March 15th

On a glorious early spring morning Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back. We met him at Coldharbour and between us we saw 15 Tufted Ducks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 1 female Pintail, 11 Teal, 7 Yellowhammers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Kestrel, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Moorhens, 8 Coot, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Stonechats, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 31 Woodpigeons N out to sea, 1 Peregrine, 2 Rock Pipits, 150 Common Scoter, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Corn Buntings and 1 Curlew. We also counted 3 Lapwings, 10 Redwings, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Common Buzzard, 19 Fieldfares, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Knot, 3 Wigeon, 6 Velvet Scoter, 1 Little Egret, 264 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 female Black Redstart, 2 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 1 Goldcrest, 27 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan and 300 Chaffinches.

March 14th

The temperature had dropped significantly overnight and a north westerly wind was blowing in increasingly wintry rain. We spent an hour and a half at Reculver but only recorded 298 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Rock Pipits, 250 Common Scoter off Coldharbour, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls W, 1 Curlew, 1 Mediterranean Gull E and 12 Ringed Plovers.

The weather had improved significantly this afternoon with bright sunshine as we walked inland at Reculver. We saw 1 Yellowhammer, 25 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Moorhens, 6 Coot, 2 Teal, 1 female Pintail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 50 Linnets and 1 Grey Partridge.

First winter Bewick's Swan

March 13th

With a gale force south westerly blowing we spent an hour and a half at Minnis Bay but did not see a great deal just 159 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 94 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Rock Pipit, 7 Golden Plovers, 2 Curlew, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Grey Wagtail flying W. On the way home we counted 21 Mute Swans, the first winter Bewick's Swan , 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall and 16 Teal at Reculver.

March 12th

On a surprisingly mild morning with an increasing south westerly wind we walked inland at Reculver and then at Shuart. At Reculver we recorded 2 Skylarks, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 21 Mute Swans 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Little Grebe, 18 Chaffinches, 16 Tufted Duck, 20 Teal, 4 Coot, 2 Moorhens, 6 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Woodlark that I disturbed which then flew W calling, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 female Pintail, 1 Redshank, 85 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff and 6 Corn Buntings. 

At Shuart we saw 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 8 Teal, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Greylag Goose paired with a Canada Goose, 2 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Firecrests.

Male Ring-necked Parakeet

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Netherhale to Shuart and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He saw 18 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 11 Teal, 10 Greylag Geese, 3 Grey Herons, 16 Coot, 3 Greenfinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Redwing, 1 Shoveler, 2 Kestrels and 4 Stonechats.

March 11th

At last a cold, calm, sunny and dry morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. With the tide a long way out we counted 118 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 8 Ringed Plovers beginning to display and pair up, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 4 Mallard, 80 Common Scoter, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 4 Linnets, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Plover, 28 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan and 1 male Sparrowhawk.

March 10th

On yet another revolting morning with rain and an increasingly strong northerly wind blowing we spent and hour at Reculver where we counted 56 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Red-throated Divers,1 Sanderling, 1 adult Gannet E and 1 Curlew. The first winter Bewick's Swan was still in the field by the Roman Galley with 15 Mute Swans where there was also a Yellowhammer with 85 Chafinches. Hopefully there will be an improvement in the weather tomorrow.

March 9th

On a foul, rainy morning we spent forty minutes at Reculver where other than 136 Dark-bellied Brent Geese the only other bird we saw was a smart adult winter plumaged Little Gull flying E close inshore (125th). We then drove inland and found the first winter Bewick's Swan in its usual field with 25 Mute Swans and also 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 40 Chaffinches.

March 8th

After overnight snow there was a strong easterly wind blowing in rain and sleet as we arrived at Reculver. In half an hour, other that a few gulls, we only recorded one Dark-bellied Brent Goose so we drove to the Roman Galley and found the first winter Bewick's Swan still there with 23 Mute Swans. We also saw 100 Chaffinches and 1 Reed Bunting feeding on a seed spill on the road as well as a Common Buzzard sheltering from the weather.

March 7th

On a cold and drizzly morning we spent an hour from 0800 at Minnis Bay having a seawatch. In calm conditions we counted 97 Great Crested Grebes, 350 Red-throated Divers, 82 Common Scoter, 2 Gannets, 77 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Velvet Scoter flying W close inshore with 20 Common Scoter, 19 Carrion Crows, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and 2 Curlews.

Next we visited Reculver where we saw 19 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan, 19 Mute Swans,  1 Water Rail, 6 Moorhens, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Mallard, 2 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, 27 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 1 male Pintail (124th ), 4 Snipe, 1 Redwing, 2 Yellowhammers and 1 Kestrel.

March 6th

We arrived at Reculver later than usual at 0845 where we met Matt and then we all walked up to the far end of Coldharbour and back. Our walk began in bright, calm conditions and ended wet and breezy. We saw a good range of species including 380 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Red-throated Divers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Stonechat, 1 calling Woodlark seen flying W at sea off the Towers (122nd), 2 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatchers, 290 Common Scoter on the sea, 1 Merlin flying in off the sea (123rd), 15 Mallard, 4 Redshank, 4 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 4 Snow Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Curlew.

March 5th

It was raw and overcast this morning as we walked inland at Reculver and then at Shuart. At Reculver we recorded 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Brambling, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Mallard, 4 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Kestrel, 120 Linnets, 12 Yellowhammers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 12 Chaffinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan and 15 Mute Swans.

At Shuart we saw 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldfinches, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Teal, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Ring-necked Parakeets.

Canada Goose

Matt was also out this morning and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He counted 2 Stonechats, 250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 200 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 4 Snow Buntings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Derek Smith was out between 0700 and 0900 and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back via Minnis Bay and Plumpudding. He counted 3 Greylag Geese, 113 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 34 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 27 Sanderling, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest and 4 Corn Buntings.

March 4th

We completed out regular walk from Reculver to Coldharbour in dreary, drizzly conditions and saw very little. We counted 154 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel, 25 Mute Swans, 1 Oystercatcher, 90 Common Scoter, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 3 Linnets and the first winter Bewick's Swan still in the field by the Roman Galley.

March 3rd

This morning on our walk along the seawall to Coldharbour we recorded 251 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Mallard, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Linnets, 7 Turnstone, 90 Common Scoter off Coldharbour, 3 Skylarks, 1 Redshank, 1 Shelduck, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Great Northern Diver flying W along the beach.

This afternoon we walked inland at Reculver and saw 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 6 Moorhens, 3 Mallard, 20 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Shelduck, 31Teal, 2 Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 first winter Bewick's Swan.

March 2nd

On another chilly morning with the tide in we walked from Minnis Bay to the Plumpudding lagoon. We counted 485 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 250 Sanderling, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Stonechat, 12 Redshank, 42 Carrion Crows, 34 Grey Plovers, 85 Turnstone, 76 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 60 Oystercatchers, 13 Curlew and 1 Kestrel. On the drive home we also saw 18 Mute Swans and the first winter Bewick's Swan on the field by the Roman Galley.

Grey Plovers, Curlew and Oystercatchers

March 1st

The wind had dropped overnight so although it was still quite cold we had a pleasant walk up to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Heron flying E at sea, 1 Shelduck flying W, 1 Little Egret, 23 Mallard, 110 Common Scoter still on the sea off Coldharbour, 1 Stonechat, 3 Oystercatchers, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Snow Buntings, 2 Redshank, 2 Skylarks, 2 Wigeon, 25 Mute Swans, 1 first winter Bewick's Swan and 2 Common Buzzards.

Male Snow Bunting