Stour Valley. We also saw 149 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Coot, 1 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, 200 House Sparrows, 29 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Redshank.

This morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart to Brooksend then on to Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. He counted 3 Little Egrets, 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 41 Redshank, 10 Golden Plovers, 8 Jays, 2 Brambling, 35 Chaffinches W and 4 Redpoll W.

November 6th

We didn't manage to get out until this afternon when we had a walk at Reculver. We saw an adult Whooper Swan with 16 of the local Mute Swans, 5 Jays, 2 Common Buzzards, 6 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Blackbirds, 30 Linnets, 1 Redshank, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Long-tailed Tits and 5 Siskins.

Adult Whooper Swan

 

November 5th

On a beautiful winter's morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded 39 Redwings, 45 Chaffinches, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 27 Blackbirds, 17 Skylarks, 218 Starlings W, 35 Mallard, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechats, 24 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Coot, 16 Goldfinches, 2 Corn Buntings, 300 House Sparrows, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 56 Ringed Plovers, 13 Common Gulls W, 14 Lapwings W, 2 Kestrels and 1 Grey Partridge.

Derek Smith was out this afternoon between 1400 and 1630 and walked from Shuart and along the railway embankment and back. He counted 6 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harrriers, 350 Blackbirds around the farm and over 1,000 in the hour before dusk arriving high from the NE, 650 Redwings W, 345 Fieldfares W, 2 Siskins W, 30 Chaffinches W, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps and 2 Corn Buntings.

Fieldfare - Derek Smith

November 4th

Matt and I arrived at Reculver for a seawatch just as it was getting light at 0630 with a cold, strong NNW wind blowing and Richard Collins joined us a bit later. I left after three and a half hours by which time we had counted the following mostly flying west: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 41 Gannets, 20 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, 158 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Guillemots, 13 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 290 Cormorants, 1 Peregrine, 41 Dunlin, 21 Common Scoter, 10 large auks, 5 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 15 Kittiwakes, 3 Razorbills, 6 Lapwings, 5 Little Gulls, 2 Curlew, 111 Starlings, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Tufted Duck and 15 Golden Plover flyng inland.

After I had left, Matt remained at the Towers until 1400 and added 223 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 126 Dunlin, 28 Common Scoter, 3 Great Skuas, 52 large auks, 63 Starlings, 13 Skylarks, 10 Razorbills, 2 Ravens E, 35 Gannets, 45 Kittiwakes, 17 Guillemots, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Shag, 7 Pintail, 3 Snipe, 2 Curlew, 18 Wigeon, 17 Shelduck, 3 Red-throated Divers, 5 Teal, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 70 Common Gulls and 4 Little Gulls.

The colour ringed Cormorant that Matt saw at Minnis Bay yesterday had originally been ringed as a nestling on 2nd June 2014 at Insel Heuwiese, Vorpommern-Rugen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GERMANY which is 863 km ENE.

November 3rd

On a cold and sunny morning we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw 1 Sparrowhawk, 18 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Shelduck W, 63 Mallard, 11 Skylarks W, 13 Turnstone, 5 Gannets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 17 large auks, 1 Guillemot, 2 Razorbills, 2 Kittiwakes E, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 38 Ringed Plovers, 450 Starlings W, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 250 House Sparrows, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Dunlin, 54 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, 2 Coot, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Redwing, 1 Merlin, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Little Egrets, 100 Chaffinches W and 1 Siskin W.

After Matt left us at Coldharbour he walked to Plumpudding and came back via the railway embankment. There were a lot of birds moving through and he counted 3,805 Starlings W, 61 Brent Geese, 4 Stonechats, 3 Teal, 150 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 30 Turnstone, 22 Grey Plover,, 50 Carrion Crow, 30 Ringed Plovers, 48 Bramblings W, 21 Curlew, 150 Oystercatchers, 81 Siskins W, 1,696 Chaffinches W, 1 Greenfinch, 14 Stock Doves W, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Lesser Redpolls W, 1 Tree Sparrow W, 12 alba Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 4 Kestrels,1 Common Buzzard, 3 Gannets, 1 Snipe W, 1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 75 Lapwings W, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Song Thrushes W. 

He also found a colour-ringed Cormorant on one of the post at Plumpudding. We've sent off its details and will hopefully get information about where it was ringed in the near future.

Colour ringed Cormorant - Matt Hindle

Today I received information about a ringed first year male Reed Bunting we caught on the Marsh on November 2nd. It had been ringed on October 16th at Stodmarsh.

November 2nd

We spent a bright and chilly morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway line and recorded 6 Tree Sparrows, 2 Stonechats, 2 Bramblings, 25 Chaffinches, 1 Mallard, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Corn Buntings, 2 Kestrels, 2 Siskins W, 30 Reed Buntings, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Greenfinches, 20 Skylarks W and 1 Kingfisher.

Birds ringed 33: Wren 1, Chaffinch 5, Tree Sparrow 1, Reed Bunting 17, Dunnock 3, Greenfinch 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 3.

Tree Sparrow

On a superb afternoon with the sun shining and virtually no wind we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We saw some good birds including 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 first year Arctic Tern fishing close inshore, 2 Guillemots, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 3 Stonechats, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Little Gulls flying W, 13 Linnets, 1 Dartford Warbler in bushes beside the dyke just west of the Green Wall, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Short-eared Owl and 1 Chiffchaff.

First year Arctic Tern - Matt Hindle

October 31st

We spent the morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 4 Song Thrushes, 3 Redwings, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 13 Siskins, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Skylarks W, 2 Ring-necked Pararkeets, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Brambling, 1 Water Rail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Swallows flying W, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest and 9 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 18: Long-tailed Tit 5, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 2, Reed Bunting 2, Robin 4, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1, Jay 1